Levels of cadmium, lead and zinc protoporphyrin absorption in different risk groups

We studied groups of workers, of pregnant women and of neonates exposed and unexposed to cadmium and lead at their place of work or in the environment. A total of 118 exposed and 28 unexposed workers were studied, together with 90 exposed and 100 unexposed pregnant women and neonates. Concentrations of cadmium and lead in the blood were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. There were significant differences in cadmium concentrations between workers and neonates, and significant differences in lead concentrations between workers and pregnant women. We believe these differences are due mainly to high levels of pollution in the area studied.     

Excess corticotropin releasing hormone-binding protein in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in transgenic mice

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is the primary hypothalamic releasing factor that mediates the mammalian stress response. The CRH-binding protein (CRH-BP) is secreted from corticotropes, the pituitary CRH target cells, suggesting that the CRH-BP may modulate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity by preventing CRH receptor stimulation. Transgenic mice were generated that constitutively express elevated levels of CRH-BP in the anterior pituitary gland. RNA and protein analyses confirmed the elevation of pituitary CRH-BP. Basal plasma concentrations of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) are unchanged, and a normal pattern of increased corticosterone and ACTH was observed after restraint stress. However, CRH and vasopressin (AVP) mRNA levels in the transgenic mice are increased by 82 and 35%, respectively, to compensate for the excess CRH-BP, consistent with the idea that CRH-BP levels are important for homeostasis. The transgenic mice exhibit increased activity in standard behavioral tests, and an altered circadian pattern of food intake which may be due to transgene expression in the brain. Alterations in CRH and AVP in response to elevated pituitary CRH-BP clearly demonstrate that regulation of CRH-BP is important in the function of the HPA axis.     

Effect of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone on rat adrenocortical cells

The effects of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) on the function of rat adrenal cortex were investigated by using dispersed zona glomerulosa (capsular) and zona fasciculata-reticularis (inner) cells. LH-RH increased basal (but not adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-stimulated) corticosterone secretion of inner cells, without affecting either aldosterone or corticosterone production by capsular cells. LH-RH markedly raised basal (but not ACTH-enhanced) cyclic-AMP release by inner cells. The corticosterone secretagogue action of LH-RH was abolished by the protein kinase A inhibitor H-89. The conclusion is drawn that LH-RH specifically stimulates adrenal glucocorticoid secretion in rats through the activation of the adenylate cyclase signaling pathway.     

Private health insurance coverage and disability among older Americans

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the relationship between the lack of private supplemental health insurance coverage and the development of disability among adults aged 65 and older. METHODS: Data are from the baseline and six follow-up waves of the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly survey (N = 4,000). Discrete-time hazard models were used to estimate the impact of insurance coverage and other risk factors on the incidence of disability among those unimpaired at baseline. RESULTS: Controlling for education, income, and other potential confounders, the odds of developing disability were 35-49% higher among those without private coverage. Insurance coverage also statistically explained part of the increased risk of disability among low-income persons. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that changes in health insurance coverage as well as in individual behaviors may be needed to reduce disability generally and disability among the socioeconomically disadvantaged, in particular.     

Levels of Cathepsin D in breast cyst fluid]

Cathepsin-D was assayed in serum and in breast cyst fluid of 60 non neoplastic patients with GCD. The results are independent from cytological type or possible cyst relapse. Although the study confirms the high levels of Cat-D in breast cyst fluid no predictive value has been demonstrated. Its expression may be related to systemic endocrine factors.     

Detection of added beet sugar in concentrated and single strength fruit juices by deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance (SNIF-NMR method): collaborative study

A collaborative study of the site-specific natural isotope fractionation-nuclear magnetic resonance (SNIF-NMR) method for detecting added beet sugar in fruit juices is reported. This method is complementary to the stable carbon isotope ratio analysis (SCIRA) (AOAC Official Methods 981.09 and 982.21), which can detect sugars derived from plants exhibiting C4 metabolism (corn and sugarcane). It is based on the fact that the deuterium content at specific positions of the sugar molecules is higher in fruit sugars than in beet sugar. The fruit juices are fermented, and the alcohol is distilled with a quantitative yield and analyzed with a high-yield NMR spectrometer fitted with a deuterium probe and fluorine lock. The proportion of ethanol molecules monodeuterated on the methyl site is recorded. This parameter (D/H)I is lowered when beet sugar is added to a fruit juice or concentrate. The precision of that method for measuring (D/H)I was observed to be similar to that of other isotope ratio methods: Sr values ranged from 0.19 to 0.25 ppm and SR values varied between 0.21 and 0.37 ppm. An excellent correlation was observed between the percentage of added beet sugar and the (D/H)I isotope ratio measured in this collaborative study. Consequently, all samples in which beet sugar was added were found to have a (D/H)I isotope ratio significantly below the normal value for authentic juice or concentrate of that fruit. The SNIF-NMR method for detection of added beet sugar in fruit juices has been adopted by AOAC INTERNATIONAL.