RNA polymerase activities in isolated nuclei of guinea pig seminal vesicle epithelium: influence of castration and androgen administration

Nuclei from seminal vesicle epithelium of adult guinea pigs were isolated in hypertonic sucrose solution. The incorporation of [3H]UTP by the isolated nuclei into acid-precipitable products was studied. Incorporation required ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP, and Mg+2. It was inhibited by addition of actinomycin D, deoxyribonuclease, or pyrophosphate to the reaction mixture. Thus, incorporation of [3H]UTP by isolated nuclei had the same characteristics that have been demonstrated for the reactions catalyzed by nuclear RNA polymerases. Using alpha-amanitin as a metabolic tool, we established concentrations of (NH4)2SO4. Mg+2, and nucleotides that give maximum assayable activities of nuclear RNA polymerases I and II. When the activities of polymerases I and II were measured in isolated seminal vesicle nuclei of guinea pigs that had been castrated 4 days earlier, a marked decrease in activities was found relative to control values (nuclei from intact animals). No further decrease was found 8 days after castration. Diminished accessibility to the nuclear DNA template and a decrease in the concentration of RNA polymerase molecules seemed to be responsible for the observed effects of castration on activities of RNA polymerases. An increase in ribonuclease activity did not seem to be responsible for the effects of castration. Activities of the enzymes did not change 2, 3, or 4 hours after intraperitoneal injection (2 mg/kg body weight) of each of five different androgens. Similarly, a single intraperitoneal injection of testosterone did not restore enzyme activity of polymerade I or II at any time during the first 24-hour period after hormone administration.     

Body image disturbance in body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders. Obsessions or delusions?

At this time, the question posed by this article's title--body image disturbance in body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders: obsessions or delusions?--is probably best answered "both." Both disorders appear to be characterized by obsessional and delusional thinking. In addition, it is likely that their nondelusional and delusional variants constitute a single disorder encompassing a spectrum of insight, with the entire spectrum characterized by obsessional thinking. This view represents a considerable departure from DSM-III-R, in which the psychotic disorders were encapsulated in a separate section of the manual and considered different disorders from their nonpsychotic variants. The one exception was the mood disorders, which were acknowledged to have psychotic variants that were classified in the manual's "nonpsychotic" section. In DSM-IV, on the basis of emerging empirical evidence about the dimensional nature of the psychotic/nonpsychotic boundary, the dichotomy between delusional and nondelusional disorders is less clear. The double coding allowed for BDD acknowledges that BDD and its delusional disorder variant may constitute a single disorder; that allowed for OCD acknowledges that OCD may be delusional. With regard to eating disorders, however, DSM-IV is surprisingly silent, perhaps because delusional preoccupations are less common than in BDD. These issues also may apply to other disorders. Like BDD, hypochondriasis is classified as a somatoform disorder, with its delusional variant a type of delusional disorder, somatic type. Do the delusional and nondelusional variants of hypochondriasis constitute the same disorder? Do other types of somatic delusional disorder, such as parasitosis and olfactory reference syndrome (the belief that one emits a foul body odor) have nondelusional variants? It is likely that a number of disorders span a spectrum from delusional to nondelusional thinking, with unlimited shades of gray in between. Future research may indicate that obsessional disorders such as BDD, anorexia, OCD, and hypochondriasis, as well as other disorders such as major depression, should have qualifiers or subtypes--for example, "with good insight," "with poor insight," and "with delusional (or psychotic) thinking"--with an implied continuum of insight embraced by a single disorder. Such an approach, which scatters psychosis throughout the nomenclature, ultimately may be shown to be a more valid and clinically useful classification approach. Answers to these questions will not only improve our classification system but also may have important treatment implications. For example, the preliminary finding that delusional BDD responds preferentially to SRIs but not to neuroleptic agents contradicts conventional wisdom about the treatment of psychosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

The effect of exogenous iron on levels of adenosinetriphosphate and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in erythrocytes of men during extreme physical exertion

Nine men were examined during a three-week training requiring much physical effort. They were given nutrient, "LIVEX", enriched with iron. Hematological parameters as well as concentration of erythrocyte ATP and 2,3-DPG were determined before and after the experiment. Hematological parameters were determined using standard methods while Boehringer's test (Germany) was used for determining ATP and 2,3-DPG. The level of reticular cells was statistically higher after the experiment, and the increase in ATP and 2,3-DPG concentration was insignificant. A positive adaptation of energy metabolism after exogenous iron administration during physical effort was discussed.     

Cognitive-behavioral treatment of anorexia nervosa

This article outlines a cognitive-behavioral outpatient program for the treatment of anorexia nervosa. The rationale for this treatment is based on two primary assumptions about the anorectic condition: first, that anorexia nervosa develops as a way of coping with life stresses; and second, that anorexia nervosa develops into a self-sustaining "food phobia." Cognitive-behavioral treatment techniques are therefore aimed at (1) confronting the patient's fears and avoidance behaviors, (2) identifying the patient's areas of deficient problem-solving skills, particularly in the interpersonal realm, and (3) cultivating new problem-solving skills.     

Respiratory effects of a synthetic metalworking fluid and its components

A synthetic metalworking fluid, MWF "A", and its major components were evaluated using a previously developed mouse bioassay. This fluid and its components evoked sensory (S) and pulmonary (P) irritation in mice. For MWF "A" and each of its components, a concentration-response relationship was developed on the basis of respiratory frequency (fR) responses. From such relationships, the concentration capable of evoking a 50% decrease in mean fR was determined for MWF "A" and each component (RD50). RD50S or RD50P was used to distinguish decreases in fR that were due to sensory irritation (S) from those due to pulmonary irritation (P). From RD50P values, it was concluded that the fatty acid alkanolamide condensates, tolutriazole, and triazine-type biocide components were similar in potency to one another and similar in potency to MWF "A". By examining potency and fractional composition, it was concluded that the fatty acid alkanolamide condensates and the triazine-type biocide largely contributed to the irritancy of MWF "A". From RD50P values, occupational exposure limits were proposed for MWF "A" and each of its components. The current Threshold Limit Value of 10 mg/m3 established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists for "particulates not otherwise classified" (PNOC) would be inadequate to protect workers from the irritating properties of MWF "A" and most of its components.     

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in adult Still''s disease

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is often preceded by a viral illness and has recurrent "flu-like" symptoms. We compared demographic, clinical, and laboratory features (markers of inflammation and viral infection) among 717 patients with chronic fatigue (CF) with and without a self-reported postinfectious onset to identify associated clinical and biologic findings and to examine the subset of patients with CFS. Only subjective fever, chills, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, poorer functional status, and attribution of illness to a physical condition were significantly associated with a postinfectious onset. The features of patients with CFS were virtually identical to those of the broader category of patients with CF. We conclude that a postinfectious onset was not associated with a pattern of abnormalities across multiple psychosocial and biologic parameters.     

Phase I clinical trial with a human major histocompatibility complex nonrestricted cytotoxic T-cell line (TALL-104) in dogs with advanced tumors

The human TALL-104 cell line is endowed with a uniquely potent MHC nonrestricted tumoricidal activity across several species. In view of the potential applicability of TALL-104 cells as an anticancer agent, this study was conducted to evaluate the possible toxicity and efficacy of this new cell therapy in a superior animal model with spontaneous tumors. Nineteen canine cases with advanced, refractory malignancies of various histological types were entered in the study. All dogs had failed all other available treatments and had very limited life expectancy. Cyclosporin A was administered p.o. (10 mg/kg/day) starting from the day before TALL-104 cell administration throughout the treatment to prevent rejection of the xenogeneic effectors. Lethally irradiated (40 Gy) TALL-104 cells (10(8)/kg) were administered systemically following two treatment schedules. In the first schedule, the cells were given every other day for 2 weeks in a row and then once a week for 3 additional weeks; in the second schedule, TALL-104 cells were administered daily for a total of 5 days. None of the 19 cases showed significant clinical or laboratory toxicity; in addition, none of the dogs had to be withdrawn from the study because of immediate adverse reactions to the infusions. The severe side effects usually associated with classical lymphokine-activated killer therapy in association with high doses of interleukin 2, such as "capillary leak syndrome," were absent in this study. Remarkably, TALL-104 therapy induced various degrees of antitumor effects in 7 of the 19 dogs, including 1 complete response (continuing at +13 months), three partial responses (duration of 2 months, 3 months, and continuing at +2 months), and three transient responses. Clinical responses and immunological parameters correlated well in each case. Taken together, these data indicate that systemic administration of lethally irradiated TALL-104 cells in the absence of exogenous interleukin 2 may be regarded as a safe and promising adjuvant type of treatment for advanced cancer patients.     

A contrast of the three more common illnesses with the ten less common in a study and 18-month follow-up of 314 psychiatric emergency room patients. II. Characteristics of patients with the three more common illnesses

The three more common illnesses diagnosed in the sample of 314 emergency room patients were (in order of frequency) affective disorder (N = 135), alcoholism (N = 112), and antisocial personality (N = 57). This study describes the occurrence and frequency of affective disorders and evaluates the relative usefulness of three separate sets of diagnostic criteria for the depressive phase of the illness, which are considered in three self-evident, mutually exclusive groups, the definition of which depends on chronology of onset in relation to other diagnoses. Findings show a 3:2 ratio of primary affective disorder to secondary affective disorder. The 112 diagnoses of alcoholism were based on defined criteria that separated "definite" (N = 102) from probable (N = 10) alcoholism. A high incidence of secondary affective disorder (38%) in patients with a first diagnosis of alcoholism is noted. The third most common diagnosis, antisocial personality, was based on defined criteria requiring a specified number of manifestations both before and after age 15 years. Only 11% of the antisocial personality patients received a single diagnosis of antisocial personality. An additional diagnosis of alcoholism occurred in 61%. Besides antisocial symptoms, the 57 patients reported 74 different nonantisocial symptoms, supporting the conclusion that antisocial personality patients may be as susceptible to neurotic and psychotic symptoms as other patients.     

Survival and development of maternally deprived rats: role of body temperature

Rat pups, 10-12 days old, survived maternal deprivation if kept warm at 35 degrees, but died within 6 days if allowed to become hypothermic at a room temperature of 23 degrees. Normal body temperatures facilitated feeding, but even without food, warm pups survived starvation longer than cool ones. Increased survival could not be attributed to decreased oxygen consumption, and warm pups lost more body water and solids than cool pups. Striking differences in development that may have affected survival were observed over 72 hr of separation without food. Cool pups showed a virtual arrest of the growth of the tail, fur, tibia, and femur, and failed to increase brain weight, protein, DNA, RNA, and catecholamine contents. Warm pups showed developmental growth more comparable to that of normally mothered pups and significantly exceeded controls in the rate of accumulation of brain norepinephrine and dopamine.