Tamoxifen attenuates the effects of exogenous glucocorticoid on bone formation and growth in piglets

Tamoxifen (Tam) has been shown to inhibit dexamethasone (Dex)-mediated effects on bone formation in vitro. Our objective was to determine whether Tam would block Dex-induced osteopenia and growth inhibition in growing piglets. Four-day-old male Yorkshire piglets were adapted to a liquid formula diet (400 ml/kg x day) and randomized to one of four groups (n = 5/group): Dex (0.5 mg/kg x day), Tam (1 mg/kg x day), Dex plus Tam, or placebo control (vehicle only). Both drugs were administered by orogastric gavage twice daily for 12 days. At baseline and at the end of treatment, whole body bone mineral density (BMD) was determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (Hologic QDR1000W). Plasma osteocalcin and PTH were measured on days 0 and 12, and urinary N-telopeptide was measured on day 12. Changes in axial length and daily weight were also measured. Delta whole body BMD was 29% lower (P < 0.05) in Dex alone treated piglets than in controls (0.033 vs. 0.047 g/cm2, respectively), whereas the maximum change in BMD in Dex plus Tam group (0.046 g/cm2) was similar to that in controls. Concurrent Tam administration reduced the Dex-induced deficit in weight gain by 56% (P < 0.05) and the deficit in axial length gain by 72% (P < 0.01). In Dex alone treated piglets, PTH was significantly elevated (7-fold), whereas osteocalcin and N-telopeptide were significantly reduced compared with control values. These effects were prevented by Tam. These data suggest that the suppression of growth and other changes in parameters of bone metabolism induced by glucocorticoids in vivo can be attenuated by Tam.     

Inhibitors of acrosin and granulocyte proteinases from human genital tract secretions

Human seminal plasma contains two acid-stable proteinase inhibitors, HUSI-II (Mr approximately 6500) and HUSI-I, (Mr approximately 11 000) with different inhibition specificities. The inhibitory activity of HUSI-II is strongly limited to trypsin and acrosin; both enzyme-inhibitor complexes are very stable (e.g. bovine trypsin-HUSI-II complex: Ki = 1 x 10(-10)M; human acrosin-HUSI-II complex: Ki = 2.7 x 10(-10)M). The inhibitor from human seminal plasma HUSI-II may therefore be seen as the natural antagonist of the sperm protease acrosin. In addition to pancreatic trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin, HUSI-I forms strong complexes with neutral proteases of the lysosome-like granules from human granulocytes, for example, the elastase (Ki = 2.5 x 10(-9)M) and cathepsin G, the chymotrypsin like protease (Ki = 7 x 10(-8)M).     

Strahlungspyrometrische Messung der wahren Temperatur und Bestimmung des Emissionsgrades in Stahlschmelzen

Kurze Übersicht über die zur wahren Temperaturmessung von Schmelzen benutzten Thermoelemente, visuellen und unmittelbar anzeigenden Strahldichte- und Farbpyrometer. Meßfehler von Verhältnis-(Farb-) Pyrometern abhängig von benutzten Wellenlängen und vom Emissionsgrad der Schmelzen. Zusammenhang zwischen Verhältnistemperatur, wahrer Temperatur und Emissionsgrad bei Messung mit Verhältnispyrometer und daraus abgeleitete Berichtigungsschaltung. Vergleich möglicher Meßfehler bei Messung mit Strahldichte- und ε-berichtigtem Verhältnispyrometer. Verschiedene Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Emissionsgrades für eine laufende Strahlungsanalyse der Schmelzen.     

Preventing cigarette sales to minors: the need for contextual, sociocultural analysis

There is little information on the long-term consequences for employees when no-smoking policies are established in the workplace. Our study was designed to assess changes in employee health and smoking behavior. Of the original 60 subjects, 40 employees (18 smokers, 22 nonsmokers) completed this study, which was conducted in a major medical institution. Nonsmokers were recruited as part of the study to determine whether they showed evidence of workplace carbon monoxide associated with passive smoke, potentially inhaled at the work site. Baseline measurements of smoking frequency, carbon monoxide, and weight were obtained during the month preceding the smoking restrictions and at 6 and 18 months afterward. Smokers made significant reductions in daily smoking during the first 6 months but gradually returned to prepolicy levels over the following year. Smokers, in particular, showed increases in weight. Smokers gained 4.93 lb after 18 months, whereas nonsmokers gained 2.25 lb in the same period. Nonsmoker employees showed no evidence of workplace carbon monoxide exposure associated with passive smoke. We discuss the implications of the findings for no-smoking policies in the workplace.     

Microbial production,structure elucidation and bioconversion of sophorose lipids

Cultivation of Torulopsis bombicola ATCC 22214 on a mixture of glucose and oleic acid (A) or oleic acid alone (B) produced large amounts of sophorose lipids. In the case of A, 38 g/1 of crude product were finally isolated; fermentation B led to 77 g/1. After separation by MPLC and TLC, six glycolipids were obtained and identified by NMR and fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). In general, a 17-hydroxyocta-decanoic acid at the C-1’ -position and acetate groups at the C-6’ -and C-6’ -positions of sophorose were found as substituents in the lactone and acidic forms of these lipids. The composition of product from A was as follows: 62% of sophorolipid 1’,4’ -lactone 6’ ,6’ -diacetate (SL-1), 4% of sophorolipid 1’,4’-lactone 6’-monoacetate (SL-2), 4% of sophorolipid 1’,4 ’-lactone (SL-3), 4% of sophorolipid 1’,6’-and l’,6’-lactones (SL-4a,b), 4% of sophorolipid 6’-monoacetate acid (SL-5), 4% of sophorolipid acid (SL-6) and finally 17% of other lipids. In B, the principal lactone (40%) had a double bond in the fatty acid moiety; the other components were identical with the above products. Yields of 13% SL-2 and of 35% lipids containing no carbohydrate were significant. SL-1 was deacetylated to SL-3 (yield: 25-307c) using acetyl-esterase in a two-phase system (cyclohexane/water). To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Seroepidemiology of emerging tickborne infectious diseases in a Northern California community

A seroprevalence and risk factor study of emerging tickborne infectious diseases (Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis) was conducted among 230 residents of a semirural community in Sonoma County, California. Over 50% of residents reported finding a tick on themselves in the preceding 12 months. Samples from 51(23%) residents were seroreactive to antigens from one or more tickborne disease agents: 1.4% to Borrelia burgdorferi, 0.4% to Ehrlichia equi, 4.6% to Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and 17.8% to the Babesia-like piroplasm WA1. Only 14 (27%) of these seroreactive residents reported one or more symptoms compatible with these diseases. Seroreactivity was significantly associated with younger age (<16 years), longer residence in the community (11-20 years), and having had a physician's diagnosis of Lyme disease. In northern California, the risk of infection with these emerging tickborne diseases, particularly in children, may be greater than previously recognized.     

Ion-exchange chromatography of mono- and divalent cations in natural waters on a weak-acid anion-exclusion column

The regulation of glucose metabolism by glucagon and GLP-1 is well established, but novel functions for these and other proglucagon-derived peptides are less well defined. This paper highlights the diversity of both GLP-1 and glucagon activity by studying the tissue distribution of glucagon and GLP-1 receptor gene expression by both Southern blot analysis of RT-PCR products and nuclease protection assays. By Southern blot analysis of RT-PCR products, GLP-1 receptor mRNA was detected in lung, hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, kidney, pancreas, and throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Glucagon receptor expression was detected in liver, kidney, spleen, thymus, adrenal glands, pancreas, cerebral cortex, lung, and throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Nuclease protection assay revealed glucagon receptor expression to be highest in liver and kidney, whereas GLP-1 receptor expression was only detected by protection assay in lung, stomach, and large bowel. Despite previous evidence that other receptors for proglucagon-derived peptides may exist, no evidence of novel receptors or multiple isoforms of the glucagon and GLP-1 receptors was found, indicating that the two cloned receptors may mediate all the effects of proglucagon-derived peptides, or that novel receptors may share less homology with the glucagon and GLP-1 receptors than previously anticipated.     

Evaluation of consecutively placed unloaded root-form and plate-form implants in adult Macaca mulatta monkeys

The present paper describes 18 consecutively-treated non-human primates (Macaca mulatta) as part of a balanced block design study of 36 animals to examine osseointegration in root- and plate-form implants prepared by atraumatic preparation of bone. Clinical measurements around selected teeth and digital radiology were utilized to monitor periodontal disease and bone deposition around the unloaded implants. Once a month scaling procedures were utilized as a means of preventing further advance of periodontal disease. Results indicate that once-monthly regimen of scaling and root planing can prevent attachment loss of natural teeth and will not interfere with the healing of either type of implant; once-monthly scalings produce significant reduction in redness (P < .05) and reduced probing depths (P = .01). A second finding is that both root and blade implants show radiographic evidence of osseointegration in this primate model. The quantitative analysis demonstrates bone gain is not stabilized until 6 months after healing. The data may indicate that occlusal loading of mandibular implants at 3 months may be premature.