Biphasic and dose-dependent accumulation of INSP3 in Trypanosoma cruzi stimulated by a synthetic peptide carrying a chicken alpha D-globin fragment

A synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 1 to 40 of chicken alpha D-globin stimulated the accumulation of inositol phosphates (InsPs) in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. This accumulation was shown to be biphasic and dose-dependent. The enhanced inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) accumulation occurred at the third minute with a subsequent increase which is not transient, but sustained over a much longer period. Another peptide carrying residues 35 to 73 was less active. These results evidenced the activation of the phosphoinositide phospholipase C activity in response to peptides that bind specifically to T. cruzi epimastigote cells.     

Modulation of interferon-gamma-induced major histocompatibility complex class II and Fc receptor expression on isolated microglia by transforming growth factor-beta 1, interleukin-4, noradrenaline and glucocorticoids

Effects of carbon tetrachloride treatment and portacaval shunt surgery on exogenous chylomicron retinyl ester clearance from rat plasma were analyzed assuming three-compartment model kinetics. In rats with cirrhosis and in those with Eck fistulas, the relative pool size of compartment 2 decreased (0.20 and 0.36, respectively) compared with controls (0.82). The relative mass of compartment 3 significantly increased in rats with cirrhosis (1.55) or Eck fistula (0.19) compared with control rats (0.11). The cirrhotic and Eck fistula groups were indistinguishable on the basis of these parameters and on the basis of indocyanine green test values. However, the cirrhosis and Eck fistula groups differed clearly from each other with respect to fractional efflux rate constants (l2, l3), where the constant l2 is from compartment 2 and the l3 is from compartment 3. Both values decreased in cirrhotic rats, suggesting that the hepatic uptake of chylomicron retinyl esters was impaired by carbon tetrachloride. On the other hand, Eck fistula rats did experience dramatic increases in l3, implying that the hepatic uptake of chylomicron retinyl esters from compartment 3 was enhanced by portacaval shunting. Elevation of the plasma estrogen level observed in Eck fistula rats may be responsible for the induction of low-density lipoprotein receptors on hepatocytes and for the subsequent enhancement of l3. These results suggest that a three-compartment model of plasma retinyl ester disappearance kinetics gives important quantitative information about hepatic function. Clinical application of the chylomicron retinyl ester clearance test is discussed for estimating hepatic function reserves and for differential diagnosis of portal hypertension.     

The nature of the head and neck cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is a disease predominantly of males and is due to a variety of known environmental irritants, notably cigarette smoke. Dietary, viral and immunological factors may also be relevant. Head and neck squamous cancers express epidermal growth factor receptors and some show weak levels of oestrogen receptor activity, but a reliable serum marker of tumour burden remains to be identified. The prognosis is found to be less favourable in females, in those with advanced T stage, in association with multiple node involvement, especially where extracapsular spread is present and where the T4/T8 ratio is elevated. Administration of heterologous blood during therapy may also have an adverse effect on prognosis. Interested clinicians must remember that most cases are preventable.     

Public health at the municipal level

The purposes of health protection and fortification in various sociums and conditions of attaining these purposes may differ at various levels (federal, regional and municipal) of the society organization. At the municipal level the fortification and protection of population health may be regarded as the chief idea, aim, and criterion of the optimal functioning and development of a socium of the given level, reflecting the measure of efficacy of providing the immediate vital activity of the population. The task of social management is as follows: the share of the national output, created by the socium, is to be distributed so that it were possible for this socium to permanently recreate and maintain at a certain qualitative level its labor resources--the major energy potential of the socium, and adequately provide and guarantee human rights as the main value of the society. A logistic model of the management structure ensuring population health at a municipal level is presented. For health control and for attaining this aim it is necessary to transfer the maximum of legal functions to the municipal level of society administration. It is desirable that every citizen, and not only administration, be involved in the reformation of the society as regards health protection, and that the citizens be personally interested in this process.     

Pancreatic insufficiency: an infrequent manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism

Two patients with immune deficiency virus infection and cardiac manifestation are presented. The first was admitted by encephalopathy. On the first days of hospital stay were observed episodes of supraventricular tachycardia with echocardiography normal. An initial improvement made us suppose the clinical context in relationship to toxoplasmosis. Subsequently the patient experienced neurological deterioration and pericardial effusion was evidenced. Therapeutic trials with ceftriaxone and tuberculostatics were useless. The postmortem pericardial aspiration showed signs of acute inflammation, but germs were not identified. The second case was admitted for longstanding fever. Because of epigastric pain an electrocardiogram was done, which revealed suggestive alterations of pericarditis. The echocardiography demonstrated the presence of pericardial effusion. The positive serology for toxoplasmosis, the bone marrow biopsy which showed reactivity with hemophagocytosis and the presence of myeloid metaplasia in the liver biopsy were the most relevant data. On the fifth day of hospital stay and second of the tuberculostatic treatment the patient expired unexpectedly.