1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine adducts: potential new biomarkers of smoking-induced DNA damage in human oral tissue

Diarrhea is a non-specific symptom which may be associated with Addison's disease and several causes had been demonstrated in the aetiology. We describe a patient with Addison's disease who was suffering from chronic diarrhea for three months. She was diagnosed as having collagenous colitis and successfully treated with Sulphasalazine, 2 g/day. Collagenous colitis is an uncommon cause of chronic diarrhea and the association of collagenous colitis with Addison's disease has not previously been described. We think that collagenous colitis may play a role in the aetiology of diarrhea in patients with Addison's disease and therefore we suggest a full colonoscopic examination in other patients with Addison's disease and diarrhea to determine the incidence of collagenous colitis in the aetiology of diarrhea.     

Plasma lipoproteins and the incidence of abnormal excretion of albumin in diabetic American Indians: the Strong Heart Study

Animal studies suggest that lipids are risk factors for kidney diseases. Some prospective studies and clinical trials have reported predictive effects of lipoproteins on different stages of diabetic nephropathy in humans. We examined lipoprotein abnormalities to determine if they predict abnormal urinary excretion of albumin (> or = 30 mg albumin/g creatinine), using logistic regression. We followed 671 American Indians (211 men, 460 women) with Type II diabetes for a mean of 3.9 years (range 1.7-6.2). Participants were aged 45-74 years. They had normal excretion of albumin and normal serum creatinine at baseline. 67 men and 144 women developed abnormal excretion of albumin. In models controlled for age, treatment with oral hypoglycaemic agents or insulin, HbA1c, study site, degree of Indian heritage, mean arterial blood pressure, albumin excretion at baseline and duration of diabetes, a high HDL cholesterol was a protector for abnormal excretion of albumin in women [odds ratio (OR) comparing the 90th with the 10th percentile = 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.32-0.98], but not in men (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 0.66-3.4). Further adjustment for obesity, insulin concentration, alcohol consumption or physical activity did not change the results. There was a tendency for high values of VLDL and total triglyceride and small LDL size to predict abnormal excretion of albumin in women only. We conclude that low HDL cholesterol was a risk factor for abnormal excretion of albumin in women, but not in men. Sex hormones may be responsible for sex differences in the association between HDL cholesterol and abnormal excretion of albumin.     

Improved confidence intervals for the difference between binomial proportions based on paired data

Existing methods for setting confidence intervals for the difference theta between binomial proportions based on paired data perform inadequately. The asymptotic method can produce limits outside the range of validity. The 'exact' conditional method can yield an interval which is effectively only one-sided. Both these methods also have poor coverage properties. Better methods are described, based on the profile likelihood obtained by conditionally maximizing the proportion of discordant pairs. A refinement (methods 5 and 6) which aligns 1-alpha with an aggregate of tail areas produces appropriate coverage properties. A computationally simpler method based on the score interval for the single proportion also performs well (method 10).     

L-733,060, a novel tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist; effects in [Ca2+]i mobilisation, cardiovascular and dural extravasation assays

Short RNA species that encompass the psi domain of the retroviral genome spontaneously form dimers in vitro, and the retroviral nucleocapsid protein activates this dimerization in vitro. Addition of gag RNA sequences downstream of the 3' end of the psi domain decreases the level of spontaneous dimerization. Here, we report the effects of RNA length on dimerization in vitro, studied with RNA fragments from Moloney murine leukaemia virus that contain the psi domain and all or part of the gag sequence. Extension of the RNA leads to progressive inhibition of the in vitro dimerization process. Sequences located downstream of the 3' end of the psi domain seem to stabilize the monomeric structures. This stabilization participates in dimerization of the RNA sequences involved in the recognition of two RNA molecules. We studied the ability of nucleocapsid protein 10 to promote dimerization of such long RNA fragments, and found that the protein greatly enhances their dimerization in vitro. We propose that nucleocapsid protein 10 stimulates the overall dimerization process by reduction of the energy barrier that must be overcome to allow dimer formation. Our results show that dimerization of RNA form Moloney murine leukaemia virus in vitro is enhanced by nucleocapsid protein 10. This finding is in agreement with the involvement of the nucleocapsid protein in RNA dimerization in vivo.     

Fatalities and injuries in the Kuwaiti construction industry

This paper presents an analysis of construction accidents in Kuwait along with accident causation and injuries that can be considered serious or fatal, so that corrective measures can be taken to decrease casualties, resulting in a safer construction industry. The paper evaluates the existing injury and cost reporting-investigation system of construction accidents in government agencies and private firms. This research confirms that construction is the most hazardous industry in Kuwait, with accidents accounting for 48%, 38% and 34% of all disabling injuries and 62%, 38% and 42% of all fatalities in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. These rates are considered high and can be compared to construction accident statistics in the U.S.A. which accounted for 14% of all work-related deaths and 9% of disabling injuries in 1993. Based on the study, falling from a height appears to be the major cause of construction injuries and fatalities in Kuwait. Poor accident records and reporting systems hide the extent of the construction safety problem in Kuwait. In addition, many people at management level are unaware of accident-related costs and the effectiveness of a safety program in reducing project costs.     

Magnetic relaxation contrast agents in magnetization transfer imaging

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The effects of magnetic relaxation agents are explored in the context of magnetization transfer pulse sequences using cross-linked protein gels as modeled tissue systems. METHODS: Magnetization transfer pulse sequences were used to study contrast agents that are designed to bind to rotationally immobilized protein targets. RESULTS: The dynamic range available from contrast agents, used in conjunction with magnetization transfer pulse sequences, is comparable with or better than that based on spin-echo imaging sequences with short repetition times. Furthermore, useful changes in the intensity of water resonances may be achieved by using this combined approach even though the paramagnetic metal center may not have a free coordination position in the chelate complex for water molecule exchange. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of magnetization transfer acquisition protocols in the context of magnetic imaging with contrast agents presents new opportunities for control of the information content of the image and for new classes of contrast agent structure and delivery.