HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and diet in familial hypercholesterolaemia

We describe a patient who is a carrier of hemophilia B, who was unusual in that she had symptoms and abnormal hematologic findings. She became pregnant and desired to have chorionic villus sampling for fetal sex determination. This was performed without complication. Her pregnancy continued, and she was delivered of a normal female infant with no complications for mother or infant. We believe this to be the first report of chorionic villus sampling in a symptomatic carrier of hemophilia B.     

Black students' counselor preference and attitudes toward counseling center use.

Surveyed 42 female and 33 male Black college students to determine factors related to Black student use of the university counseling center. Counselor preference, sex of client, sex of counselor, race of counselor, and type of problem were analyzed as to their effects on counseling center use. Results indicate that Black clients preferred Black counselors and that the likelihood of taking a problem to the counseling center increased as counselor preference increased. Also, the likelihood of taking a problem to the center was significantly greater if the counselor to be seen was Black rather than White. Client and counselor sex, and type of problem (personal or educational-vocational) had no effect on potential counseling center usage. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Asian American, Black, and White college students' preferences for help-giving sources.

250 undergraduates (18 Asian Americans, 116 Blacks, and 116 Whites) were asked to rank order 12 help givers for educational/vocational and emotional problems. Rankings of help sources under the 2 problem types did not differ significantly for the group as a whole or for any subgrouping by sex or ethnic group. Although none of the obtained differences between groups or problem type were significant, the directions of the small intergroup variations in help source rankings did support other studies' findings regarding Blacks and Asian Americans. Additionally, the total groups' rankings had implications for formal campus help-giving agencies in that students identified parents, nonstudent friends, relatives, and counseling centers as among the 5 most preferred help sources. Implications for refinements in such research are discussed. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in the microbial flora,chlorophenols and chloroanisoles in broiler house litter during a chicken rearing cycle

The changes in the microbial flora, chlorophenol loss, and chloroanisole production have been studied in the litter from four broiler houses through a single rearing cycle. An increase in species of Scopulariopsis and Aspergillus over the first 4 to 5 weeks of the rearing cycle coincided with a decrease in the levels of 2, 4, 6-tri-, 2, 3, 4, 6-tetra-, and pentachlorophenols, a rise in p^H and moisture content of the litter and a decline in the fungal species normally present in the fresh shavings. The maximum levels of chloroanisoles occurred at approximately the same stage of the rearing cycle as the highest viable count of the predominant litter fungi.     

Regulation of NMDA receptor phosphorylation by alternative splicing of the C-terminal domain

The NMDA (N-methyl D-aspartate) receptors in the brain play a critical role in synaptic plasticity, synaptogenesis and excitotoxicity. Molecular cloning has demonstrated that NMDA receptors consist of several homologous subunits (NMDAR1, 2A-2D). A variety of studies have suggested that protein phosphorylation of NMDA receptors may regulate their function and play a role in many forms of synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation. We have examined the phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor subunit NMDAR1 (NR1) by protein kinase C (PKC) in cells transiently expressing recombinant NR1 and in primary cultures of cortical neurons. PKC phosphorylation occurs on several distinct sites on the NR1 subunit. Most of these sites are contained within a single alternatively spliced exon in the C-terminal domain, which has previously been proposed to be on the extracellular side of the membrane. These results demonstrate that alternative splicing of the NR1 messenger RNA regulates its phosphorylation by PKC, and that mRNA splicing is a novel mechanism for regulating the sensitivity of glutamate receptors to protein phosphorylation. These results also provide evidence that the C-terminal domain of the NR1 protein is located intracellularly, suggesting that the proposed transmembrane topology model for glutamate receptors may be incorrect.     

Lipase from Vicia faba minor

Lipase was partially purified from small faba beans by ethanol precipitation and Sephadex gel filtration and characterised by disc gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and molecular weight determination in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the properties of the enzyme conformed generally to those of lipases from other sources. The isoelectric point was pH 4·8, and electrophoresis at pH 9·3 revealed one lipase band in the R_f0·25–0·31 region. The molecular weight was 210,000 ± 20,000. The possible importance of lipase is discussed with respect to the degradation of small faba bean lipids and to chemical changes occurring during storage of processed faba beans.     

Seeking urgent pediatric treatment: Factors contributing to frequency, delay, and appropriateness.

Explored the factors that contributed to mothers' decisions to seek urgent medical attention for their children when symptoms were not of a traumatic nature. 89 mothers (mean age 28.4 yrs) seeking treatment for their children (mean age 5.3 yrs) at a prepaid clinic completed a questionnaire eliciting their expectations regarding the course of their children's problems, seriousness of the problems, perceived responsibility for the symptoms, and extent to which a variety of factors contributed to their decisions to seek treatment. Demographic data and information about each child's symptoms and medical history were also obtained. Four major reasons for seeking treatment were identified: family history of the presenting complaint, worry regarding the symptoms, situational variables, and the extent of the child's illness behavior. The appropriateness of the visit, delay in seeking treatment, and frequency of mothers' use of the pediatric clinic were predicted by the nature of the presenting symptoms (particularly the presence of fever), the ages of the mother and child, and 2 of the reasons for seeking treatment factors (i.e., family history, child's illness behavior). It is suggested that mothers should pay more attention to presenting symptoms and to the children's behavior than to psychosocial stressors in deciding to seek urgent care. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)