Lateral rectus whole muscle and motor unit contractile measures with the extraocular muscles intact

Both extracellular and intracellular stimulation of single motoneurons were shown to be similarly effective and consistent in eliciting contractile responses in single lateral rectus muscle motor units. The whole muscle was activated by stimulating the sixth nerve in the brain stem. Both whole muscle and motor unit contractile characteristics, under isometric conditions, were found to remain consistent regardless of whether this extraocular muscle was detached or left attached to the globe. In addition, whole muscle twitch and maximum tetanic tension evoked by sixth nerve stimulation was significantly less than would be predicted by the linear summation of individual motor unit twitch and maximum tetanic tensions.     

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts

A questionnaire to evaluate the needs of dialytic patients and the burden that these have on the health service and staff, was formulated by the nurses. The results showed how the patient's case history indicate, significantly, not only personal and subjective aspects (e.g. interpersonal relationships), but also how they construct their relationships with the hospital and its service (including the hospital staff). This opens up certain reflections on what role communication and information play within the hospital structure.     

Demonstration of discrete secreted and membrane-bound ocular mucins in the dog

Our aims were to separate and characterize secreted canine ocular mucins, and to provide definitive evidence of membrane-bound mucins at the canine ocular surface. Mucus was collected by suction from the ocular surface of normal dogs and dispersed in guanidine hydrochloride and a cocktail of protease inhibitors. Caesium chloride density gradient centrifugation separated secreted mucins from membranes, which were collected from the top of the gradients. Membranes were extracted with octyl glucoside and screened using lectins and anti-mucin antibodies. Gradient fractions containing secreted mucins were constituted into pools on the basis of differential lectin and antibody staining. High molecular weight material from each pool was purified by gel filtration. This material, and the membrane extract, were reduced and alkylated. Vacuum blotting of separated materials after agarose gel electrophoresis was used to compare subunit structure. Density gradient profiles indicated three principal secreted glycoprotein peaks: one staining strongly with anti-mucin antibodies. Gel filtration demonstrated that each contained high molecular weight material. Vacuum blots demonstrated the presence of two secreted glycoproteins with differently sized subunits. On the basis of buoyant density, one of these may be lipid complexed. Membrane extracted material stained with anti-mucin antibodies, and vacuum blotting of this material provided evidence for two membrane-bound components. In conclusion, we have shown that normal canine ocular mucus contains two secreted mucins, each exhibiting different subunit structure; one of these mucins may undergo lipid complexation. Normal canine ocular mucus also contains two membrane-bound mucins: one of which is unique among membrane mucins in showing subunit structure.     

Characterization of Rev function using subgenomic and genomic constructs in T and COS cells

The effects of extracellular Ca2+ on cytotoxicity induced by cardiotoxin (CTX), isolated from Chinese cobra venom, were investigated in cultured rabbit aortic endothelial cells (RAECs). In Hank's buffered saline solution (HBSS) containing 1.2 mM Ca2+, CTX (1-30 microM) caused cell necrosis and cell death in a concentration-dependent manner, as determined by trypan blue exclusion test performed after a 20-min CTX treatment. The concentration of CTX that caused 50% cell death was about 6.5 microM. CTX (10 microM)-induced RAEC damage was also evident but less prominent in Ca2+-free medium and almost completely prevented in medium containing 7-10 mM Ca2+. Therefore, Ca2+ appears to provoke CTX-induced injury at physiological concentrations, but protects against it at high concentrations. The protection of RAECs from CTX-induced injury could also be achieved by high concentrations of Ni2+ and Mg2+. Using the fura-2 fluorescence technique to measure the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) of single RAEC, it was shown that in 1.2 mM Ca2+-containing HBSS, treatment of RAECs with 10 microM CTX for 7-35 min resulted in a tremendous and irreversible [Ca2+]i elevation, suggestive of cell membrane damage and extracellular Ca2+ entry. Ni2+ could also enter the cytosol of these damaged RAECs. However, there was no [Ca2+]i elevation or Ni2+ entry in RAECs that were preincubated in HBSS containing 7 mM Ca2+ or Ni2+ before CTX exposure. In RAECs protected with 7 mM Ca2+, the intracellular Ca2+ signals triggered by 100 microM extracellular ATP or 10 microM bradykinin in CTX-treated groups were similar to those in the untreated control groups. Taken together, the results indicate that high extracellular Ca2+ concentrations protected RAECs from CTX-induced injury, and preserved the ability of CTX-treated RAECs to generate Ca2+ signals in response to physiological stimuli.     

Homogeneity of fruits and vegetables comminuted in a vertical cutter mixer

The homogeneity of comminuted composites of 20 lb samples of apples, cabbage, and green beans containing field-incurred residues of p, p'-methoxychlor was studied to determine whether a 5 min comminution in a 40 qt vertical cutter mixer produces a homogeneous composite and whether the size of test portions used accurately represents the composite. Duplicate test portions of 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, and 2 g taken from each of 6 separate sections of the mixer were analyzed by standard pesticide residue methodology for p, p'-methoxychlor. Results of this study confirmed that comminution of fresh produce in a 40 qt vertical cutter mixer, according to instructions described in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Pesticide Analytical Manual, Volume I, Section 203B, produces a homogeneous composite. No significant differences were found in the data for the 3 crops taken from the 6 sections of the mixer. Test portion weights of 100, 50, and 25 g produced equivalent results for all 3 crops. Statistically significant differences were observed for cabbage at 2, 5, and 10 g and for green beans at 2 g.     

Prognostic significance of cathepsin-D in patients with breast cancer

The expression of the protease cathepsin-D has been evaluated using an immunohistochemical technique with a polyclonal antibody in paraffin-embedded tissue from 359 patients treated between the years 1975-1981 for Stage I and II breast cancer. One hundred and twenty seven patients (35%) have strongly positive, granular staining, 138 (38%) are intermediately stained in the cytoplasm, and in 94 (26%) no staining is observed. There is a strong positive association between expression of cathepsin-D and the presence of tumour in axillary lymph nodes (P < 0.006). Expression of the protease is associated with significantly poorer survival of patients in univariate analysis (P = 0.025); however, this is not independent of other tumour variables.     

ACAT inhibitors derived from hetero-Diels-Alder cycloadducts of thioaldehydes

Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) is the enzyme largely responsible for intracellular cholesterol esterification. A systemic inhibitor of ACAT is believed to be able to slow or even reverse the atherosclerotic process. Towards that goal, a series of cyclic sulfides, derived from the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of thioaldehydes with 1,3-dienes, and bearing carboxamide substituents, were prepared and evaluated for in vitro (in several tissues and species) and ex vivo ACAT inhibition. Minor changes in subsequent structure were found to have a significant effect in optimization of the biological activity of this series of compounds.     

Imitation and pantomime in high-functioning adolescents with autism spectrum disorders

A study was designed to test 2 alternative hypotheses--a symbolic hypothesis and an executive function hypotheses--for the imitation and pantomime deficits found in previous studies of autism. The subjects were 17 adolescent high-functioning subjects with autism spectrum disorders and 15 clinical comparison subjects who were matched on chronological age and verbal IQ. Meaning and sequence were manipulated in facial and manual imitation tasks. Sequence was manipulated in the pantomime and control tasks. Recognition memory and motor control tasks were matched to the experimental tasks. The results provided no support for the symbolic deficit hypothesis; meaning aided rather than hindered the performance of the group with autism. Partial support for the executive deficit hypothesis was found. There were no group differences on motor control tasks, and few on the memory control tasks, arguing against deficits in motor initiation, basic motor coordination, or visual recognition memory.