Calcitonin and bipolar disorder: a hypothesis revisited

Many of the great discoveries and developments in the sciences and the arts were made by people who were 'mentally different'. Some such pioneers or innovators had experiences that were indistinguishable from the phenomena defined as mental illness (or madness). It has been argued that such experiences are a necessary constituent of the creative process, and that this may apply to the sciences as much as to the arts. Increasingly, scientists propose a means by which it may be possible to identify (and eliminate) the factors that influence the altered states associated with mental illness. This may be an appropriate time to review the cultural and social significance of all forms of 'madness', especially in the light of emerging models of psychiatric nursing practice.     

Specific interaction of wild-type and truncated mouse N-methylpurine-DNA glycosylase with ethenoadenine-containing DNA

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to test the biocompatibility of a new vitamin E-modified multi-layer membrane (CL-E filter), as well as its ability to protect against oxygen free radicals during hemodialysis (HD). METHODS: We investigated, both in vitro and in vivo, the bioreactivity of the filter with respect to the blood antioxidants and its ability to prevent lipoperoxidation. The effects on the leukocyte respiratory burst were also studied. Cuprammonium rayon was used as a comparison material (CL-S filter). RESULTS: The in vitro results demonstrated that, under controlled conditions, CL-E is able to preserve blood antioxidants, and particularly vitamin E, from the spontaneous consumption observed in the incubation with CL-S filters and in control incubations. In accordance with this observation, the rate of the oxidative demolition of lipids either in plasma and red blood cells (RBC) or from rat brain homogenate decreased after the exposure to CL-E filters in comparison with the CL-S filter. Moreover, in the absence of any significant cytotoxic effects due to both the types of material studied, the production of oxygen free radicals and nitric oxide (NO) by leukocytes was higher after their in vitro exposure to CL-S, but was quite similar to that of the control leukocytes after exposure to CL-E. In vivo, a one-month treatment with the CL-E filter increased plasma vitamin E by 84.3% with respect to treatment with CL-S; this gain slightly decreased to 68.9% when CL-E treatment was prolonged to three months. In the RBC, vitamin E was found to have increased by 76.7% and 113.4% at one and three months, respectively. Plasma glutathione (GSH) levels determined at three months were significantly increased from 0.10 +/- 0.02 to 0.33 +/- 0.12 mumol/ml, while the erythrocyte GSH was only slightly increased. The leukocyte function estimated as responsiveness to soluble chemical stimuli in CL-S-treated patients was significantly improved both qualitatively and quantitatively after CL-E treatment. The presence of an increased number of mononuclear cells undergoing programmed cell death (apoptosis) in CL-S-treated patients (18.8 +/- 1.7% vs. a control value of 6.5 +/- 2.3%) as well as the apoptogenic effect of their plasma in vitro on U937 cells was significantly corrected after CL-E treatment (mean decrease in apoptotic mononuclear cells at 24 hours of culture, 25.5% and 27.1% at 1 and 3 months, respectively). The anti-apoptogenic effect of CL-E treatment showed a close dependence on the increase in vitamin E in the blood cell compartment. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that this vitamin E-modified membrane can be considered a highly biocompatible material, the antioxidant properties of which can exert a site-specific and timely scavenging function against oxygen free radicals in synergy with a hypostimulatory action on the PMN respiratory burst.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using staphylococcal protein A for detecting virus antibodies

A modification of the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed which used staphylococcal protein A linked to horseradish peroxidase. Virus antibodies in equine, bovine, porcine, feline, canine, lagomorphic (rabbit), and human sera were detected, using the indirect ELISA in which the antiglobulin enzyme conjugate was replaced by protein A linked to horseradish peroxidase. Results of the ELISA were compared with the results of the serum-virus neutralization test. The application of the test in laboratories performing serologic assays with sera from diverse animal species is discussed.     

Use of conduction anesthesia for the development of movements in the knee joint after arthrotomy

An investigation of the possible significance of 'stress' as a factor in the retention of bovine fetal membranes has been carried out, together with the investigation as to the possible variation of progesterone levels at parturition, as a cause of retention. No evidence of abnormal progesterone levels has been established, but from the evidence it is concluded that retention may well be yet another example of production disease.     

Neglected victims of homicide: the needs of young siblings of murder victims

Fifteen children, aged 7-18 years, were interviewed an average of five months after the murder of an older sibling. Although most showed significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychosocial impairment, few had received any community or mental health system support or services for these symptoms. Specific problems and needs are identified, and implications for research and practice are discussed.