Family, peer, and neighborhood influences on academic achievement among African-American adolescents: one-year prospective effects

Using a 1-year prospective design, this study examined the influence of family status variables (family income, parental education, family structure), parenting variables (maternal support and restrictive control), peer support, and neighborhood risk on the school performance of 120 African American junior high school students. In addition to main effects of these variables, neighborhood risk was examined as a moderator of the effects of parenting and peer support. Family status variables were not predictive of adolescent school performance as indexed by self-reported grade point average. Maternal support at Time 1 was prospectively related to adolescent grades at Time 2. Neighborhood risk was related to lower grades, while peer support predicted better grades in the prospective analyses. Neighborhood risk also moderated the effects of maternal restrictive control and peer support on adolescent grades in prospective analyses. These findings highlight the importance of an ecological approach to the problem of academic underachievement within the African American Community.     

Endothelin receptors mediating vasoconstriction in rat pressurized small arteries

The effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a nonselective ETA and ETB receptor agonist, and sarafotoxin S6c, a selective ETB agonist, were investigated in the presence and absence of BQ123 and BQ788, ETA- and ETB-selective antagonists, respectively, in rat mesenteric small arteries, using a perfusion pressurized arteriograph in which segments of vessels were cannulated and exposed to constant pressure and flow. ET-1 (10(-13)-10(-7) M) induced vasoconstriction in both intact and endothelium-denuded arteries in a concentration-dependent manner. BQ123 (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) inhibited the effect of ET-1, displacing the concentration-response curve to the right in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of ET-1 was not significantly affected by BQ788 (10(-7) and 10(-6) M), a selective antagonist of ETB receptors. Sarafotoxin S6c (10(-11)-10(-7) M) also induced a slight concentration-dependent vasoconstriction. The effect of sarafotoxin S6c (10(-8) M) was inhibited by the ETB-selective antagonist BQ788 (10(-7) M), but was not significantly changed by BQ123 (10(-7) M). Vasoconstriction induced by sarafotoxin S6c (10(-8) M) in a single bolus concentration was significantly greater than the contraction induced by the same concentration as part of a cumulative concentration-response curve, indicating desensitization or downregulation of ETB receptors during the latter. Repeated application of single concentrations of sarafotoxin S6c (10(-8) M) caused progressively smaller contraction of arteries. These results show the existence of both ETA and ETB vasoconstrictor receptors located on smooth muscle of small arteries. They also show that ETB receptors induce a smaller constrictor effect, and rapidly undergo desensitization after sustained or repeated activation.     

Assessment of the influence of the compliant aortic root on aortic valve mechanics by means of a geometrical model

In recent years several researchers have suggested that the changes in the geometry and angular dimensions of the aortic root which occur during the cardiac cycle are functional to the optimisation of aortic valve function, both in terms of diminishing leaflet stresses and of fluid-dynamic behaviour. The paper presents an analytical parametric model of the aortic valve which includes the aortic root movement. The indexes used to evaluate the valve behaviour are the circumferential membrane stress and the stress at the free edge of the leaflet, the index of bending strain, the bending of the leaflet at the line attachment in the radial and circumferential directions and the shape of the conduit formed by the leaflets during systole. In order to evaluate the role of geometric changes in valve performance, two control cases were considered, with different reference geometric configuration, where the movement of the aortic root was ignored. The results obtained appear consistent with physiological data, especially with regard to the late diastolic phase and the early ejection phase, and put in evidence the role of the aortic root movement in the improvement of valve behaviour.     

Limited influence of the mesothelium on the influx of monocytes into the peritoneal cavity

Exposure of Farage, a human B-cell line, to interleukin 4 (IL4) reduced the amount of CD38 antigen on the surface of the cells and in cell lysates. No evidence was obtained for accelerated breakdown, shedding, or internalization of CD38 molecules following IL4 treatment, nor the accumulation of CD38 molecules in the cell interior. The inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide (CXM) diminished the down-regulation of CD38 induced by IL4. CXM decreased the expression of CD38 in Farage cells with arrested mitosis, and IL4 failed to further reduce CD38 expression. Staurosporine, an inhibitor of serine/threonine protein kinases, and H7 (1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine), a preferential inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), abrogated the effect of IL4 on CD38, while inhibitors of other serine protein kinases W7 (N-(aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfoamide) and H8 (N-(2-[methylamino]ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide) failed to interfere with the effect of IL4. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of PKC, resembled IL4 in decreasing the expression of CD38, and either staurosporine or H7 abolished this effect. Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, increased the expression of CD38, but failed to abrogate the inhibitory effect of IL4 on CD38. It is concluded that serine/threonine protein kinases mediated the IL4-induced down-regulation of the expression of CD38 molecules in B cells.     

Desire and efforts to quit smoking among cigarette smokers in Wisconsin

This research studied the desire and attempts of cigarette smokers in Wisconsin to quit smoking. Data were based on the 1993 Wisconsin Division of Health's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Among the 23% of respondents who were current smokers, 79% said they wanted to quit smoking and 60% said they had quit smoking for a day or more in the preceding year. High rates of wanting to quit and having tried to quit were found in all demographic subgroups of smokers studied. Compared to lighter smokers, heavy cigarette smokers (20 or more cigarettes per day) were less likely to have tried quitting in the past year, but were almost as likely to want to quit. These results demonstrate the great demand for smoking cessation services among smokers in Wisconsin and support for efforts to increase the use and effectiveness of these interventions.     

Calcium stimulates intramitochondrial cholesterol transfer in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells

In adrenal glomerulosa cells, angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates aldosterone synthesis through rises of cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]c). The rate-limiting step in this process is the transfer of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it is converted to pregnenolone by the P450 side chain cleavage enzyme. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of changes in [Ca2+]c and of Ang II on intramitochondrial cholesterol distribution. Freshly prepared bovine zona glomerulosa cells were submitted to a cytosolic Ca2+ clamp (600 nM) or stimulated with Ang II (10 nM). Mitochondria were isolated and subfractionated into outer membranes (OM), inner membranes (IM), and contact sites (CS). Cholesterol content was determined by the cholesterol oxidase assay. Stimulation of intact cells with Ca2+ led to a marked decrease in cholesterol content of OM (to 54 +/- 24% of controls, n = 5) and to a concomitant increase of cholesterol in CS and IM (to 145 +/- 14%, n = 5). When glomerulosa cells were exposed to Ang II, a marked increase of cholesterol in CS occurred (to 172 +/- 16% of controls, n = 5). No significant changes were detected in OM cholesterol, suggesting a stimulation of cholesterol supply to the mitochondria in response to Ang II. Cycloheximide specifically and significantly reduced Ca2+-activated cholesterol transfer to CS and IM. In conclusion, our data indicate that one of the main functions of the Ca2+ messenger is to increase cholesterol supply to the P450 side chain cleavage enzyme by enhancing endogenous intermembrane cholesterol transfer to a mitochondrial site containing the enzymes responsible for the initial steps of the steroidogenic cascade.     

A high proportion of novel mutations in BRCA1 with strong founder effects among Dutch and Belgian hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families

We have identified 79 mutations in BRCA1 in a set of 643 Dutch and 23 Belgian hereditary breast and ovarian cancer families collected either for research or for clinical diagnostic purposes. Twenty-eight distinct mutations have been observed, 18 of them not previously reported and 12 of them occurring more than once. Most conspicuously, a 2804delAA mutation has been found 19 times and has never been reported outside the Netherlands. A common haplotype spanning > or = 375 kb could be identified for each of the nine examined recurrent mutations, indicating the presence of multiple BRCA1 founder mutations in the Dutch population. The 2804delAA mutation has been estimated to have originated approximately 32 generations ago. No specific breast or ovarian cancer phenotype could be assigned to any of the common mutations, and the ovarian cancer incidence among 18 families with the 2804delAA mutation was heterogeneous.     

Knowledge, attitude and behavior among patients with Chlamydia. Perspectives for prevention

Patients with chlamydial infections (Ct) attending the outpatient Venereal Disease Clinic of Copenhagen from July 1-November 30 1995 were asked to fill in a questionnaire focusing upon knowledge, attitude and behaviour related to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in order to strengthen the future prevention of Ct. The questionnaire was answered by 37 men and 35 women with a median age of 27 and 21 years and a median number of three and two sexual partners within the last six months, respectively. Half of the patients had previously had an STD, and 92% had been tested for HIV, of whom one homosexual man was known HIV-positive. Notification about exposure from a partner was the reason for attending for 24%. All but one were in favour of partner notification, but only 6% wanted provider referral. During last intercourse condoms had neither been used with a steady partner by 75% especially by the young and women, who thought themselves safe, nor with a casual partner by 52% especially among the young and men, mainly because of thoughtlessness or perception of low risk. Before the actual STD diagnosis only 49% were able to name one symptom and 35% one complication related to Ct. A majority (79%) stated, that fear of catching another Ct would lead to better protection, and 70% found that more information would have a preventive effect. Future Ct prevention programs in Denmark should include intensified chlamydial screening and partner notification together with centrally produced mass media information supplemented by individual counselling.     

Clinical evaluation of technetium-99m-L,L-ethylenedicysteine in patients with chronic renal failure

1. Effects of feeding condition from birth were examined on the sensitivity of neuromuscular transmission to d-tubocurarine (dTc) in vitro in male mice of the ddY strain. 2. Mice were trained to climb two separated cylindrical steel-wire tubes for feeding and drinking, respectively, from 16 days of age. Some mice were conventionally fed, from 99 days of age. Nerve-muscle preparations were made from the left phrenic nerve diaphragm muscle (DPH), the sciatic nerve soleus muscle (SOL), and the sciatic nerve extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) of 99-day-old and 155-day-old mice. The nerve trunk was electrically activated with trains of four pulses and tetanic pulses. 3. The sensitivity to the effects of dTc decreased in the order EDL, SOL, and DPH. This result held true in all mice tested. 4. This sensitivity was significantly potentiated by the compulsory movement. 5. The supersensitivity remained even when mice were conventionally fed after 99 days of age. 6. The compulsion rendered EDL antifatigable on tetanic stimulation. This property was also retained after a return to conventional feeding. 7. These results suggest that the effects of feeding condition from birth might remain on neuromuscular functions after termination of the conditioning.