Glomerular tip lesions--a newly described glomerular change

Glomerular tip lesion is a newly described histopathological lesion characterized by a focal and segmental widening of the mesangial matrix without hypercellularity together with capillary dilatation, hyaline exudation on the inside of capillary walls and occurrence of vacuolized cells, localized to the peripheral segments of the glomerular tuft. Clinically, these patients have a pronounced nephrotic syndrome with slightly reduced renal function, but terminal renal failure is seldom seen, even after many years of disorder. Two characteristic case histories are presented. The classification of this lesion among the glomerular disorders is at present uncertain. It may represent a transitional form between minor lesion nephritis and focal segmental sclerosis, a separate disorder, or a functional lesion associated with high proteinuria.     

Selectivity of LG50643 for postjunctional muscarinic-receptor subtype in the guinea-pig trachea

The effects of (+/-)-LG50643, a new N-quaternary tropinic ester of phenylcyclohexene carboxylic acid, endowed with a potent antimuscarinic activity, have been investigated on muscarinic receptor-mediated responses of the guinea-pig trachea to electrical field stimulation. An isolated preparation which allows the simultaneous measurement of tritiated acetylcholine release (prejunctional effect) and smooth muscle contraction (postjunctional effect) was used. The guinea-pig epithelium-deprived trachea was stimulated with 500 pulses (20 Hz, 1 ms, 9 V for 5 s, 30 s apart) in the presence of indomethacin (1 microM). Three successive pre- and postjunctional responses were observed. The potencies (-logEC50) of (+/-)-LG50643 for pre- and postjunctional muscarinic receptors were determined and compared with those of selective muscarinic antagonists. In addition, the affinity values of (+/-)-LG50643 for muscarinic-receptor subtypes were determined in radioligand binding experiments in cerebral cortex, heart and salivary glands of rat as target tissues for M1, M2 and M3 receptors, respectively. The results obtained in both functional and binding assays indicate (+/-)-LG50643 is a potent and selective antagonist for the M3-receptor subtype.     

Optimization of a method for simultaneous analysis of cell surface phenotype and cell cycle in human bone marrow and peripheral blood leukocytes by flow cytometry: the value of both internal and external standards

Three different methods for the simultaneous analysis of surface phenotype and DNA quantification were compared. One method, involving the fixation of cells in 70% ethanol, was convincingly superior, both with regard to the CV of the G0G1 peak and the intensity of the DNA labelling. Furthermore, the correlation between the surface antigen densities before and after fixation were high. Experiments evaluating the intraday and the interday variation of the DNA ratio (the mean channel of the G0G1 peak of the sample divided by the mean channel of the G0G1 peak of chicken erythrocytes), documented the former to be small, with S.D. values varying from 0.0 to 0.016, while the latter were considerably higher with S.D. values varying from 0.077 to 0.123. Since the intraday variation of the DNA ratio was consistently low and the interday variation strongly correlated to the position of the red fluorescence test beads, it was possible to minimize the interday variation of the DNA ratio, by calculating the DNA index as the ratio between the DNA ratio of the sample and that of an external control (buffy coat leukocytes). Analyzing normal bone marrow and calculating the DNA index (DI) on the basis of these ratios, the confidence limits of the DI were decreased by more than half the values obtained when DI calculation was based solely on an internal standard, thereby making subsequent ploidy determinations of patient samples more precise. We conclude that this setup of internal and external standards allows accurate determinations of DNA aneuploidy even in an assay where whole cells labelled for surface antigen and DNA content are analyzed.     

Rational use of rubella vaccine for prevention of congenital rubella syndrome in the Americas

Seventy-three spinal cord injured patients with central cord syndrome who had undergone inpatient rehabilitation, were studied retrospectively with regard to their demographic, neurologic and functional characteristics. There were 67 males and six females with a mean age of 53.5 years. Falls was the commonest mechanism of injury (54.8%) followed by motor vehicle accidents. Eleven patients sustained cervical fractures and 41 had radiological evidence of cervical spondylosis. Seventeen patients had sensory impairment and significant spasticity was present in 14 patients. Significant improvements in the admission/discharge ASIA motor scores and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores (P < 0.001) were noted after rehabilitation. Ninety-two percent of patients were continent of bladder on discharge compared to 64.4% on admission. Multiple regression analysis revealed three factors associated with a better functional outcome, namely, higher admission MBI scores, absence of spasticity and younger age (P < 0.05).     

Blood donor centres can effectively publicise cancer screening

We studied 100 healthy children looking for lactose malabsortion. We performed in all of them the lactose breath test. We found a 10% with lactose malabsortion. There was no correlation between lactose breath test and fecal reducing substances.     

Cognitive shifting as a predictor of progress in social understanding in high-functioning adolescents with autism: a prospective study

The pyrolytic behavior of inulin, a (2-->1)-linked fructofuranan, is described. Parallel investigations of the pyrolysis of glucose and of fructose were conducted to supplement the inulin results and to aid comparison with previous results from glucans. Effects of neutral and basic additives are emphasized. As with glucans, the addition of such additives (especially basic) increases the yields of the one-, two-, and three-carbon products (as well as of hexosaccharinolactones), while generally decreasing the yields of anhydro sugar and furan derivatives. The former products include glycolaldehyde, acetol, dihydroxy-acetone, acetic acid, formic acid, and lactic acid. Mechanistic speculations are made regarding the origins of these compounds, as well as of furan derivatives and saccharinic acid lactones. Parallels with alkaline degradation are considered.     

The role of histone acetylation in the allelic expression of the imprinted human insulin-like growth factor II gene

This study examines the relationship between the first cycle of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and subsequent cycles. The results of all IVF cycles conducted at The Hammersmith Hospital or The Royal Masonic Hospital between 1988 and 1995 were studied including those cycles where egg recovery was abandoned due to poor ovarian response. All patients underwent a standardized treatment protocol. Of those women who achieved a clinical pregnancy during their first IVF attempt, 33% achieved a pregnancy during their second cycle, statistically significantly different from the 24% of patients conceiving during a second cycle who had failed to conceive during their first. 36% of those who achieved a biochemical pregnancy in their first cycle became pregnant in their second. Age was an important factor in the success of IVF treatment, with pregnancy rates of 48% in the 20-25 year age group falling to 8% in those aged > or =41 years. Cumulative pregnancy rates were 26% after one cycle, increasing to 43% after two cycles and reached 80% after seven cycles. A previous pregnancy significantly improved a couple's probability of conception in a later IVF cycle. Overall pregnancy rates per cycle were constant for the first three attempts. Cumulative pregnancy rates continued to rise to 72% after six cycles. Thus the more cycles a couple undergo (up to six) the greater their chance of a pregnancy.     

Work-site smoking policies: their population impact in Washington State

This article presents data from a population-based, random-digit dialing telephone survey of 1228 employed adults in Washington State, conducted 1989 through 1990. Eighty-one percent of men and 91% of women reported work-site smoking restrictions. Employees in work sites with no-smoking policies were less likely to be current smokers; men in work sites with policies restricting smoking smoked fewer cigarettes on both workdays and nonworkdays. Forty-eight percent of male and 53% of female smokers reported reduced smoking as a result of work-site policy. Work-site smoking policies, intended to protect against smoke exposure, may also reduce employee smoking.