Focal cerebral ischaemia increases the levels of several classes of heat shock proteins and their corresponding mRNAs

The induction of focal cerebral ischaemia in rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion has previously been shown to increase, over time, the mRNA levels of the heat shock proteins (HSPs) 27 and 70. However, the levels of HSP90 mRNA remain constant. In contrast, during global ischaemia, HSP70 and HSP90 mRNA levels are both raised, particularly in the CA1 neurons in the hippocampus, an area that is resistant to the insult in comparison to the surrounding regions. HSP27 mRNA is raised in the neuroglia in the subregions of the hippocampus. However, the protein levels of HSP27, 70 and 90 have not been characterised in focal ischaemia. With this data in mind, we have carried out a comparative study of HSP27, 56, 60, 70 and 90 mRNA and protein levels during focal cerebral ischaemia in rats, up to 24 h post-occlusion. We have shown that HSP70 and HSP27 mRNA levels are increased and also that HSP60 mRNA levels (which had also not previously been characterised in this model of focal ischaemia) are significantly raised. HSP90 and HSP56 mRNAs were not significantly elevated. On Western blot analysis, the inducible HSP72 protein was first detected at 8 h post-occlusion, HSP27 protein was detected only at 24 h post-occlusion and HSP60 protein, although constitutive, appeared to increase at 24 h post-occlusion. HSP56 protein levels appeared to rise on the occluded side, but HSP90 protein levels remained constant.     

Influence of adjuvants on the induction of autoantibodies to the thyrotropin receptor

To determine the influence of adjuvant on the induction of antibodies to thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), we immunized BALB/c mice with a extracellular domain of the TSHR (ETSHR) protein in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), Titer Max (TM) and Gerbu. Similarly, control groups of mice were immunized with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in each of the different adjuvants. As determined by ELISA, ETSHR given along with CFA elicited high titers of antibodies to ETSHR which were mainly restricted to the IgG1 subclass. Mice immunized with ETSHR in TM also developed high titers of anti-ETSHR antibodies but had higher levels of both IgG1 and IgG2a. However, immunization with ETSHR in Gerbu resulted in low titers of antibodies, restricted to IgG1 subclass. Immunization of mice with BSA in each of the three adjuvants induced higher antibody titers to BSA. The subclass of antibodies in mice immunized with BSA in CFA and TM were predominantly IgG1 and IgG2a with lower levels of IgG2b, whereas in Gerbu treated group, antibody to BSA was restricted to IgG1 subclass. Analysis of specificity of antibodies against ETSHR, in mice immunized with ETSHR, revealed that irrespective of the adjuvant used, the dominant reactivity was against peptide 1 (AA 22-41) with weaker reactivity against several other. peptides. The only exception was in mice immunized with ETSHR in TM which also showed significant reactivity against peptide 23 (AA 352-371). Mice immunized with the ETSHR in CFA or in TM showed elevated levels of serum TSH binding inhibitory immunoglobulins (TBII). However, mice immunized with ETSHR in Gerbu, which had lower titers of antibodies to ETSHR, showed normal TBII levels. These studies showed that adjuvant composition could influence the titer, subclass and fine specificity of antibodies to ETSHR which in turn could affect the development of TBII activity.     

Volunteer facilitators assist community practices with enhancing cancer control

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of recruiting, training, and placing in the field volunteers to assist community practices in enhancing the provision of preventive care. DESIGN: A case series design followed up a cohort of volunteers prospectively as they were recruited, trained, and assigned to practices. SETTING: The New Hampshire Division of the American Cancer Society recruited and trained the volunteer facilitators. INTERVENTION: Assistance from the volunteers in implementing a preventive services office system served as the intervention for practices. Volunteers were trained and supported by professional staff and an implementation manual. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recruitment, training, and volunteer experiences in working with practices, as well as the costs of supporting the program, were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-six volunteers were trained. Of the 15 assigned to practices, 11 had begun to assist their assigned practices to establish a preventive services office system. Extensive planning, patience, and support were required. CONCLUSION: Volunteers recruited and supported by an intermediary organization can provide assistance to practices in implementing a preventive services office system.     

Giant congenital nevocellular nevus overlying an encephalocele

OBJECTIVE: To compare patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who have and do not have back pain, and evaluate the prevalence, characteristics, and consequences of back pain among knee OA patients. METHODS: During a 3-year period, consecutive patients attending an outpatient rheumatology clinic were evaluated for the presence of back pain, and 368 were found to have OA of the knee. Clinical status was evaluated by the Clinical Health Assessment Questionnaire, radiographs, and joint examinations. RESULTS: Back pain was present in 54.6% of patients with OA of the knee. Almost every clinical status measure was worse among those reporting back pain, including Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability, pain, global severity, fatigue, and psychological status. Back pain was more common in women and the obese, but was not associated with age, marital status, formal education, smoking history, or knee radiographic scores. In multivariate analyses the strongest correlates of back pain in knee OA patients were anxiety, night pain, HAQ disability, and global severity. CONCLUSION: Back pain is prevalent among OA clinic patients, more common than in rheumatoid arthritis or population studies, is linked to body mass index, and is associated with clinically significant increases in pain and other measures of clinical distress.     

Qigong and L-1 straining maneuver oxygen system requirements with and without positive pressure breathing

Based on the characteristics of respiration and the intrathoracic pressure in Qigong (Q-G) maneuvering, it has been theorized that the Q-G maneuver may lessen the lack of coordination between aircraft oxygen apparatus and anti-G maneuvers and may be more compatible with positive pressure breathing (PPB). In an experiment intended to test this hypothesis, 5 male volunteers, trained in Q-G and L-1 maneuvers, performed the Q-G and the L-1 maneuvers without and with (PPB) at 4 and 6 kPa, respectively, with 14 respiratory parameters being measured. The results demonstrated that, when performing Q-G maneuver, the maximal expiratory flow rate averaged 1.175-1.645 L.s-1, the inspiratory peak flow, 1.003-1.297 L.s-1. Both these values were markedly lower than those of the L-1 maneuver, and matched well the performance of current aircraft oxygen apparatus. From the blood pressure and heart rate values, it is evident that PPB can further promote the blood pressure-raising effect of the Q-G maneuver, and alleviate pilots' fatigue.     

Clinical pharmacology of bruceantin by radioimmunoassay

During the phase I clinical trial of a new antitumor agent, bruceantin, the pharmacology was studied in 18 cancer patients. The drug was infused intravenously (IV) for 3 h at doses ranging from 1 to 3.6 mg/m2 per day for 5 days. The plasma drug disappearance curves were biphasic, with a fast initial half-life of less than 15 min. The second half-life (t1/2 beta) varied from 0.7 to 38 h among different patients and was not dose-related. The difference between the t1/2 beta on day 1 and that on day 5 was not significant. In patients with normal liver function, the mean plasma concentration at the end of infusion was 22 ng/ml, and the value of the area under the concentration X time curve (AUC) was 111 (ng/ml)h. In contrast, in patients with abnormal liver function the corresponding values were 115 ng/ml and 830 (ng/ml)h, respectively. In addition, these patients had a slower elimination half-life of 10.9 h and a decreased total clearance of 157 ml/min/m2, as compared with 2.6 h and 671 ml/min/m2, respectively, for the normal group. All these differences were statistically significant. Patients with abnormal liver function developed more severe toxicity, including fever, severe nausea, vomiting, and hypotension. Two patients with severe hepatic dysfunction received a reduced dose and developed no toxicity. These results demonstrated the importance of the effects of liver dysfunction on drug disposition and showed that the dosage should be reduced in patients with hepatic dysfunction.     

Lactic acid production from molasses by Sporolactobacillus cellulosolvens

Sporolactobacillus cellulosolvens (NCIMB 12173) isolated from an anaerobic digester and characterised biochemically is being reported for homofermentative lactic acid production from molasses in a batch culture. The effect of various process parameters on lactic acid production were optimized. A maximum lactic acid (24.2 g/l) and yield coefficient (0.79) was achieved using 3% (v/v) inoculum of 36 h old culture in molasses medium containing sugars (5%; w/v) supplemented with peptone (2.5 g/l) and (NH4)2SO4 (7.5 g/l), pH 6.5 at 40 degrees C after 72 h of fermentation.