Sex pheromone of the oleander scale, Aspidiotus nerii: structural characterization and absolute configuration of an unusual functionalized cyclobutane

The sex pheromone emitted by the female oleander scale, Aspidiotus nerii (Homoptera, Diaspididae), has been isolated and characterized as (1R, 2S)-cis-2-isopropenyl-1-(4'-methyl-4'-penten-1'-yl)cyclobutaneethanol acetate by using advanced MS and NMR spectroscopic methods, as well as a variety of microderivatization sequences. The structure has been confirmed by stereo- and enantioselective synthesis of the four possible stereoisomers. The absolute configuration has been determined by comparison of the activity of the cis (1S,2R) and (1R, 2S) enantiomers with that exhibited by the natural material in greenhouse bioassays and field tests. The structure of this sesquiterpenoid pheromone is new in the coccids and in the pheromone field in general.     

Marital therapy in the treatment of depression: toward a third generation of therapy and research

Two generations of outcome research demonstrate the potential efficacy of marital therapy in the treatment of depression. After reviewing treatment outcome studies on marital therapy for depression, we examine basic research linking aspects of the marital relationship to depressive symptoms. In doing so, we highlight a number of theoretical perspectives and research findings that can inform work with couples in which one spouse is depressed. Finally, we identify potential innovations that may lead to a third generation of marital interventions for depression and several avenues of inquiry for a third generation of outcome research on marital therapy for depression.     

Comparison of gastric mucosal pH and clinical judgement in critically ill patients

OBJECTIVES: To compare gastric tonometry (pHi) with estimates of pHi in ill injured patients, and to correlate pHi with haemodynamic variables. DESIGN: Prospective, non-interventional study. SETTING: ICU of Level I trauma centre, USA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 154 gastric tonometry measurements were compared with physicians' estimates of adequacy of resuscitation. Resuscitation was categorised as inadequate (pHi < 7.35) or adequate (pHi> or = 7.35). Measured and estimated pHi were also compared with oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, cardiac index, mixed venous O2 saturation, and critical illness scores. RESULTS: Estimated pHi was often higher than measured pHi in the judgement of all four surgical intensive care physicians. Measured pHi correlated positively with mixed venous O2 tension (r = 0.21). There were significant negative correlations between measured pHi and both oxygen delivery (r = -0.25) and oxygen consumption (r = 0.28). Estimated pHi correlated positively with mean arterial pressure (r = 0.21) and hospital day (r = 0.26); it correlated negatively with pulmonary arterial elastance (r = -0.35). CONCLUSION: Experienced intensive care physicians tended to overestimate visceral perfusion, which suggests that gastric tonometry adds useful information over and above routine haemodynamic indices. Arterial blood pressure and mixed venous oxygen saturation correlated better with measured pHi than with other indices of perfusion.     

Use of cardiopulmonary bypass to salvage patients with multiple-chamber heart wounds

BACKGROUND: The need for cardiopulmonary bypass in the treatment of penetrating heart injuries is debated. OBJECTIVES: To review our experience with penetrating heart injuries and determine the indications and outcome for cardiopulmonary bypass. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: A university-based, level I trauma center. PATIENTS: All victims of penetrating heart injury presenting between July 1, 1989, and December 31, 1995. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for demographic and physiological data, operative findings, and outcome. RESULTS: Overall survival for 106 patients with penetrating heart injury was 55%. In an effort to resuscitate the heart, 4 patients with unresponsive cardiogenic shock were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass; none survived. Of 30 patients with multiple-chamber injuries, 11 presented with signs of life and 7 survived. Cardiopulmonary bypass was essential to repair complex injuries in 2 of the 7 survivors. CONCLUSION: Cardiopulmonary bypass was ineffective in salvaging patients with cardiogenic shock but was essential in some patients with complex multiple-chamber cardiac injuries that could not be exposed and repaired by other means.     

A multi-institutional study confirms the presence and expression of simian virus 40 in human malignant mesotheliomas

Exposure to the carcinogen asbestos is a major factor in the development of malignant mesothelioma. However, not all mesotheliomas are associated with asbestos exposure, and only a small minority of people exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma. Therefore, the identification of the cofactors that render certain individuals more susceptible to asbestos or that cause mesothelioma in people not exposed to asbestos has been a major priority of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. The possible association of SV40 with mesothelioma was recently discussed in a special session at the Fourth International Mesothelioma Interest Group Conference, and it was decided to conduct a multi-institutional study to independently verify the presence of this tumor virus in mesotheliomas. We report the results of this investigation: (a) DNA and protein analyses revealed SV40 sequences and SV40 large T antigen expression in 10 of 12 mesotheliomas tested (83%); and (b) electron microscopy demonstrated variable amounts of asbestos fibers in 5 (71%) of 7 corresponding lung tissues available for analysis. Our results demonstrate that SV40 DNA is frequently present and expressed in mesotheliomas in the United States. Because our data demonstrate that some patients test positive for both SV40 and asbestos, the possibility that these two carcinogens interact should be investigated in future studies.     

Hemodynamic tolerance of intravascular contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Intravascular contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facilitate the quantification of tissue perfusion. The authors determined the hemodynamic tolerance of these agents. METHODS: Doses of 0.05, 0.15, and 0.45 mmol/kg of the polymeric intravascular contrast agent gadolinium-DTPA-polylysine, and di-nitrobenzyl-gadolinium-DTPA, a non-polymeric intravascular contrast agent with high protein binding, and gadolinium-DTPA dimeglumine, a paramagnetic contrast agent with extracellular distribution, were injected into 18 normal male rats as a peripheral intravenous bolus. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic and developed pressure, positive rate of pressure change (+dP/dt), dP/dt, the rate-pressure product, and heart rate were recorded during a period of 20 minutes. Hemodynamic effects were established by analysis of variance for repeated measurements. RESULTS: There was a transient increase of all blood pressure parameters and contractility for Gd-DTPA-polylysine at the dose of 0.45 mmol/kg only. Di-nitrobenzyl-Gd-DTPA increased blood pressure parameters at 0.45 mmol/kg only. At doses of 0.05 and 0.15 mmol/kg, no significant hemodynamic effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that Gd-DTPA-polylysine is hemodynamically safe at doses to 0.15 mmol/kg and acts like a plasma expander at higher doses after peripheral bolus injection in normal rats. Additional investigations are indicated to elucidate the mechanism of a nonsignificant and satiable transient hemodynamic depression after injection of 0.05 mmol/kg DNB-Gd-DTPA.     

Absorption and elimination kinetics of zidovudine in the cerebrospinal fluid in HIV-1-infected patients

The first two surveys of the dental health of young Finnish men were conducted in 1919 and 1965. The objective of four subsequent surveys (1976, 1981, 1986, and 1991) was to collect both interview and clinical examination data for the monitoring of changes in the oral health status of the recruits. A significant reduction in self-reported toothache, gingival bleeding, and number of decayed teeth was observed from 1976 to 1991. At examination, the numbers of decayed teeth, teeth indicated for extraction, teeth in need of fillings, and missing teeth decreased substantially, as did the teeth with visible plaque, subgingival calculus, and teeth with 4-mm or deeper periodontal pockets. This comprehensive series of successive cross-sectional oral health surveys clearly shows that since 1976 a significant decrease in oral disease and treatment needs has taken place among the Finnish population of young men.     

Repeatability and reproducibility estimates from collaborative studies based on total concentration of trace analytes

In the process of validating a given analytical method for the total concentration of a trace analyte, the precision indicators, repeatability and reproducibility, are obtained from a collaborative study of the method based on a standard one-way completely randomized model. This report discusses the shortcomings of the statistical models used in such studies, defines the component makeup for estimates of the repeatability and reproducibility variances based on these models, and considers suggestions offered as new policy regarding method performance based on total concentration.     

The role of glycoproteins in neural development function, and disease

Glycoproteins play key roles in the development, structuring, and subsequent functioning of the nervous system. However, the complex glycosylation process is a critical component in the biosynthesis of CNS glycoproteins that may be susceptible to the actions of toxicological agents or may be altered by genetic defects. This review will provide an outline of the complexity of this glycosylation process and of some of the key neural glycoproteins that play particular roles in neural development and in synaptic plasticity in the mature CNS. Finally, the potential of glycoproteins as targets for CNS disorders will be discussed.     

Regulation of beta-adrenoceptors in the guinea-pig sinoatrial node

This study examined the changes of beta-adrenoceptors in the guinea-pig sinoatrial nodal region following 7 day (-)-isoprenaline (400 micrograms/kg/h s.c.) infusion and the relationship between beta-adrenoceptor desensitization and receptor down-regulation. Changes in beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor density were measured using quantitative autoradiography and function in organ bath studies. (-)-Isoprenaline treatment produced a marked decrease in total (from 57.5 to 33.9 fmol/mg protein), beta 1- (from 49.4 to 32.8 fmol/mg protein), and beta 2-adrenoceptor density (from 8.1 to 1.05 fmol/mg protein) in the sinoatrial node. In adjacent right atrium, treatment produced no change in total (39.5 and 36.7 fmol/mg protein) or beta 1-adrenoceptors (35.9 and 36.4 fmol/mg protein) but did decrease beta 2-adrenoceptors (from 3.7 to 0.3 fmol/mg protein). Chronotropic effects were measured in spontaneously beating right atrium. Procaterol, a selective beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, caused a biphasic chronotropic response in control right atria, the first part of which was abolished in the tissue from treated animals. The maximum increase in right atrial rate to RO363, a beta 1-adrenoceptor selective partial agonist, was reduced from 114 bpm in control to 43 bpm in treated animals. In electrically driven right atrium with the sinoatrial node removed procaterol failed to produce a positive inotropic response via beta 2-adrenoceptors, but the maximum response to RO363 was reduced from 0.75 g in the control tissue to 0.12 g in the treated tissue. This study showed that changes in beta 2-adrenoceptor density following 7 day (-)-isoprenaline infusion are compatible with reduced functional responsiveness in the SA node. The reduction of beta 1-adrenoceptor number in the SA node was also compatible with the reduced chronotropic response in this tissue. However the lack of effect on beta 1-adrenoceptor density in the right atrium was not consistent with the decrease in beta 1-adrenoceptor mediated inotropic response in this tissue. This suggests that beta-adrenoceptor desensitization is not always associated with receptor down-regulation but depends also on the changes in the cell signalling system beyond the level of the receptor which differ according to the cardiac location.