Teaching smoking-cessation counseling to medical students using simulated patients

The controversy continues over the appropriate use of vaginal hysterectomy for many indications that were previously treated only with abdominal or laparoscopic methods. Current outcomes data have pointed up the need for established guidelines to ensure that patients receive appropriate surgical treatment that is most cost-effective and that meets the standard of quality care. Dr Kovac reviews recent data regarding the various surgical options for hysterectomy and offers guidelines based on objective pathologic criteria.     

Itraconazole maintenance treatment for histoplasmosis in AIDS: a prospective, multicenter trial

The expression of cytokeratins (CKs) in normal cervical epithelium, low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL), high grade SILs and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were analyzed using four different monoclonal antikeratin antibodies. In normal cervical epithelium, CK 18 showed strong immunoreactivity in basal and parabasal layers. CK 19 and 14 were expressed only in the basal layer while CK 13 was found selectively n the spinal cells. As the lesions progressed from low grade SIL to high grade SIL, immunoreactivity of CK 18, 19 and 14 in the basal cell compartment increased while the expression of CK 13 decreased. In SCC, as well-differentiated tumors showed decreased immunoreactivity for CK 18, 19 and 14 with CK 13 showing a strong and focal (localized) immunoreactivity. Undifferentiated carcinomas totally lacked CK 13 reactivity. Our findings therefore suggest that expression of CK 18, 19 and 14 may be directly related to tumor grade and CK 13 may be a marker of differentiation in cervical lesions.     

Membrane fusion induced by the HIV type 1 fusion peptide: modulation by factors affecting glycoprotein 41 activity and potential anti-HIV compounds

Peptides representing a sequence of 23 amino acid residues at the N terminus of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein gp41 bind and subsequently induce fusion of large unilamellar vesicles (LUV), an activity presumably related to gp41 function in viral infection. These in vitro effects can be modulated by several factors that are known to affect HIV-1 infectivity and gp41-mediated virus-cell fusion. Peptide-induced membrane fusion but not peptide binding can be inhibited by two factors known to block gp41 activity: a polar amino acid substitution V --> E in position 2 and the presence of the N-terminal hexapeptide of gp41 in addition to the parent sequence. Whereas inclusion of the alternative gp120 receptor galactosylceramide in membranes has virtually no effect, membrane cholesterol stimulates fusion activity. In view of its putative physiological relevance, we have used the fusion activity of the peptides as a tool to evaluate the inhibitory effect of antivirals that might target this sequence. We describe three dissimilar effects: Amphotericin B inhibits in a cholesterol-independent way peptide-induced fusion but not binding, human serum albumin inhibits binding and consequently fusion, and dextran sulfate (M(r) 5000) does not affect either binding or fusion.     

Comparison of the protective effects of cromolyn sodium and nedocromil sodium in the treatment of exercise-induced asthma in children

Seventeen children with asthma were studied in a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study designed to compare the efficacy of cromolyn sodium with that of nedocromil sodium in preventing exercise-induced asthma. All drugs were delivered through a metered-dose inhaler (cromolyn sodium, 10 mg; nedocromil sodium, 4 mg; placebo, two puffs). Nedocromil sodium and cromolyn sodium provided significant, comparable protection from exercise-induced asthma, and both drugs were better than placebo. We conclude that nedocromil sodium and cromolyn sodium administered by a pressurized aerosol provide equal protection against exercise-induced asthma in children.     

A case of Alstr?m syndrome associated with diabetes insipidus

The production of biogenic amines by 50 poultry-associated bacterial strains (25 Pseudomonas, 13 Salmonella and 12 Listeria) was investigated on amine agar plates containing lysine, histidine, ornithine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine. Seventy-four per cent of all the strains produced cadaverine and putrescine, while phenylethylamine, histamine, tyramine and tryptamine were produced by 72, 56, 34 and 24% of strains, respectively. Different patterns of biogenic amine production amongst the three bacterial genera tested were apparent as well as amongst strains of the same genus. This study highlighted a high incidence of biogenic amine-producing bacterial strains associated with poultry.     

Calcium-induced intercellular adhesion of keratinocytes does not involve accumulation of beta 1 integrins at cell-cell contacts and does not involve changes in the levels or phosphorylation of catenins

The development of the lymphatic system in the rat diaphragm was studied from embryonic day 16 to 25 weeks after birth by histochemistry for 5'-nucleotidase, scanning electron microscopy of KOH-treated or intact tissues, and transmission electron microscopy of thin sections. On embryonic day 16, distinct lymphatics were noted in the subpleural space of the diaphragm periphery. The endothelial cells at this stage contained an abundance of rough endoplasmic reticulum, a developed Golgi apparatus and mitochondria, and fewer pinocytotic vesicles than those in adults. The subpleural lymphatics subsequently increased and formed a polygonal network. They possessed many valves, and by postnatal week 6, some thick collecting lymphatics became endowed with smooth muscle cells. On embryonic day 19, some lymphatics appeared in the subperitoneal space. They extended centripetally and had many lateral projections that subsequently became elongated and connected with those from adjacent lymphatics, thus forming a lattice-like network. During the early postnatal days, the subperitoneal lymphatics projected many bulges that subsequently became elongated, and came into contact with the pores among the mesothelial cells, thus forming lymphatic stomata connecting the lymphatic lacunae to the peritoneal cavity. The lymphatic stomata increased until postnatal week 10. The results show that lymphatics appear as early as embryonic day 16 in the subpleural space of the diaphragm periphery, and develop with age by sprouting to form networks in both the subpleural and the subperitoneal spaces, and that the direct connection of the lymphatic lacunae to the peritoneal cavity is formed after birth.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Mycoplasma hyorhinis in a liquid medium compared to a disc assay

Sulfates and glucuronides of 2,4-dinitrobenzyl alcohol 1a and 2,6-dinitrobenzyl alcohol 1b, which are major or putative metabolites of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) and 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT), were synthesized from 1a and 1b by reaction with pyridinium sulfonate and methyl (2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)uronate bromide 3, respectively, as their pyridinium salts (2a, 2b) and potassium salts (6a, 6b). These conjugates are important for the study of the carcinogenicity of 2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT.     

Domain conservation in several volvocalean cell wall proteins

Based on our previous work demonstrating that (SerPro)x epitopes are common to extensin-like cell wall proteins in Chlamydomonas' reinhardtii, we looked for similar proteins in the distantly related species C. eugametos. Using a polyclonal antiserum against a (SerPro)10 oligopeptide, we found distinct sets of stage-specific polypeptides immunoprecipitated from in vitro translations of C. eugametos RNA. Screening of a C. eugametos cDNA expression library with the antiserum led to the isolation of a cDNA (WP6) encoding a (SerPro)x-rich multidomain wall protein. Analysis of a similarly selected cDNA (VSP-3) from a C. reinhardtii cDNA expression library revealed that it also coded for a (SerPro)x-rich multidomain wall protein. The C-terminal rod domains of VSP-3 and WP6 are highly homologous, while the N-terminal domains are dissimilar; however, the N-terminal domain of VSP-3 is homologous to the globular domain of a cell wall protein from Volvox carteri. Exon shuffling might be responsible for this example of domain conservation over 350 million years of volvocalean cell wall protein evolution.