Steroid sulphatase deficiency is the major cause of extremely low oestriol production at mid-pregnancy: a urinary steroid assay for the discrimination of steroid sulphatase deficiency from other causes

A method for determining whether a pregnant woman with an extremely low serum oestriol (ELSE) measurement of mid-trimester is carrying a fetus with steroid sulphatase deficiency or another more serious disorder is described. We undertook GC/MS analysis of steroids in random maternal urine samples and quantified oestriol, oestriol precursors (dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 5-androstene-3 beta, 17 beta-diol, 16 alpha-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone and 5-androstene-3 beta, 16 alpha, 17 beta-triol), pregnanediol, and five other steroids largely unaffected by pregnancy (androsterone, etiocholanolone, tetrahydrocortisol, 5 alpha-tetrahydrocortisol and tetrahydrocortisone). Thirty-two samples collected from seven normal pregnant women between the 7th and 27th week of pregnancy and 22 from individuals with ELSE were analysed. Diagnostic ratios of excreted products were developed. These included ratios of oestriol and oestriol precursors to the cumulative value for the five non-pregnancy-related steroids and ratios of oestriol and oestriol precursors to pregnanediol and to each other. Our data demonstrated high 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene steroid excretion in all ELSE patients together with low urinary oestriol excretion, a situation only consistent with deficiency of steroid sulphatase. The normal individuals had high oestriol and low excretion of oestriol precursors. No patient in our series showed the low oestriol levels and low oestriol precursor values that would indicate a fetal adrenal abnormality as the underlying defect.     

Cytokine dysregulation in the post-Q-fever fatigue syndrome

High levels of protease inhibitors are induced in potato leaves by wounding. These inhibitors, when ingested by Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) larvae, induce expression of specific proteolytic activities in the gut. Induced protease activities cannot be inhibited by potato inhibitors and thus enable the insects to overcome this defence mechanism of potato plants. The induced aminopeptidase and endoproteolytic activities both have the characteristics of cysteine proteases. Twenty-one protein inhibitors of different structural types have been examined for their ability to inhibit these activities in vitro. Members of the cystatin superfamily were found to be poor inhibitors of the induced endoproteolytic activities, except for the third domain of human kininogen, which was a fairly strong inhibitor (75% inhibition). The strongest inhibition (85%) of induced endoproteolytic activity was obtained using structurally different thyroglobulin type-1 domain-like inhibitors--equistatin and MHC class II-associated p41 invariant fragment. Experiments performed using three synthetic substrates for endoproteases gave similar results and indicate the existence of at least different endoproteolytic enzymes resistant to potato inhibitors. The induced aminopeptidase activity can be inhibited only by stefin family of inhibitors in cystatin superfamily. In in vivo experiments, Colorado potato beetle larvae fed on equistatin-coated potato leaves were strongly retarded in their growth and almost 50% died after 4 days. This demonstrated the potential of equistatin to protect crops from insect attack.     

RNA-binding proteins tamed

OBJECTIVES: Enhancement of the remineralisation of artificial enamel lesions has been observed in an intraoral model whether subjects chewed gum sweetened with a non-cariogenic sweetener such as sorbitol [1-3] or sucrose [4] after meals or snacks, and with use of a conventional (1500 ppm F) fluoride dentifrice. Since most of the clinical surveys which have shown the potential cariogenicity of sucrose chewing gum [5] were conducted before use of fluoridated dentifrices became widespread, the effect of fluoride dentifrice on de- and remineralisation of artificial lesions in enamel in response to chewing sucrose-sweetened gum has been examined with the aim of attempting to resolve this apparent discrepancy. METHODS: Subjects wore an intraoral device bearing an enamel lesion and chewed one piece of sucrose gum for 20 min after each of three meals and two snacks daily for two 3-week periods, during which they used a dentifrice containing either 0 or 1500 ppm F in a double-blind, cross-over design. Measurement of the mineral content of the lesions was determined by microradiography or polarised light microscopy. RESULTS: It was found that remineralisation tended to occur with 1500 ppm F dentifrice, but demineralisation with non-F dentifrice; the difference in enamel mineral content between the two periods was significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the potential cariogenicity of sucrose-containing chewing gum may indeed be negated by the use of a conventional fluoride dentifrice.     

Bone marrow cellular composition in Listeria monocytogenes infected mice detected using ER-MP12 and ER-MP20 antibodies: a flow cytometric alternative to differential counting

We examined whether apoptosis is involved in hypoxic cell death using primary cultures of rat cortical neurons and whether the cell death is associated with changes in Bcl-2 and Bax expressions and activities of caspases. Hypoxic insult accelerates apoptosis, as shown by apoptotic nuclei and by chromatin degradation of internucleosomal fragments. This apoptotic process is accompanied by a rapid and sustained down-regulation of Bcl-2, whereas levels of Bax are unchanged. Furthermore, hypoxic insult activates sequentially caspase-1-like and caspase-3-like proteases, following down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression. Peptide inhibitors of either caspase-1 or caspase-3 protect against neuronal death, although they do not prevent hypoxia-induced down-regulation of Bcl-2. Furthermore, treatment of cortical neurons with either insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), growth factors which are implicated to prevent neuronal loss in ischemic brain, partly prevented neuronal death accompanied by inhibition of alterations in Bcl-2 protein levels and caspase-3-like activities. These results suggest that hypoxia induces neuronal death by down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein levels followed by sequential activation of the caspases, and the protection from neuronal cell death of these growth factors under hypoxic conditions derives at least partly from their capability to prevent down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein levels.     

The effect of thymosin fractions on the development of compression edema-swelling of the brain

The levels of surfactant phospholipid from bronchoalveolar lavage were measured in 70 patients with pulmonary diseases and in 10 apparently healthy individuals. The levels of surfactant phospholipid components were lower in patients with peripheral lung cancer, infiltrative tuberculosis, focal pneumonia, most significant in cancer; differential diagnostic criteria for these diseases are defined.     

Stochastic complexity measures for physiological signal analysis

Traditional feature extraction methods describe signals in terms of amplitude and frequency. This paper takes a paradigm shift and investigates four stochastic-complexity features. Their advantages are demonstrated on synthetic and physiological signals; the latter recorded during periods of Cheyne-Stokes respiration, anesthesia, sleep, and motor-cortex investigation.     

Gastrointestinal pH profiles in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND: 5-Amino salicylic acid preparations are used in therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. The bioavailability of these drugs depends on their coating. AIM: To determine whether intraluminal pH is decreased by the presence of inflammation, thereby altering the release of 5-amino salicylic acid in the intestinal lumen. METHODS: Intraluminal gastrointestinal pH was measured by means of a radiotelemetry capsule in 12 healthy controls, in 12 patients with Crohn's disease (five with active disease), and in 11 patients with ulcerative colitis (seven with active disease). RESULTS: The median gastric pH values in the patient groups (Crohn's disease 2.4, range 1.5-4.1; ulcerative colitis 1.95, range 1.55-4.4) were significantly higher than those observed in the controls (1.55, range 0.95-2.6). In the small bowel and colonic segments, all the pH values of Crohn's disease patients were comparable to those of the controls, as were the pH values in the proximal small intestine and in the left colon in patients with ulcerative colitis. However, the latter group had higher pH values in the terminal ileum, the caecum and the right colon. Patients with active disease had comparable median gastrointestinal pH values to patients in remission. CONCLUSIONS: The luminal release of 5-amino salicylic acid might not be inhibited by low pH in patients with active inflammatory bowel diseases. This supports a safe disintegration of the slow release mesalazine preparations even in the presence of severe disease.     

History of the West of Scotland Plastic Surgery Unit: 1940-1986

In this study a comparison is made between intraoral and extraoral radiographical techniques for quantitative measurements of bone density in the edentulous mandible. A phantom model, composed of a dry mandible surrounded by a soft tissue substitute was used. Radiographs were made of aluminium implants of known volumes. Intra- and extraorally placed reference wedges of aluminium or a combination of aluminium and plexiglas were used for the measurement of the aluminium volume of the above-mentioned implants and compared with the real volume. The IBAS image analysis system was used for image processing and measurements. A systematic deficit in the measured volume of 15 to 29% was found. This error was irrespective of the radiographical technique and indicates a constant underestimation of the aluminium volumes. The differential influence of the secondary radiation on the images of the jaw and the wedge is proposed to be a possible cause of this constant underestimation. The intraoral and extraoral techniques do not display significant statistical differences in the levels of validity or accuracy. Obtaining serial intraoral radiographs of adequate quality in the atrophic edentulous mandible can be problematic. It is concluded from this in vitro study that in these cases Oblique Lateral Cephalometric Radiographs may provide a valuable alternative for quantitative image analysis.