Men and women in optometry. II. Attitudes toward career and family

BACKGROUND: Optometry has experienced a dramatic upward shift in the percentage of women entering the profession during the past 20 years. Our survey assessed the mechanisms for sustaining balance in professional and personal roles used by women optometrists and how these mechanisms may differ from those of their male colleagues. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was mailed to a large nationwide random sample of optometrists, composed of equal numbers of men and women. RESULTS: Data were analyzed from 353 men and 358 women; margin of error was +4%. Most of the respondents indicated they derived personal satisfaction from their career. A majority of both groups did not indicate that lack of time for their career was a source of frustration. However, significantly more women than men indicated some frustration in pursuing those activities that lead to career advancement. There were significant differences in response patterns of men and women about the effect of family, child care, and household work on their careers. CONCLUSIONS: Both men and women optometrists are satisfied with their careers and neither group feels compelled to choose between career and family. Optometrists do not fit into one pattern, but instead make individualized career choices on the basis of needs.     

Molecular evolution of P transposable elements in the genus Drosophila. III. The melanogaster species group

Phylogenetic relationships were determined for 76 partial P-element sequences from 14 species of the melanogaster species group within the Drosophila subgenus Sophophora. These results are examined in the context of the phylogeny of the species from which the sequences were isolated. Sequences from the P-element family fall into distinct subfamilies, or clades, which are often characteristic for particular species subgroups. When examined locally among closely related species, the evolution of P elements is characterized by vertical transmission, whereby the P-element phylogeny traces the species phylogeny. On a broader scale, however, the P-element phylogeny is not congruent with the species phylogeny. One feature of P-element evolution in the melanogaster group is the presence of more than one P-element subfamily, differing by as much as 36%, in the genomes of some species. Thus, P elements from several individual species are not monophyletic, and a likely explanation for the incongruence between P-element and species phylogenies is provided by the comparison of paralogous sequences. In certain instances, horizontal transfer seems to be a valid alternative explanation for lack of congruence between species and P-element phylogenies. The canonical P-element subfamily, which represents the active, autonomous transposable element, is restricted to D. melanogaster. Thus, its origin clearly lies outside of the melanogaster species group, consistent with the earlier conclusion of recent horizontal transfer.     

Accuracy of seven different tests for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and the impact of H2-receptor antagonists on test results

The financial burden for the evaluation of patients for acoustic neuroma in an otolaryngology practice is substantial. Patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss represent a portion of that population seen with unilateral, asymmetric auditory symptoms who require investigation for acoustic neuroma. For these patients, gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic gold standard. Auditory brain stem response testing has been used in the past as a screening test for acoustic neuroma, but its apparent sensitivity has fallen as the ability to image smaller acoustic neuromas has improved. Fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging techniques without gadolinium have been shown to be as effective in the detection of acoustic neuroma as contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Limited nonenhanced fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging now provides an inexpensive alternative for high-resolution imaging of the internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle. Fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging can now be done at a cost approximating auditory brain stem response testing while providing the anatomic information of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Cost analysis was done in the cases of 58 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss by comparing the costs for routine workup and screening of acoustic neuroma with the cost of fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging with the use of screening protocols based on literature review. The potential cost savings of evaluating patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss with fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging for acoustic neuroma was substantial, with a 54% reduction in screening costs. In an era of medical economic scrutiny, fast spin echo magnetic resonance imaging has become the most cost-effective method to screen suspected cases of acoustic tumors at our institution by improving existing technology while reducing the cost of providing that technology and eliminating charges for impedance audiometry, auditory brain stem response testing, and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.     

Differential production of IL-10 by T cells and monocytes of HIV-infected individuals: association of IL-10 production with CD28-mediated immune responsiveness

The present study determines the proportions of unmyelinated cutaneous axons at the dermal-epidermal junction in glabrous skin and of myelinated and unmyelinated axons in the sural and medial plantar nerves that immunostain for subunits of the ionotropic glutamate receptors. Approximately 20% of the unmyelinated cutaneous axon profiles at the dermal-epidermal junction immunostain for either N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), or kainate receptor subunits. These findings are consistent with previous observations that NMDA and non-NMDA antagonists ameliorate nociceptive behaviors that result from noxious peripheral stimulation. In the sural nerve, where the large majority of myelinated fibers are sensory, approximately half of the myelinated axon profiles immunostain for the NMDA receptor 1 (R1) subunit, 28% immunostain for the glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) AMPA subunit, and 11% for the GluR5,6,7 kainate subunits. Even higher proportions immunostain for these receptors in the medial plantar nerve, a mixed sensory and motor nerve. In the sural nerve, 20% of the unmyelinated axon profiles immunostain for NMDAR1 and only 7% label for GluR1 or GluR5,6,7. Because the sural nerve innervates hairy skin, these data suggest that glutamate will activate a higher proportion of unmyelinated axons in glabrous skin than in hairy skin. Measurements of fiber diameters indicate that all sizes of myelinated axon profiles, including Adelta and Abeta, are positively labeled for the ionotropic receptors. The presence of glutamate receptors on large-diameter myelinated axons suggests that these mechanosensitive receptors, presumably transducing touch and pressure, may also respond to local glutamate and thus be chemosensitive.     

The application of the limited contact dynamic compression plate in the upper extremity: an analysis of 114 consecutive cases

The multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCS) is a novel constellation of symptoms in environmental medicine that has been extensively described and commented on in the USA. The main features of this syndrome are: multiple symptoms in different organ systems triggered by a variety of chemical substances, with relapses and exacerbations under certain precipitating circumstances at very low levels which do not cause any reactions in the population at large. There are no lab markers or specific investigative findings. This paper describes the historical development of the term MCS, its diagnostic criteria and pathophysiological aspects using 10 patient histories from our hospital.     

Modification of the pH dependence of animal and plant transport ATPases by sulfated polysaccharides

The effects of heparin and dextran sulfate 8,000 on two isoforms of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase of different animal tissues and on the corn root H(+)-ATPase were examined. In the absence of sulfated polysaccharides the pH profile's of the three transport ATPases were quite different, but after the addition of heparin or dextran sulfate 8,000 the pH profiles of the three enzymes became similar, all showed maximal activity at pH 7.0. Potassium and sodium antagonized the effects of sulfated polysaccharides on the three transport ATPases, but the antagonism was considerably reduced at acidic pH values.     

Quantitative measurement of BN50727 in human plasma and urine by combined liquid chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry using a particle beam interface

A new sensitive assay has been developed for the quantitative measurement of BN50727 at the picomole level in human plasma and urine. The drug and the internal standard (BN50788) were measured by combined liquid chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry with methane as the reagent gas. A simple solid-liquid extraction procedure was used to isolate BN50727 from the complex biological matrices. The mass spectrometer was tuned to monitor the intense and stable ion at m/z 333 which was generated in the ion source by a dissociative capture process. This assay was performed with 1 ml of plasma or 0.1 ml of urine and the quantification limit of the method was statistically calculated as 1 ng ml-1. The very low relative standard deviations and mean percentages of error calculated during the different within-day or between-day repeatability assays have clearly demonstrated the ruggedness of the technique for the routine determination of BN50727 in biological fluids. Some preliminary results on the pharmacokinetics of the drug are presented to illustrate the applicability of this powerful liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric method.     

Folate synthesized by bacteria in the human upper small intestine is assimilated by the host

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Some intestinal flora are known to synthesize folate. The aim of this study was to determine whether folate synthesized by small intestinal flora is assimilated by the human host. METHODS: Subjects with atrophic gastritis and healthy volunteers were studied before and after omeprazole administration. A double-lumen perfusion tube was placed in the duodenum. 3H-labeled P-aminobenzoic acid, a precursor substrate for bacterial folate synthesis, was perfused. Downstream intestinal aspirates and a 48-hour urine collection were obtained. RESULTS: Atrophic gastritis and omeprazole administration were associated with increases in duodenal pH and in small intestinal flora. Bacterially synthesized folates were isolated from the intestinal aspirates. Tritiated 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, a major metabolite of folate, was isolated from the urine of omeprazole-treated subjects in greater quantities than from drug-free subjects (P<0.01); the quantity of tritiated 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in the urine of the subjects with atrophic gastritis was similarly elevated. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Mild bacterial overgrowth caused by atrophic gastritis and administration of omeprazole are associated with de novo folate synthesis in the lumen of the small intestine; (2) the human host absorbs and uses some of these folates; and (3) the contribution to folate nutriture from this source remains unclear.