The anabolic effects of parathyroid hormone on cortical bone mass, dimensions and strength--assessed in a sexually mature, ovariectomized rat model

We examined the effect of the pineal neurohormone melatonin (MLT) on protection from viral encephalitis. The antiviral activity of MLT was evaluated in normal mice inoculated with Semliki Forest virus (SFV) and in stressed mice injected with the attenuated non-invasive West Nile virus (WN-25). Administration of MLT (s.c.) daily from 3 days before through 10 days after virus inoculation reduced viremia and significantly postponed the onset of disease and death by 7 to 10 days. Moreover, MLT injection reduced mortality of SFV (10 PFU) inoculated mice from 100% to 44%. In mice inoculated with high dose of SFV (100 PFU), MLT postponed death and reduced mortality by 20%. In all of the surviving mice anti-SFV antibodies were detected 22 days after virus inoculation. Infection of mice stressed by either isolation or dexamethasone injection with WN-25 induced mortality of 75% and 50% respectively, which was reduced by MLT administration to 31% and 25%, respectively. The efficiency of MLT in protecting from lethal viral infections warrants further investigations on its mechanisms of action.     

Monitoring cancer antigen 125 in serum of ovarian cancer patients after administration of 131I-labeled F(ab')2 fragments of OC125 antibody

We evaluated the effect of repeated administration of OC125 F(ab')2 fragments on cancer antigen (CA) 125 determination in 210 serum samples from 30 patients. We found falsely high CA 125 concentrations in 142 (68%) samples, using a homologous CA 125 enzyme immunoassay (EIA) with OC125 antibodies. The Truquant OV2 method, which involves two other murine antibodies, and the IMx CA 125 method, which uses sheep antibodies as capture antibodies, resulted in only slightly increased (false-positive) values in some samples with exceptionally high CA 125 EIA values. We measured falsely low CA 125 values in 37 (18%) samples with the Truquant OV2 method. Interferences could be eliminated by removal of serum IgG. Our results suggest that interferences are to some extent caused by anti-idiotypic IgG induced by OC125 administration. Assays involving nonmurine anti-CA 125 antibodies as capture antibodies seem to be most suited for CA 125 determination after OC125 treatment, but in every case an apparent increase of CA 125 after OC125 infusion should be validated.     

Identification of clinical yeast isolates by using the Microring YT

We investigated predisposing factors for the development of heterotopic ossification in a retrospective study of 637 hip arthroplasties, of which 484 were unilateral, 62 bilateral and 29 revision operations. The frequency of heterotopic ossification after a primary hip arthroplasty was 57 percent. In a univariate analysis, men, patients with hypertrophic arthrosis, and cemented arthroplasty were all at risk of developing heterotopic ossification. After a multivariate analysis, the male sex and the cemented arthroplasty remained as significant factors. In bilateral operations, the contralateral side developed heterotopic ossification in 82 percent when the primary hip operation had already caused ossification. There was no increase in ossifications after the contralateral operation. Half of the revision operations had an increase of heterotopic ossification from 1 to 4 Brooker classes.     

FTIR characterization of heterocycles lumazine and violapterin in solution: effects of solvent on anionic forms

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra have been obtained from solution samples of the heterocycles uracil, lumazine, and violapterin and reveal interpretable carbonyl stretching frequencies. Spectra of conjugate bases of lumazine and violapterin demonstrate decreases in these carbonyl stretching frequencies upon ionization. Based on isotopic shifts from amide deuterated analogs, semiempirical QCFF/PI calculations were used to assign the vibrational frequencies in the region 1100-1800 cm-1 observed from samples in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and aqueous solutions to specific normal modes. The observed deuterium shifts and the calculations suggest that, in some cases, N-H bending motions are coupled to the C=O stretching motions of the pyrimidine ring. These data suggest that for lumazine anions a change in solvent can significantly change the mixing of the N-H bending and C=O stretching vibrational motions. This implies that vibrational analysis for lumazine species in relatively noninteracting media like nonpolar solvents, mulls or pellets cannot necessarily be transferred to the system when it is dissolved in a polar, hydrogen-bonding solvent such as water. Although other explanations can be offered, our vibrational analysis suggests that the changes in normal mode composition of the predominantly C=O stretching vibrations of lumazine anion on going from dimethylsulfoxide to water solution are consistent with a change in the predominant tautomer of the heterocycle. This change appears to correspond to a shifting of the location of the remaining acidic proton to a different ring nitrogen atom. This interpretation is of interest in view of recent ab initio calculations which suggest that proton shifts may occur during the hydroxylation of lumazine as mediated by the enzyme xanthine oxidase.     

Measles in pregnancy: a descriptive study of 58 cases

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effects of measles in pregnancy using a large case series. METHODS: Pregnant women with measles were identified by county health department records, and their hospital and clinic records were reviewed. When available, records for the infants of case patients were also reviewed. RESULTS: Fifty-eight pregnant women with measles were identified. Thirty-five (60%) were hospitalized for measles, 15 (26%) were diagnosed with pneumonia, and two (3%) died of measles complications. Excluding three induced abortions, 18 pregnancies (31%) ended prematurely; five were spontaneous abortions and 13 were preterm deliveries. All but two of the 18 pregnancies that terminated early did so within 14 days of rash onset. Two term infants were born with minor congenital anomalies, but their mothers had measles late in the third trimester. No newborns were diagnosed with congenital measles. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of death and other complications from measles during pregnancy may be higher than expected for age-comparable, nonpregnant women. Measles in pregnancy may lead to high rates of fetal loss and prematurity, especially in the first 2 weeks after the onset of rash.     

Three-week hepatitis B vaccination provides protective immunity

To determine whether a 3-week hepatitis B (HB) vaccination could achieve protective immunity, 89 healthy non-immunized young adults received three doses of 20 micrograms each of HBs antigen (GenHevac B, Pasteur) and were randomly assigned to schedule A (n = 44): two doses at day 0, one dose at day 21; or schedule B (n = 45): one dose at days 0, 10 and 21. Seroprotection rates (anti-HBs > or = 10 mIU ml-1) for groups A and B respectively were: 23 and 40% at day 21; and 77 and 91% at day 82 (not significant). Anti-HBs geometric mean titres were higher in group B than in group A (p < 0.05) at days 21 (6.4 versus 3.8) and 82 (77.6 versus 33.5). One year after primary vaccination, the seroprotection rate remained as high as 90% in the vaccinees of group B; after boosting all vaccinees had protective levels of anti-HBs antibodies. Thus 3-week HB vaccination with GenHevac B allowed early and durable protective immunity.     

Characterization of type I 5 alpha-reductase activity in DU145 human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells

Each amino acid is represented by a vector of numerical measurements for the attributes of volume, area, hydrophilicity, polarity, hydrogen bonding, shape, and charge. Inter-residue distances are then calculated according to common metrics, and we introduce a new clustering objective function derived from information-theoretic considerations. The arguments of the function are the inter-object distances of the things to be clustered: in this case the amino acids. By means of approximating the solution of an integer programming problem, then, the residues are partitioned into clusters. The clusters obtained are compared with groups obtained in substitution/mutation studies and found to be similar. Thus, probably the strongest and most objective evidence to date is supplied for believing that physico-chemical properties account for the viability of substitutions and that the important similarities/differences are explained by a relatively small and simple set of properties.     

Biapenem versus imipenem/cilastatin in the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections: report from a Swedish Study Group

The objective of this study is to describe usual medical management and costs associated with recurrent respiratory infections in subjects with chronic obstructive bronchitis in France. A prospective survey was performed in Autumn 1994 on a national sample of private practice pulmonologists (N = 71). Two hundred forty-four patients, presenting at least one infection of the lower respiratory tract, were included. Bronchitis was the most frequent acute exacerbation observed (94%). Pneumonia concerned 9% of the patients. Biological tests, X-rays and pulmonary function tests were prescribed for, respectively, 59, 65 and 45% of the patients. Following the visit, 15 patients were hospitalized (6%). The direct medical cost per acute exacerbation was estimated 3,289 francs (1994 value) of which 60% were hospital-related. An average 10.4 day sick-leave was prescribed to 21% of patients in employment. For those patients, this sick-leave was associated to an extra-cost of 1,264-1,876 francs for Social Security and of 0-2,553 francs out of pocket per episode varying according to their Benefit Regimen.     

Effect of glutamine on protein synthesis in isolated intestinal epithelial cells

The purpose of this study was to determine the etiologic factors of denture stomatitis. Fifteen subjects with clinical evidence of localized simple denture stomatitis, fifteen subjects without clinical signs of denture stomatitis, and forty-five subjects with clinical evidence of generalized simple denture stomatitis were investigated clinically and mycologically. Subjects were evaluated according to age, sex, duration of denture usage, smoking habits, frequency of denture brushing, overnight denture wearing, pH level of saliva and degree of candidal colonization and candidal formation. Salivary samples and swabs were taken from the palate and the mucosal surfaces of the dentures investigated mycologically in order to identify the yeast colonies. Smears were taken from the palate and investigated in order to identify candidal formation. No statistically significant relationship was found between denture stomatitis and age, sex, duration of denture usage, frequency of denture brushing, overnight denture wearing or pH level of saliva. There was however, a statistically significant relationship between denture stomatitis and denture hygiene, smoking habits, candidal colonization and candidal formation.