Hypertension in haemodialysis patients: is it only hypervolaemia?

CT and MR findings in two patients with hepatoerythropoietic porphyria are presented. CT scans showed atrophy and cortical mineralization at the same level. MR examination performed in one of the two patients showed mainly frontal cortical atrophy and punctate bright signal on T1- and T2-weighted sequences.     

Levels of family caregiving expected by elderly inpatients

This study of elderly in-patient subjects' expected level of care given by family members and nurses is intended to provide foundational information for use by nurses in attending to elderly patients. The objects of the study were elderly in-patients over the age of 65 hospitalized at two General hospitals in Chonju; 102 subjects filled out the 60 question survey between December 16 and 24, 1996. The analysis process was conducted using SPSS producing percentage, mean and standard deviation, maximum and minimum values, t-test, ANOVA, and so on. The results are as follows: 1. From the general results of the survey, one can observe that statistically significant differences appeared in various levels of education of the subjects: no education(2.98), primary school completed(2.91), middle school or higher completed(2.77). As shown, the lower level of education correlates with higher care-giving expectation. 2. On a scale of 1(minimum) to 4(maximum), the mean levels of care expected by elderly in-patients from their families is 2.93, with a standard deviation of 0.28. The level of psychological care expected(mean 3.02, standard deviation 0.31) is higher than the level of care expected(mean 2.83, standard deviation 0.34). 3. The level of care expected among those of different levels of dependency for daily living (differentiated as dependent, partially dependent, independent) was highest among the partially dependent(mean 2.98, standard deviation 0.17), but the results were not statistically significant. 4. Elderly in-patients with high levels of emotive interaction with their families expected relatively high levels of physical care, while the highest levels of socio-psychological care were expected from those who reported normal levels of emotive interaction with their families. However, We can see that low levels of care are expected from those reporting low levels of emotive interaction with their families. Overall, the differences in the level of care expected between those reporting different levels of emotive interaction with their families was not shown to be statistically significant.     

Rate of improvement during cognitive-behavioral group treatment for panic disorder

This study examined the rate of symptom improvement in patients receiving cognitive-behavioral group treatment for panic disorder in an outpatient clinic setting. Treatment was a standard program of 12 sessions that emphasized information, interoceptive and situational exposure, and cognitive restructuring, but also included diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation training as elements of treatment. Subjects were 37 patients selected from sequential admissions into an outpatient treatment program; all data were derived from ongoing quality assurance measures that are a standard part of clinical monitoring. Consequently, this study provides data not on the relative efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), but on rate of improvement and effectiveness of CBT for panic disorder in actual clinical practice. Patients achieved significant treatment gains on all panic disorder dimensions assessed, and the largest reduction in symptoms was during the first third of the treatment program, thereby challenging the notion that CBT delivers its gains slowly over time. Information on rats of symptom improvement is valuable for providing patients with accurate expectations about potential treatment benefits and for helping to maintain motivation during initial treatment sessions.     

Mhc diversity in Pacific salmon: population structure and trans-species allelism

Geographic variation at an Mhc class I A1 exon was surveyed in 14 populations of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and 15 populations of chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) inhabiting rivers of British Columbia, Canada. A total of 2,504 fish were sampled using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), which distinguished 17 alleles in coho salmon and 20 alleles in chinook salmon. Heterozygosity at the A1 locus was moderately high for both coho (0.7) and chinook (0.6) salmon, but sequence divergence was low, with mean inter- and intraspecific nucleotide similarities of approximately 0.96. In a maximum parsimony tree, all of the observed alleles clustered into two trans-specific lineages. Within each lineage, coho and chinook alleles tended to fall into species-specific subclusters. Much of the intraspecific allelic variation within each lineage could be accounted for by nonsynonymous point mutation, indicative of balancing selection. The FST values for both coho (0.11) and chinook (0.13) salmon indicated that much of the allelic diversity was partitioned among populations. Neighbor-joining analyses of A1 allelic frequencies among coho and chinook salmon populations showed strong patterns of geographic differentiation similar to those based on neutral genetic markers such as microsatellite loci. Both natural selection and the salmonid zoogeographic history of frequent population bottlenecks have shaped the patterns of diversity observed at this and other Mhc exons in Pacific salmonids.     

Identification of envelope protein residues required for the expanded host range of 10A1 murine leukemia virus

The 10A1 murine leukemia virus (MuLV) is a recombinant type C retrovirus isolated from a mouse infected with amphotropic MuLV (A-MuLV). 10A1 and A-MuLV have 91% amino acid identity in their envelope proteins yet display different host ranges. For example, CHO-K1 cells are resistant to A-MuLV but susceptible to infection by 10A1. We have now determined that retroviral vectors bearing altered A-MuLV envelope proteins containing 10A1-derived residues at positions 71 (A71G), 74 (Q74K), and 139 (V139M) transduce CHO-K1 cells at efficiencies similar to those achieved with 10A1 enveloped vectors. A-MuLV enveloped retroviral vectors with these three 10A1 residues were also able to transduce A-MuLV-infected NIH 3T3 cells. This observation is consistent with the ability of vectors bearing this altered A-MuLV envelope protein to recognize the 10A1-specific receptor present on NIH 3T3 cells and supports the possibility that residues at positions 71, 74, and 139 of the 10A1 envelope SU protein account for the expanded host range of 10A1.     

The cell wall-less rickettsia Eperythrozoon wenyonii is a Mycoplasma

Several odorant-binding proteins (OBP) have been previously purified from the nasal mucosa of the old world porcupine Hystrix cristata. In this paper, we report their N-terminal amino-acid sequences and accurate molecular weights, as measured by electrospray mass spectrometry. The partial amino acid sequences reveal significant similarity with OBPs of other mammalian species and segregate the eight proteins purified into two subclasses. Mass spectrometry has revealed microheterogeneity among the proteins belonging to each of these two groups, suggesting a total number of OBPs of at least nine. The molecular weight differences between OBPs cannot be readily accounted for by common post-translation modifications and indicate different gene products. Such a large number of different OBPs may represent further support to an odour discriminating role for these proteins.     

Health patterns of women with fibromyalgia

Using diaries, eight women documented how they were living with their fibromyalgia on a daily basis for 3 months. Aches and pains were the most common symptoms experienced on nine to 81 of the 84 days of data collection. Cross-correlations revealed significant patterns related to pain, sleep and weather conditions for individual women. The narrative portion of their diaries supports that pain is physical and mental, knowing the self helps to control the intensity of the illness, and distraction helps to decrease the associated discomforts. Use of diaries and active listening (validation) are supported as interventions for these women.     

Antimicrobial susceptibilities and molecular epidemiology of Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis strains isolated in Hong Kong from 1986 to 1996

The incidence of salmonellosis has been increasing in Hong Kong since 1989. The most common Salmonella enterica serotype isolated in 1994 was S. enteritidis. The antimicrobial susceptibilities and molecular epidemiology of 275 S. enteritidis strains isolated in this locality between 1986 and 1996 were studied. Over 99% of the isolates were susceptible to 17 of the 19 antimicrobial agents tested. One isolate harbored an autotransferring plasmid that confers resistance to tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Another isolate harbored a mobilizable plasmid that confers resistance to ampicillin and cephalothin. This isolate was found to produce a beta-lactamase with a pI of 5.2. A total of 264 isolates (96%) were found to harbor one to five plasmids, and the majority (254) harbored a 60-kb plasmid. Of these isolates, 94% contained identical 60-kb plasmids. Based on plasmid profiles, plasmid and chromosomal fingerprints, ribotypes, and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns, 170 (62%) isolates were allocated to group 1b. About 90% of isolates had identical or similar DNA fingerprints, ribotypes, and RAPD patterns, suggesting that a predominant clone of S. enteritidis was circulating in Hong Kong during the period being studied.     

Interaction of hyperthyroidism and hindlimb suspension on skeletal myosin heavy chain expression

We examined the novel interaction of hyperthyroidism and hindlimb suspension on the pattern of myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression (mRNA and protein) in skeletal muscles. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups: 1) normal control (Con); 2) thyroid hormone treated [150 micrograms 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3). kg-1. day-1] (T3); 3) hindlimb suspension (HS); or 4) T3-treated and HS (T3 + HS). Results show for the first time the novel observation that the combination T3 + HS induces a rapid and sustained, marked (80-90%) downregulation of type I MHC gene expression that is mirrored temporally by concomitant marked upregulation of type IIb MHC gene expression, as evidenced by the de novo synthesis of type IIb MHC protein in the soleus. The fast type IIx MHC isoform showed a differential response among the experimental groups, generally increasing with the separate and combined treatments in both the soleus and vastus intermedius muscles while decreasing in the plantaris muscles. The fast type IIa MHC was the least responsive to suspension of the MHCs and reflected its greatest responsiveness to T3 treatment while also undergoing differential adaptations in slow vs. fast muscle (increases vs. decreases, respectively). These results confirm previous findings that all four adult MHC genes are sensitive to T3 and suspension in a muscle-specific manner. In addition, we show that T3 + HS can interact synergistically to create novel adaptations in MHC expression that could not be observed when each factor was imposed separately.