Fetal lung growth after tracheal ligation is not solely a pressure phenomenon

We investigated cell proliferation and cell death in the olfactory epithelium (OE) of mice from birth to maturity using bromodeoxyuridine and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick end labeling. We show that cell death events and proliferative activity diminish concomitantly with age in the OE. Thus, the age-dependent and coordinate diminution in cell proliferative activity and cell death events may serve to maintain the thickness of the OE as mice mature and age.     

Impact of maternal alcoholism on separation of children from their mothers: findings from a sample of incarcerated women

Research on achievement goal orientation in sport has relied primarily on traditional statistical methodology to examine group mean differences. Unfortunately, examination of the measurement model is generally ignored prior to means testing. This study reports an application of structural equation modeling (SEM) in testing measurement invariance and latent mean structure of the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ; Duda & Nicholls, 1989) using male and female college students. A confirmatory factor analysis for testing invariance revealed invariant measurement properties and factor structures across gender, indicating that task and ego orientation are similarly conceptualized by male and female students. Subsequent testing of latent mean structures, however, showed significant gender differences with respect to ego orientation, but no difference in task orientation. The SEM procedures used in the present study demonstrate additional construct validity and internal consistency reliability for the TEOSQ and, by confirming its factor structure, provide a sound psychometric basis for its continued use in substantive studies focusing on the comparison of achievement goal orientation across gender.     

T cell responsiveness correlates differentially with antibody isotype levels in clinical and asymptomatic filariasis

To establish the relationships among T and B cell responses, active infection, and clinical manifestations in lymphatic filariasis, filarial-specific lymphocyte proliferation, IgG antibody isotypes, and IgE levels were determined in an exposed population: 31 asymptomatic amicrofilaremics, 43 microfilaremics, 12 symptomatic amicrofilaremics, and 52 elephantiasis patients. Lymphocyte proliferation was higher in elephantiasis patients and asymptomatic amicrofilaremics than in microfilaremics (P < .004). A proportion of asymptomatic amicrofilaremics (32%), elephantiasis patients (37%), and symptomatic amicrofilaremics (58%) showed antigen-specific lymphocyte unresponsiveness, and lymphocyte proliferation to filarial antigens correlated negatively with specific IgG4 levels (rho = -0.315, P < .001). As elevated specific IgG4 is an indicator of active infection, it is argued that active infection may result in lymphocyte hyporesponsiveness irrespective of clinical category. Of those with elevated specific IgE levels and high T cell proliferative responses, 70% had elephantiasis, suggesting these factors have a role in pathology. However, the existence of a proportion of elephantiasis patients with low anti-filarial IgE and T cell unresponsiveness to filarial antigens suggests that elephantiasis can be caused by distinct processes.     

News: Hunting, fishing, environmental groups join in natural resource alliance

Society.     

VRCTC-310--a novel compound of purified animal toxins separates antitumor efficacy from neurotoxicity

Two purified animal venom toxins, crotoxin and cardiotoxin, have been combined to produce a unique natural product (VRCTC-310) currently under investigation as an antitumor agent by the National Cancer Institute. In vitro, it has demonstrated cytotoxic disease specificity and a unique mechanism of action when submitted to COMPARE analysis. In vivo, tolerance was developed to the neurotoxic properties of crotoxin which allowed comparison of several schedules of fixed and escalating daily i.m. doses to mice bearing s.c. Lewis Lung carcinoma. An 83% inhibition of tumor growth was achieved using an escalating dose schedule starting at 1.8 mg/kg and reaching 6.3 mg/kg/day on day 20. Although some irritation around the sites of i.m. injection was noted, animal weight loss was negligible and there were no other signs of adverse toxicity. This natural product represents a new, membrane interactive anticancer agent which produces a unique spectrum of cytotoxicity in vitro and which has demonstrated interesting in vivo antitumor efficacy.     

Transfected glucocorticoid receptor and certain GR fragments evoke cell death in malignant lymphoid, not myeloid cell lines

We compared the data from four growth hormone (GH) immunoassays for analyzing 24-h GH profiles in four apparently normal subjects and four obese subjects (508 serum samples). The detection limit was 0.02 microgram/L for one immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA), 0.1 microgram/L for two IRMAs, and 0.4 microgram/L for one RIA. All GH pulses with a peak ICMA value > 1 microgram/L were detected by each of the other methods. Overall, the correlation coefficient between the values obtained with all four assays exceeded 0.90. However, for GH concentrations < or = 0.25 microgram/L, acceptable concordance (r2 > or = 0.80) was reached only between the ICMA and one IRMA; between the ICMA and the RIA, concordance was acceptable only for GH concentrations > or = 10 micrograms/L. In the normal subjects, the percentage of undetectable values was 0% with the ICMA but 29% with one of the IRMAs; in obese subjects, the corresponding values were 12% and 38%.     

Racial aspects of blood pressure in children and adolescents

I have discussed a model of the psyche comprising two different modes of thinking, one non-psychotic and the other psychotic. I have related these modes of thinking to our modern myth of Jekyll and Hyde, the study of which could in my opinion give us some insight into their nature. In my view a non-psychotic state of mind belongs to a person who has a history, with particular parents, a particular development, particular conflicts, and operates in the depressive position. A psychotic state of mind belongs to a person who lives in a still and timeless present, with no origin, no development and no conflict, and operates in the paranoid-schizoid position. On the basis of this model I have subsequently described the life history of a psychotic patient and an analytic session in detail, showing how psychotic and non-psychotic states alternate and interact with each other within the same individual and between patient and therapist. The use of my countertransference, moving from a concrete to a symbolic position, has enabled me to make an interpretation. The result of this interpretation has been double, leading to a negative therapeutic reaction. An upsurge of psychotic fury was followed by increased patient/therapist communication, with a small movement from the paranoid-schizoid to the depressive position.