Detection of naturally expressed receptors for gastrin-releasing peptide and tachykinins using cyanine 3-labelled neuropeptides

Peptides labelled with the fluorophore cyanine 3 were used to study naturally expressed neuropeptide receptors by confocal microscopy in continuous cell lines, primary cultures, and unfixed tissue. Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts bound cyanine 3-gastrin-releasing peptide at 4 degrees C, and internalized the peptide after 10 min at 37 degrees C. Internalization was specific, since it was blocked by incubation with unlabelled peptide. Primary cultures of myenteric neurons of the guinea pig incubated with cyanine 3-substance P at 4 degrees C had specific surface labelling. After 30 s at 37 degrees C, the peptide was internalized into vesicles in both the soma and neurites. Direct observation of live neurons showed movement of fluorescent vesicles to a perinuclear region after 30 min. Endocytosis was associated with a loss of surface binding sites. Unfixed whole mounts of guinea pig and rat ileum were incubated with cyanine 3-neurokinin A at 4 degrees C. After 5 min at 37 degrees C, Cy3-neurokinin A was specifically internalized in neurons and smooth muscle cells. After 30 min, a perinuclear labelling occurred in some cells. Labelling in rat neurons was diminished by the NK3-R antagonist SR142801. Thus, cyanine 3-neuropeptides are valuable tools to study expression and endocytosis of naturally expressed receptors.     

Applicability of the screening test for the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery in Taiwan

The study was to examine the applicability of the screening test for the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery in Taiwan. This screening test contains 15 items. It could be used at the first stage of neuropsychological assessment process and served as a screening tool for brain-damaged patients. In this study, 50 brain-damaged patients, 50 normal controls receiving physical examination, and 100 normal controls from local communities were sampled and administered with the screening test. Based on test results, item analysis and factor analysis were performed, reliability and validity data were established, and temporary local norm and subgroup norm were also developed. It also investigated the effects of age and educational level on test performance. Further factor analysis with total subjects showed that three factors were extracted. Factor 1 was number concept and simple calculation. Factor 2 was higher cortical function. Factor 3 was motor control and rhythm. These three factors accounted for sixty percent of total variance. In addition, cut-off scores were set for low and high education groups.     

Intrathyroidal parathyroid glands can be a cause of failed cervical exploration for hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND: The incidence of intrathyroidal parathyroid glands remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence in a series of patients with hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: Three hundred nine patients underwent parathyroidectomy. Patients were divided into two groups: uniglandular disease versus hyperplasia. RESULTS: Eighteen of 309 patients (6%) had abnormal intrathyroidal parathyroid glands. The incidence was 3% (7 of 222) in patients with uniglandular disease versus 15% (11 of 73) in those with hyperplasia. With a mean follow-up of 54 months, 12 patients are eucalcemic, 5 have persistent hypocalcemia, and 1 has recurrent hypercalcemia. There were no recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that an intrathyroidal adenoma is an uncommon cause of failure, whereas abnormal intrathyroidal parathyroid tissue may be a more common cause of failure in patients with hyperplasia.     

Isolation, cloning and characterisation of the abiI gene from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis M138 encoding abortive phage infection

Morphological and morphometric features of the cornea of 13 species of primates have been studied in order to determine possible morphological differences between them. The existence of relationships between different morphometric corneal variables was also examined to establish which variables best defined and characterized the cornea. The present aim is to determine which primate cornea resembles that of the human being most with a view to possible future clinical and experimental studies. The results obtained revealed that all the cornea under study presented similar morphological features. The relationship between total corneal thickness and corneal epithelial thickness was determined as well as the relationship between epithelial thickness, the number of epithelial layers and the number of epithelial cells. However, the morphological pattern of Bowman's membrane and corneal endothelium differed in the species studied. Finally, the study indicates that the chimpanzee and the gorilla are the species with a corneal morphometry which is closest to that of the human cornea.     

Differential recruitment of leukocyte populations and alteration of airway hyperreactivity by C-C family chemokines in allergic airway inflammation

Allergic airway inflammation is characterized by peribronchial leukocyte accumulation within the airway. Subsequent tissue damage leading to airway hyperreactivity is a result of activation of multiple leukocyte populations. Using an established model of allergic airway inflammation induced by intratracheal challenge with parasite (Schistosoma mansoni) egg Ag in presensitized mice, we have examined differential leukocyte recruitment. These studies have identified key chemokines involved in the accumulation of specific subsets of cells and the induction of airway hyperreactivity. In this study we have examined three C-C family chemokines, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, and RANTES, which promote mononuclear cell- and eosinophil-specific recruitment to the airway. The in vivo neutralization of either MIP-1alpha or RANTES, but not MCP-1, significantly reduced the intensity of the eosinophil recruitment to the lung and airway during the allergic airway response by >50 and >60%, respectively. In contrast, neutralization of MCP-1 significantly reduced total leukocyte migration (>50% reduction), whereas neutralization of RANTES and MIP-1alpha had no significant affect on the overall leukocyte migration. Further examination of the effect of MCP-1 depletion indicated that both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subsets were decreased. Depletion of MCP-1 significantly reduced the airway hyperreactivity to near control levels, whereas depletion of MIP-1alpha or RANTES did not affect the intensity of airway hyperreactivity. These data indicate that multiple C-C chemokines are involved in the recruitment of particular leukocyte populations and that neutralization of MCP-1, but not RANTES or MIP-1alpha, significantly reduced airway hyperreactivity.     

p53 antibodies in the saliva of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

A significant age dependence of the risk of complete heart block complicating radiofrequency ablation of the AV nodal slow pathway was noticed, with no patients <45 years of age experiencing this complication.     

Anti-inflammatory mystixin peptides inhibit plasma leakage without blocking endothelial gap formation

Mystixins are synthetic peptides that inhibit plasma leakage after tissue injury. We sought to determine the mechanism of the antileakage effect of mystixins, with particular reference to the formation of endothelial gaps in postcapillary venules. Intravenous administration of mystixin-7, a prototype heptapeptide (p-anisoyl-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-D-Thi-Ile-D-Leu-NH2), decreased Evans blue leakage induced by substance P (5 microg/kg i.v.) with an ED50 (95% confidence limits) of 130 (76-211) microg/kg in trachea and 52 (27-100) microg/kg in skin of anesthetized F344 rats. Leakage was decreased without a reduction in the number or size of endothelial gaps, visualized by silver deposits after silver nitrate staining. The number of silver deposits per tracheal endothelial cell was 11.4 +/- 0.2 (mean +/- S.E.) after vehicle pretreatment vs. 13.0 +/- 0.8 after mystixin-7 pretreatment (100 microg/kg i.v.). Silver deposit diameter was unchanged at 1.4 +/- 0.1 micron. Mean arterial blood pressure dropped by a maximum of 38% from baseline for approximately 10 min after mystixin-7 (100 microg/kg i.v.), then recovered to a plateau at about 13% below baseline. The antileakage effect of mystixin-7 pretreatment in vivo was also demonstrated in aldehyde-fixed vessels perfused in situ with Evans blue at constant flow (skin, 79% reduction; trachea, 49% reduction), which suggests that mystixin can reduce leakage independent of its hypotensive effect. We conclude that the antileakage effect of mystixin does not depend on reducing the number or size of endothelial gaps, but instead could be caused by residual hypotension, which reduces the negative interstitial fluid pressure toward zero, or clogging of endothelial gaps.     

Effects of interventions in health care settings on physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness

INTRODUCTION: This paper reviews studies of physical activity interventions in health care settings to determine effects on physical activity and/or fitness and characteristics of successful interventions. METHODS: Studies testing interventions to promote physical activity in health care settings for primary prevention (patients without disease) and secondary prevention (patients with cardiovascular disease [CVD]) were identified by computerized search methods and reference lists of reviews and articles. Inclusion criteria included assignment to intervention and control groups, physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness outcome measures, and, for the secondary prevention studies, measurement 12 or more months after randomization. The number of studies with statistically significant effects was determined overall as well as for studies testing interventions with various characteristics. RESULTS: Twelve studies of primary prevention were identified, seven of which were randomized. Three of four randomized studies with short-term measurement (4 weeks to 3 months after randomization), and two of five randomized studies with long-term measurement (6 months after randomization) achieved significant effect on physical activity. Twenty-four randomized studies of CVD secondary prevention were identified; 13 achieved significant effects on activity and/or fitness at twelve or more months. Studies with measurement at two time points showed decaying effects over time, particularly if the intervention were discontinued. Successful interventions contained multiple contacts, behavioral approaches, supervised exercise, provision of equipment, and/or continuing intervention. Many studies had methodologic problems such as low follow-up rates. CONCLUSION: Interventions in health care settings can increase physical activity for both primary and secondary prevention. Long-term effects are more likely with continuing intervention and multiple intervention components such as supervised exercise, provision of equipment, and behavioral approaches. Recommendations for additional research are given.     

Cover Picture: Improving Organic Thin‐Film Transistor Performance through Solvent‐Vapor Annealing of Solution‐Processable Triethylsilylethynyl Anthradithiophene (Adv. Mater. 13/2006)

In work reported by Loo and co‐workers on p. 1721, the current–voltage characteristics of triethylsilylethynyl anthradithiophene (TES ADT) thin‐film transistors are improved dramatically by a simple solvent‐vapor annealing process after device fabrication. Exposing the transistors to dichloroethane vapor induces structural rearrangement and crystallization of TES ADT, as shown on the cover (lower section, before annealing, upper section, after). The annealing results in drastic increases in on currents; the saturation mobility increases by two orders of magnitude and the current–voltage hysteresis is largely eliminated.