Effects of a peer-led senior health education program

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) elicits external carotid vasoconstriction in vagosympathectomized dogs via 5-HT1B/1D receptors and a mechanism unrelated to the 5-HT1, 5-HT2, 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 types. In order to further explore the nature of this novel mechanism, the canine external carotid effects of 2-(2-aminoethyl)-quinoline (D-1997), a novel 5-HT1 receptor agonist, were analyzed and compared with those of 5-HT and sumatriptan. Intracarotid (i.c.) infusions of 5-HT, D-1997 and sumatriptan to vagosympathectomized dogs dose-dependently decreased external carotid conductance, the rank order of agonist potency being 5-HT > sumatriptan > D-1997. The effects to D-1997 were resistant to intravenous (i.v.) pretreatment with 5-HT2 and 5-HT3/5-HT4 receptor antagonists. Remarkably, the effects induced by lower (10-100 microg/min), but not higher (300-1000 microg/min), doses of D-1997 were blocked by high doses of methiothepin (1 and 3 mg/kg, i.v.), as previously shown with 5-HT. In addition, GR-127935 (1-10 microg/kg, i.v.), partially and dose-dependently antagonized D-1997-induced responses. However, the effects of D-1997 remained unaltered after blockade of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors, muscarinic, nicotinic, histamine and dopamine receptors, or inhibition of 5-HT-uptake or cyclo-oxygenase, depletion of biogenic amines or blockade of Ca2+ channels. These results may support our previous contention that lower doses of 5-HT elicit external carotid vasoconstriction in vagosympathectomized dogs by activation of 5-HT1B/1D receptors, whilst higher doses of 5-HT stimulate a novel vasoconstrictor mechanism.     

Equilibrium and kinetic parameters of the sequence-specific interaction of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase with nontemplate strand oligodeoxyribonucleotides

The specific recognition by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase of single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides (oligos) with the sequence of the -10 promoter region on the nontemplate strand has been studied. Binding was monitored by observing the increase in fluorescence of 2-aminopurine residues incorporated in the oligos. The effects of salt on the rates of formation and dissociation of RNA polymerase.oligo complexes are relatively small, from which we conclude that electrostatic interactions contribute minimally to the favorable binding free energy. From the convex temperature dependence of ln Ka (Ka is the equilibrium association constant), we infer that a large apparent negative heat capacity, of 1-2 kcal M-1 K-1, accompanies complex formation, which is interpreted as due to a conformational change in RNA polymerase. Contrary to expectation, the forward rate constant for binding of oligos is more than 10-fold smaller than that for open complex formation at strong promoters. This suggests that in comparison to an oligo, promoter DNA may be better able to accelerate this required conformational change in the RNA polymerase. Oligo binding was shown to compete with the interaction between RNA polymerase and promoters, indicating that the two bind to overlapping sites on the RNA polymerase     

Automated three-dimensional US frame positioning computed from elevational speckle decorrelation

For ultrasonographic B-scan images collected by means of a handheld transducer moving in the elevational direction, frame spacings are computed with a speckle-decorrelation algorithm, without additional positioning hardware. Fully developed speckle volumes are automatically segmented and spacing computed from the decorrelation curves. Position accuracy is within 10% for phantoms and 15% for breast studies. The algorithm provides image-based registration, which allows accurate three-dimensional volume rendering.     

Predicting the development of late-life late-onset drinking problems: a 7-year prospective study

There has been little empirical study of risk factors for the development of late-life late-onset drinking problems. In the current prospective study, we compare two groups of older adults who, at a baseline assessment, were nonproblem drinkers: individuals who developed drinking problems over the course of the next 7 years (n = 77) and those who did not (n = 197). Late-onset problem drinkers reported mild to moderate drinking problems and spontaneous remission rates were high. Compared with stable nonproblem drinkers, late-onset problem drinkers at baseline were more likely to report incipient problems, heavier alcohol consumption, greater friend approval of drinking, more reliance on avoidance coping strategies, were more likely to smoke, and were less likely to have acute medical conditions that could potentially be complicated by alcohol consumption. Contrary to expectation, life stressors did not predict drinking problem onset. However, compared with stable nonproblem drinkers, late-onset problem drinkers were more likely to have a history of responding to stressors and negative affect with increased alcohol consumption.     

Prognostic significance of colony-stimulating factor receptor expression in ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence

The macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (CSF-1R), the product of the c-fms proto-oncogene, regulates normal proliferation and differentiation of macrophages and trophoblasts. Recent research found abnormal expression of CSF-1R in human carcinomas of the breast, endometrium, and ovary. Furthermore, activation of CSF-1R by its ligand has been shown to regulate invasiveness and anchorage-independent growth in breast carcinoma cells. To study the significance of CSF-1R expression in breast cancer, we designed a case-controlled immunohistochemical study. We chose 80 patients from a database of 1200 early stage I or II breast cancer patients treated with conservative surgery and radiation therapy. Expression of CSF-1R in the tumors of 40 patients who experienced an ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) as a primary site of relapse were compared with 40 patients who had not experienced an IBTR. The index and control patients were matched by age, clinical stage, nodal status, and follow-up. Paraffin-embedded sections were immunostained with antibodies directed toward CSF-1R. For the CSF-1R antibody, a total of 28 index cases (70%) demonstrated strong staining, whereas only 16 control cases (40%) demonstrated high immunoreactivity (P = 0.007). The CSF-1R antibody showed a positive correlation for local relapse, but no correlation was found between CSF-1R expression and distant metastasis. In summary, our findings provide evidence for the poor prognostic role of CSF-1R in IBTR.     

Silicon analysis of breast and capsular tissue from patients with saline or silicone gel breast implants: II. Correlation with connective-tissue disease

The silicone breast implant controversy rages on. Recent work has demonstrated that normal or baseline breast tissue silicon levels in women who had had no prior exposure to any type of breast implant may be as high as 446 microg/gm of tissue. These data ranged from 4 to 446 microg/gm of tissue, with a median of 27.0 microg/gm of tissue. In addition, numerous other epidemiologic and rheumatologic studies have demonstrated no association between silicone breast implants and any connective-tissue diseases. Despite these reports, the use of silicone implants remains restricted. The present study measured breast and capsular tissue silicon levels from 23 breasts in 14 patients with saline implants, and from 42 breasts in 29 patients with silicone implants. No patient in the saline implant group presented with signs or symptoms of connective-tissue disease. Patients with silicone implants, however, were divided into three groups based on the presence or absence of signs or symptoms of connective-tissue disease: group I, no symptoms or signs; group II, + symptoms, no signs; and group III, + symptoms, + signs. Six patients in group III were diagnosed with a specific connective-tissue disease, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or scleroderma. The most common indications for implant removal or exchange were capsular contracture and implant rupture, although 41 percent of patients with silicone implants expressed media-related concern over the implant issue. The most common symptoms described by patients in groups II and III were joint pain and stiffness, arm pain and numbness, and fatigue. In all groups, capsular tissue silicon levels were significantly greater than breast tissue levels. This finding may indicate that the capsule serves as a barrier to the distribution of silicone from the implant into adjacent breast tissue. Although breast tissue silicon levels in patients with silicone implants were not significantly greater than those in patients with saline implants (p = 0.48), capsular tissue levels in patients with silicone implants were, indeed, significantly greater than those in patients with saline implants (p < 0.001). However, no statistically significant differences in tissue silicon levels were observed with relation to the presence or absence of connective-tissue disease signs or symptoms in patients with silicone implants (groups I to III). Therefore, these data strengthen the conclusion that there is no association between tissue silicon levels and connective-tissue disease.     

Response of serum cytokines in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

The clinical observation that a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a minimally invasive operation has not been demonstrated on a biochemical basis. Interleukin-6, a known endogenous pyrogen and hepatocyte-stimulating protein, correlates with the significance of surgical trauma. Utilizing the IL-6 immunoassay, we studied this biochemical parameter of trauma to compare its response in laparoscopic vs open cholecystectomy. Sixteen patients who underwent only laparoscopic cholecystectomy showed peak IL-6 concentrations of 51 pg/ml (22-86) vs a peak IL-6 concentration of 124 pg/ml (56-225) for open cholecystectomy. Six additional patients who underwent an ERCP followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy showed a dramatic rise in peak IL-6 concentration to 315 pg/ml (15-634). These results biochemically confirm the true minimal invasiveness of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The findings in the ERCP-followed-by-laparoscopic-cholecystectomy group support the theory that two invasive procedures in close proximity may prime the cytokine system in its response to surgical trauma.