Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on embryonic expression of sonic hedgehog

PURPOSE: To estimate the impact of visual impairment in older Australians on the use of community support services. METHODS: In the Blue Mountains Eye Study, 3654 people aged 49 or older were examined- 82.4% of eligible residents in an area west of Sydney, Australia. Presenting and best-corrected visual acuities were measured using a LogMAR chart. Subjects were categorized as having visual impairment if their better eye read 40 or fewer letters (20/40 or worse). Interview data included marital and other socioeconomic status measures, living status (alone or with spouse or other person), use of community support services, reliance on regular help from nonspouse family members or friends, and perceived ability to go out alone. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender, education, living status, walking disability, and health-related factors, for each one-line (five-letter) decrease in best-corrected visual acuity, there was a corresponding increase in reliance on community support services (odds ratio [OR], 1.17; 95% confidence interval, [CI] 1.07-1.28) or combined community and family support (OR 1.22; 95% CI, 1.12-1.32). Visually impaired persons were three times as likely to use regular support services provided by the municipality (OR 3.1; 95% CI, 1.8-5.1). A similar increased reliance on regular help from community, nonspouse family members, or friends was found. Visually impaired persons were also much more likely to state that they thought they were unable to go out alone (OR 6.2; 95% CI, 2.6-14.3). The findings were similar when presenting visual acuity was used to define visual impairment or after subjects with walking disabilities were excluded. Visual impairment seemed to have a greater effect on use of community support services in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: After adjustment was made for confounding factors, visual impairment was found to affect significantly and negatively the independence of elderly people, particularly older women. Presenting visual acuity closely approximated best-corrected visual acuity in its impact on the use of community support services.     

Deficiency in collagen and fibronectin phagocytosis by human buccal mucosa fibroblasts in vitro as a possible mechanism for oral submucous fibrosis

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), a chronic oral mucosal condition commonly found in south Asians, is a disorder characterized by a quantitative as well as a qualitative alteration of collagen deposition within the subepithelial layer of the oral mucosa. Since degradation of collagen by fibroblast phagocytosis is an important pathway for physiological remodelling of soft connective tissues, we have investigated phagocytosis of collagen- and fibronectin-coated latex beads by fibroblast cultures with an in vitro model system. Coated fluorescent latex beads were incubated with human oral mucosa fibroblasts and the fluorescence associated with internalized beads was measured by flow cytometry. Cells from normal tissues that had been incubated with beads for 16 h contained a mean of 75% collagen phagocytic cells and 70% fibronectin phagocytic cells; however, about 15% and 10% of phagocytic cells individually contained more than twice the mean number of beads per cell. In contrast, cells from OSF tissues exhibited a 40% reduction of the proportions of collagen phagocytic cells (mean=35%) and a 48% decrease of the proportions of fibronectin phagocytic cells (mean=22%), none of the cells having a high number of beads as compared to normal fibroblasts. OSF lesions appear to contain fibroblasts with marked deficiencies in collagen and fibronectin phagocytosis. To investigate if inhibition of phagocytosis could be demonstrated in vitro, normal fibroblast cultures were incubated with areca nut alkaloids (arecoline, arecaidine). The cultures had a dose-dependent reduction in the proportions of phagocytic cells. On the other hand, corticosteroid used in the treatment of OSF exhibited a dose-dependent enhancement in the proportion of phagocytic cells. Therefore, our hypothesis for OSF, although oversimplified, is that betel nut alkaloids (arecoline, arecaidine) inhibit fibroblast phagocytosis and this provides a mechanism for the development of OSF. The benefit of a local intralesional injection of corticosteroid is also possibly, at least in part, through an enhancement of fibroblast collagen phagocytosis.     

One protein, two enzymes

Two enzymes, designated, E-2 and E-2', catalyze different oxidation reactions of an aci-reductone intermediate in the methionine salvage pathway. E-2 and E-2', overproduced in Escherichia coli from the same gene, have the same protein component. E-2 and E-2' are separable on an anion exchange column or a hydrophobic column. Their distinct catalytic and chromatographic properties result from binding different metals. The apo-enzyme, obtained after metal is removed from either enzyme, is catalytically inactive. Addition of Ni2+ or Co2+ to the apo-protein yields E-2 activity. E-2' activity is obtained when Fe2+ is added. Production in intact E. coli of E-2 and E-2' depends on the availability of the corresponding metals. These observations suggest that the metal component dictates reaction specificity.     

Lack of effect of food on the steady state pharmacokinetics of BMS-181101, an antidepressant, in healthy subjects

An annual atmospheric pollen survey was performed for 14 consecutive years in the autumn at Sakado city, Saitama prefecture. The survey was performed on the transition of pollen dispersion of major allergen plants: ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), Humulus japonicus, Artemisia spp. and Gramineae. 1. Annual total pollen count of ragweed showed marked increases beginning from 1991. Total pollen count in 1991 was 8.8 times and that in 1996 was 18.6 times that in 1983. This increase is probably caused by marked proliferation of giant ragweed which is left without mowing as it is on a dry riverbed, and consequently produces much more pollen than short ragweed. 2. Annual increases in total pollen counts of other major plants which disperse their pollen in the same season as ragweed were 0.95 times in 1991 and 0.5 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Humulus japonicus, 0.68 times in 1991 and 1.5 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Artemisia spp. and 1.3 times in 1991 and 1.4 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Gramineae. None of these species showed a marked increase of pollen dispersion although they showed some annual variation. The above findings suggest that changes in the proliferous state of various allergenic plants due to environmental change should be considered with respect to characteristics of pollen allergy.     

Routine portable chest radiographs in the medical intensive care unit: effects and costs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects and net costs of routine chest radiographs in a medical intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN: A prospective, cohort study. A survey of experts in critical care and pulmonary diseases was undertaken to assess the effect of routine radiographs on patient management. SETTING: Medical ICU of a university hospital. PATIENTS: Eighty randomly selected patients admitted to a medical ICU. Two hundred fourteen experts were surveyed; 118 (55%)/214 responded. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Daily interviews with medical ICU clinicians were conducted to assess the radiographic findings in the routine radiographs and actions taken based on these findings. Experts evaluated the findings, their importance, the actions taken, and the probability of complications if the actions had not been taken at that time. Experts also predicted increases in length of stay associated with these complications. Presence of radiographic findings, changes in management because of the findings, net costs of routine chest radiographs, cost per finding that prompted an action, and expected changes in length of stay resulting from the actions were also assessed. Seventy-two (33%) of 221 routine radiographs (95% confidence interval: 25% to 39%) had findings, of which 44 (61%) were judged important, and 18 (8%, 95% confidence interval: 5% to 12%) prompted actions. Experts predicted that each action averted, on average, 2.1 +/- 1.7 days (SD) in the medical ICU. Mean savings per routine radiograph was $98. Net savings from routine chest radiographs remained after sensitivity analysis for expected change in length of stay, percentage of patients with routine radiographs, and percentage of routine radiographs that produce changes in management. CONCLUSION: The policy of obtaining routine chest radiographs in the medical ICU is effective and results in net savings.     

Identification of a growth arrest specific (gas 5) gene by differential display as a candidate gene for determining susceptibility to hyperthermia-induced exencephaly in mice

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most common congenital malformations, affecting approximately 1 per 1,000 liveborn infants in the United States [Nakano, 1973; Richards et al., 1972]. Maternal exposure to hyperthermia, either through recreational sources or due to an infectious agent, is thought to account for approximately 10% of observed NTD cases. The specific genes conferring susceptibility or resistance to hyperthermia-induced NTDs have not been identified. This study used differential display-polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR) to characterize alterations in gene expression in the anterior embryonic neural tube of two highly inbred murine strains (SWV/Fnn, LM/Bc/Fnn) known to differ in their genetically determined susceptibility to heat-induced NTDs. Herein, we report the neural tube-specific differential expression of the growth arrest specific (gas 5) gene in the highly susceptible SWV/Fnn strain during neural tube closure (NTC). Although the expression of gas 5 did not appear to be altered by the teratogenic heat treatment, its spatial and strain-specific pattern of expression makes it an excellent candidate gene responsible for the observed genetic differences in NTD susceptibility between these two inbred murine strains.