Conservation of baculovirus inhibitor of apoptosis repeat proteins (BIRPs) in viruses, nematodes, vertebrates and yeasts

The purpose of this study was to compare striatal D2 dopamine receptor occupancy of various typical neuroleptics and clozapine in relation to the occurrence of extrapyramidal side effects (EPS). Forty-four inpatients with schizophrenia, including 12 patients with schizodominant schizoaffective disorder, were evaluated using 123I-iodobenzamide (IBZM) and single photon emission computed tomography. Striatal D2 dopamine receptor occupancy was estimated by use of a striatal/frontal cortex ratio (ST/FC) of IBZM binding. Fourteen patients were neuroleptic-free and served as controls. Six patients were treated with clozapine and 24 patients were treated with various typical neuroleptics. ST/FC ratios in patients taking typical neuroleptics were significantly lower than those who were neuroleptic free or treated with clozapine. Patients with EPS had lower ST/FC ratios than those without EPS. A significant linear relationship between ST/FC ratios and severity of EPS estimated by the Simpson-Angus-Scale was established (r=-0.51, p=0.041).     

Comparison of hemoglobin A1C results by two different methods on patients with structural hemoglobin variants

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to compare hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) results obtained by two methods based on different analytical principles for individuals with a structural hemoglobin variant. DESIGN AND METHODS: Hemoglobin A1C results were obtained using the Bio-Rad Variant (based on cation exchange chromatography) and the Bayer DCA 2000 (based on an immunological reaction) on individuals with a structural hemoglobin variant. The identity of the hemoglobin variant was confirmed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrophoresis. RESULTS: Hemoglobin A1C results obtained by the two methods on individuals with S, C, D, and E trait were in close agreement. CONCLUSION: The Bio-Rad Variant and Bayer DCA 2000 produce equivalent hemoglobin A1C results on patients with S, C, and E trait. With appropriate correction, correlation of hemoglobin A1C results from the Bio-Rad Variant for individuals with D trait was good (r = 0.927). Glycohemoglobin results obtained by the two methods for some unusual structural hemoglobin variants were in close agreement.     

An evaluation of the prognostic significance of antigen CD95(Fas/APO-1) expression on the cells of patients with a myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloleukemia

AIM: The expression of CD95(Fas/APO-1) antigen was studied on bone marrow cells of 19 MDS patients, peripheral blood blast cells of 15 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, blast cells and granulocytes of 68 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)--24 in chronic, 9 in accelerated phase and 35 in blastic crisis (BC)--by indirect surface immunofluorescence assay using flow cytometry (FACScan, Becton Dickinson, USA). RESULTS: CD95(Fas/APO-1) antigen was revealed on bone marrow cells of 8 out of 19 (36.8%) MDS patients; the percentage of antigen-positive cells was 38.1 +/- 19.2%; on 45.5 +/- 22.8% of cells in 6(45%) of 15 AML patients. Fas/APO-1 antigen was totally absent in CML chronic stage; its expression was found in 34% (12 of 35) of our patients with CML BC on peripheral blood blasts and in 56% (5 of 9) on peripheral blast cells of CML patients in acceleration phase. CONCLUSION: The data on overall survival of CD95-positive MDS patients suggest that the presence of Fas antigen is a favorable prognostic sign for patients with MDS. The patients from CD95-negative group represent a risk group both for survival and AML transformation. In CML BC group the survival does not depend upon Fas-antigen expression.     

Pathogenesis of renal calculi in distal renal tubular acidosis. Possible role of parathyroid hormone

Elevated circulating levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH), hypercalciuria and renal calculi were found in 3 patients with distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA). Treatment with alkali resulted in a fall of PTH toward normal and a reduction in urinary calcium, but the frequency of urolithiasis was unchanged. In one patient in whom prolonged follow-up was possible, a subtotal parathyroidectomy was performed. This was followed by virtual cessation of stone formation despite persistence of the acidification defect. This study suggests that RTA may be associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism and that the consequent elevation in PTH may play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of renal calculi.     

Acute renal failure in Kuwait--a prospective study

This prospective study was conducted over a period of 18 months (February 1989 to July 1990) in the State of Kuwait. It covered a population of 1,024,211 and eight multidisciplinary hospitals with an in-patient admission of 118,079 per year. Two hundred and twenty-six adult patients with acute renal failure (ARF) were seen and followed up by nephrologists. This made the calculated annual incidence of ARF 14.7 per 100,000 population, nearly five times that reported by the EDTA registry (Biesenbach et al. 1991). Drugs, sepsis and volume depletion were the most frequent causes, with sepsis resulting in 36% cause specific mortality compared to zero mortality with the other two. The overall mortality rate was only 14% which clearly indicated a markedly improved prognosis in cases of ARF. The prognosis in ARF depended on two major factors, viz. the type of aetiological insult and the presence of predisposing associated medical illnesses. Multiple insults, though common, do not affect the mortality rate. Secondary sepsis or gastrointestinal bleeding as a cause of death in ARF was rarely seen in our study. Those who required dialytic support for renal failure had a 45% patient mortality rate in general. Over 40% of our patients were 60 years or older compared with only 3.5% in the local population. This indicated old age as a major risk factor in the development of ARF. The overall mortality in the elderly did not differ from that in the young, but sepsis in the elderly carried a mortality rate of 60% compared to only 14.8% in the younger age group.     

The effect of the lectin from Sambucus nigra inflorescences on spontaneous and alkylating agent-induced mutagenesis in mammalian somatic cells

Data on separation of purified galactose-specific lectin as well as its two polypeptide chains from inflorescences of European elder Sambucus nigra are represented. Their molecule quaternary structure after the pattern a2 b2 is suggested. It was shown that purified protein in concentration 2.0 mg/ml had mutagenic activity and might enhance mutagenic effect of alkylating substance MNNG. Thus, preparations of lectin from inflorescences of European elder influenced on spontaneous and induced by the alkylating agent mutagenicity in mammalian somatic cells in vitro.     

An evidence-based approach to interactive health communication: a challenge to medicine in the information age. Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health

OBJECTIVE: To examine the current status of interactive health communication (IHC) and propose evidence-based approaches to improve the quality of such applications. PARTICIPANTS: The Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health, a 14-member, nonfederal panel with expertise in clinical medicine and nursing, public health, media and instructional design, health systems engineering, decision sciences, computer and communication technologies, and health communication, convened by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Department of Health and Human Services. EVIDENCE: Published studies, online resources, expert panel opinions, and opinions from outside experts in fields related to IHC. CONSENSUS PROCESS: The panel met 9 times during more than 2 years. Government agencies and private-sector experts provided review and feedback on the panel's work. CONCLUSIONS: Interactive health communication applications have great potential to improve health, but they may also cause harm. To date, few applications have been adequately evaluated. Physicians and other health professionals should promote and participate in an evidence-based approach to the development and diffusion of IHC applications and endorse efforts to rigorously evaluate the safety, quality, and utility of these resources. A standardized reporting template is proposed to help developers and evaluators of IHC applications conduct evaluations and disclose their results and to help clinicians, purchasers, and consumers judge the quality of IHC applications.