Adrenocortical pregnenolone binding activity resides with estrogen sulfotransferase

Cytosol prepared from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells transfected with guinea pig estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) cDNA demonstrated high affinity binding activity for pregnenolone as well as 17 beta-estradiol but failed to bind dehydroepiandrosterone or testosterone. In contrast, cytosol prepared from nontransfected CHO-K1 cells did not demonstrate steroid binding activity. Additionally, the binding activity for pregnenolone and 17 beta-estradiol was dependent on the presence of the cofactor adenosine-3',5'-diphosphate. Pregnenolone and 17 beta-estradiol effectively competed with each other for binding. On the other hand, pregnenolone, which was not sulfonated, did not inhibit the sulfonation of 17 beta-estradiol by expressed EST.     

Opposite modulation of 4-aminopyridine and hypoxic hyperexcitability by A1 and A2 adenosine receptor ligands in rat hippocampal slices

A randomly selected, age-stratified sample of subjects 50 years of age and older, living in the Salford Health District area of Greater Manchester was drawn from the age-sex register of a four-doctor group practice and invited by post to enter a study of ptosis. Of 851 subjects approached, 499 (59%) replied. Of these, 99 refused to participate. The remaining 400 were visited at home and underwent a standardized protocol of ophthalmic history, and examination including a photograph of the eyes in the primary position. Forty-six (11.5%) of the subjects had ptosis and its prevalence increased with age. Ptosis was bilateral in 18 (39%) and unilateral in 28 (61%). In all but four cases, the ptosis was acquired. The cause was evident in 23 (50%), with 11 cases being due to mechanical ptosis and 12 to aponeurotic disinsertion secondary to a known pathology. A further 22 cases had primary aponeurotic disinsertion and there was one case of probable myasthenia gravis. The prevalence of pupillary diameter of 1 mm or less increased significantly with age.     

The anatomic basis and clinical applications of flaps based on the posterior tibial vessels

The vascular anatomy of the posterior tibial vessels has been studied in 20 legs of 10 cadavers. The number, size and distribution of the direct cutaneous and direct muscle branches of the posterior tibial vessels were recorded. For analysis, the leg was divided into four equal segments, Zone I being the most distal and Zone IV the most proximal. The direct cutaneous branches were found to cluster mainly around Zone II. The direct muscle branches to the soleus and flexor digitorum longus muscles arose chiefly in Zones II and III. Based on this knowledge, we performed fasciocutaneous, island soleus muscle, musculo-fasciocutaneous and flexor digitorum longus muscle flaps based on the posterior tibial vessels in 12 patients. Four were free fasciocutaneous flaps and eight were pedicled flaps. All flaps survived and there were no major complications. Delayed wound healing was encountered in three patients.     

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Campylobacter jejuni and coli by using E-test in Taiwan

Cytogenetic abnormalities in human malignancies frequently involve chromosome 7. The existence of several tumor suppressor genes on the long arm of chromosome 7 has been suggested in both epithelial and hematologic malignancies. From the Danish Cytogenetic Register, we identified 183 persons with constitutional abnormalities involving chromosome 7, including 16 patients with Williams syndrome. By linkage to the Danish Cancer Registry, we found five persons with cancer, including one thyroid carcinoma, three carcinomas of the digestive tract, and one malignant melanoma. There were no cases of leukemia. The overall risk of developing cancer was not increased.