Trends in overweight among US adults from 1987 to 1993: a multistate telephone survey

OBJECTIVES: Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, this study describes trends in the prevalence of overweight between 1987 and 1993. METHODS: Data were examined from 33 states participating in an ongoing telephone survey of health behaviors of adults (n = 387,704). Self-reported weights and heights were used to calculate sex-specific prevalence estimates of overweight for each year from 1987 to 1993. Time trends were evaluated with the use of linear regression. RESULTS: Between 1987 and 1993, the age-adjusted prevalence of overweight increased by 0.9% per year for both sexes (from 21.9% to 26.7% among men and from 20.6% to 25.4% among women). The increasing linear trend was observed in all subgroups of the population but was most notable for Black men (1.5% per year) and men living in the Northeast (1.4% per year). Secular changes in smoking and leisure-time physical activity did not entirely account for the increase in overweight. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight among American adults increased by 5% between 1987 and 1993. Efforts are needed to explore the causes of this adverse trend and to find effective strategies to prevent obesity.     

Synthesis of optically active (R)- and (S)-tai-ding-an(TDA) and their anti-HSV activity evaluation]

Tai-Ding-An (3-phthalimido-2-oxo-n-butyraldehyde bisthiosemicarbazone, TDA) is an antiviral drug first synthesized in this institute. In order to clarify the difference between the two enantiomeric isomers of TDA, (R)- and (S)-TDA were synthesized from (R)- and (S)-alanine, respectively, via the following steps: fusing with phthalic anhydride gave 2-phthalimido alanine(2a or 2b). The resulting acid was reacted with thionyl chloride to offer the corresponding acid chloride(3a or 3b), which was treated with diazomethane to give the diazoketone(4a or 4b). Bromination of the ketone with hydrobromic acid gave the key intermediate 3-phthalimido-2-oxo-1-bromobutanone (5a or 5b). Compound 5a or 5b was oxidized with DMSO to give 6a or 6b, which was directly condensed with thiosemicarbazide to afford the desired (R)- or (S)-TDA. (R)-TDA, (S)-TDA and (RS)-TDA have been tested in cell culture for anti-Herpes simplex virus I (HSV-1) and HSV-2 activities by plaque reducing method. All of them showed inhibitory effects on HSV-1 and HSV-2 replication with IC50 of 0.0296 mmol.L-1, 0.0359 mmol.L-1 and 0.0418 mmol.L-1 for HSV-1 and 0.88 mmol.L-1, 1.04 mmol.L-1 and 1.06 mmol.L-1 for HSV-2. Not much difference was found among these compounds either on IC50 or on therapeutic indexes.     

Is leptin sensitivity the link between smoking cessation and weight gain?

We performed a case-control study to investigate the association of the poor metaboliser genotype of the cytochrome P450 2D6 gene with Parkinson's disease (PD). Genotyping was determined by the polymerase chain reaction followed by digestion with restriction enzymes. The poor metaboliser genotype was more frequent in 112 patients with PD than in 206 matched controls (odds ratio 1.7, 95% CI: 0.94-2.45). A meta-analysis of these results together with ten other published studies gave a pooled odds ratio for the poor metaboliser genotype of 1.47 (95% CI: 1.18-1.96, P=0.01). Thus, the poor metaboliser genotype has a small but highly significant association with PD which would be easily missed in small studies. Research now should focus on the mechanism of this association.     

Parental knowledge and choice regarding live and inactivated poliovirus vaccines

BACKGROUND: Concern about the 8 to 10 cases per year of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis caused by the live oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) has led to revised guidelines for immunization of children in the United States. The use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) at 2 and 4 months of age could require administration of 3 injections per visit until combination products are available. OBJECTIVE: To determine parents' knowledge of poliovirus vaccines and the choices they would make between IPV and OPV. METHODS: Parents of 240 children aged 2 weeks to 18 months under the care of 10 private pediatricians in the Baltimore, Md, metropolitan area were interviewed prior to the announcement of revised advisory committee guidelines. RESULTS: The majority (62.5%) of respondents were not aware that 2 poliovirus vaccines are available. After reviewing standardized information about the vaccines and 2 alternate schedules, most (75%) parents would consult someone (primarily their physician) before making a final choice of a vaccine schedule. If parents made the choice without consulting anyone else, 61.3% would choose to have their child receive IPV and 3 injections per visit as compared with an all-OPV schedule and 2 injections per visit. Inactivated poliovirus vaccine was preferred by most parents because it would reduce the risk for vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis. Oral poliovirus vaccine was preferred by 37.9% of parents primarily because it was given orally. If the number of injections at each visit was the same for both vaccines, 76.3% of parents would choose the IPV schedule, and if the number of injections was reduced to 2 by combining IPV with another vaccine, 87.9% of parents would choose IPV. CONCLUSION: The number of injections per visit is an important issue, but a majority of parents would choose to have their children receive extra injections to prevent the low risk for vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis.     

Unfolding and inactivation of Penaeus penicillatus acid phosphatase during denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride

Neuromuscular terminals of a single motoneuron to four muscles (CPV7a, GM5a, CV2, and CV3) in the stomach of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus showed structural evidence for the exocytotic release of dense-core vesicles exclusively at synapses. The primary evidence was the appearance of dense cores in the synaptic cleft, accompanied by indentations of the presynaptic or postsynaptic membrane. In their simplest form, these consisted of an omega-shaped figure of the presynaptic membrane enclosing one dense core, denoting release of a single dense-core vesicle. A larger indentation of the presynaptic membrane enclosing several dense cores denoted multiple release. A more complex form of multiple release was where the presynaptic membrane was normal, but the postsynaptic membrane elaborated into a sac projecting into the granular sarcoplasm and filled with dense cores. The postsynaptic sac in some instances was compressed into a thin, fingerlike extension, which lacked dense cores and, at its distal end, separated into small cisternae, suggesting a mechanism for membrane recycling. Profiles depicting single and multiple releases of dense-core vesicles were found more frequently at neuromuscular terminals that release relatively large amounts of transmitter with a single stimulus, such as CV2 and CV3, compared to those releasing smaller amounts, such as CPV7a and GM5a. The disparity in release sites among the four muscles of this single motor unit and the fact that many of the multiple-release figures were closely adjacent to the active zones for transmitter release suggest a possible modulatory role for dense-core vesicles in synaptic transmission. Such modulation may be long lasting, as implied by the postsynaptic sacs, which may permit prolonged release of the contents of their dense cores into the synaptic cleft. This is in keeping with the functional role of these stomach muscles, which is to be continuously active for long periods of time.     

Molecular analysis of ligand binding to the second cluster of complement-type repeats of the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein. Evidence for an allosteric component in receptor-associated protein-mediated inhibition of ligand binding

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP), a member of the low density lipoprotein receptor gene family, mediates the cellular uptake of a diversity of ligands. A folding chaperone, the 39-kDa receptor-associated protein (RAP) that resides in the early compartments of the secretory pathway inhibits the binding of all ligands to the receptor and may serve to prevent premature binding of ligands to the receptor during the trafficking to the cell surface. To elucidate the molecular interactions that underlie the interplay between the receptor, RAP, and the ligands, we have analyzed and delineated the binding sites of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA).PAI-1 complexes, RAP, and the anti-LRP Fab fragment Fab A8. To that end, we have generated a series of soluble recombinant fragments spanning the second cluster of complement-type repeats (C3-C10) and the amino-terminal flanking epidermal growth factor repeat (E4) of LRP (E4-C10; amino acids 787-1165). All fragments were expressed by stably transfected baby hamster kidney cells and purified by affinity chromatography. A detailed study of ligand binding to the fragments using surface plasmon resonance revealed the presence of three distinct, Ca2+-dependent ligand binding sites in the cluster II domain (Cl-II) of LRP. t-PA.PAI-1 complexes as well as PAI-1 bind to a domain located in the amino-terminal portion of Cl-II, spanning repeats E4-C3-C7. Adjacent to this site and partially overlapping is a high affinity RAP-binding site located on repeats C5-C7. Fab A8, a pseudo-ligand of the receptor, binds to a third Ca2+-dependent binding site on repeats C8-C10 at the carboxyl-terminal end of Cl-II. Next, we studied the RAP-mediated inhibition of ligand binding to LRP and to Cl-II. As expected, we observed a strong inhibition of t-PA.PAI-1 complex and Fab A8 binding to LRP by RAP (IC50 congruent with 0.3 nM), whereas in the reverse experiment, competition of t-PA. PAI-1 complexes and Fab A8 for RAP binding to LRP could only be shown at high concentrations of competitors (>/=1 microM). Interestingly, even though the equilibrium dissociation constants for the binding of RAP to LRP and to Cl-II are similar, the binding of the ligands to Cl-II is only prevented by RAP at concentrations that are at least 2 orders of magnitude higher than those required for inhibition of ligand binding to LRP. Our results favor models that propose RAP-induced allosteric inhibition of ligand binding to LRP that may require LRP moieties that are located outside Cl-II of the receptor.     

Vasoactive intestinal peptide induces both tyrosine hydroxylase activity and tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis in PC12 cells

Spike transmission probability between pyramidal cells and interneurons in the CA1 pyramidal layer was investigated in the behaving rat by the simultaneous recording of neuronal ensembles. Population synchrony was strongest during sharp wave (SPW) bursts. However, the increase was three times larger for pyramidal cells than for interneurons. The contribution of single pyramidal cells to the discharge of interneurons was often large (up to 0.6 probability), as assessed by the presence of significant (<3 ms) peaks in the cross-correlogram. Complex-spike bursts were more effective than single spikes. Single cell contribution was higher between SPW bursts than during SPWs or theta activity. Hence, single pyramidal cells can reliably discharge interneurons, and the probability of spike transmission is behavior dependent.