Stereotype susceptibility in children: effects of identity activation on quantitative performance

A growing body of research indicates that the activation of negative stereotypes can impede cognitive performance in adults, whereas positive stereotypes can facilitate cognitive performance. In two studies, we examined the effects of positive and negative stereotypes on the cognitive performance of children in three age groups: lower elementary school, upper elementary school, and middle school. Very young children in the lower elementary grades (kindergarten-grade 2) and older children in the middle school grades (grades 6-8) showed shifts in performance associated with the activation of positive and negative stereotypes; these shifts were consistent with patterns previously reported for adults. The subtle activation of negative stereotypes significantly impeded performance, whereas the subtle activation of positive stereotypes significantly facilitated performance. Markedly different effects were found for children in the upper elementary grades (grades 3-5). These results suggest that the development of stereotype susceptibility is a critical domain for understanding the connection between stereotypes and individual behavior

Cloning of murine Stat6 and human Stat6, Stat proteins that are tyrosine phosphorylated in responses to IL-4 and IL-3 but are not required for mitogenesis

By searching a database of expressed sequences, we identified a member of the signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat) family of proteins. Human and murine full-length cDNA clones were obtained and sequenced. The sequence of the human cDNA was identical to the recently published sequence for interleukin-4 (IL-4)-Stat (J. Hou, U. Schindler, W.J. Henzel, T.C. Ho, M. Brasseur, and S. L. McKnight, Science 265:1701-1706, 1994), while the murine Stat6 amino acid and nucleotide sequences were 83 and 84% identical to the human sequences, respectively. Using Stat6-specific antiserum, we demonstrated that Stat6 is rapidly tyrosine phosphorylated following stimulation of appropriate cell lines with IL-4 or IL-3 but is not detectably phosphorylated following stimulation with IL-2, IL-12, or erythropoietin. In contrast, IL-2, IL-3, and erythropoietin induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat5 while IL-12 uniquely induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat4. Inducible tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat6 requires the membrane-distal region of the IL-4 receptor alpha chain. This region of the receptor is not required for cell growth, demonstrating that Stat6 tyrosine phosphorylation does not contribute to mitogenesis.

Retroviruses in invertebrates: the gypsy retrotransposon is apparently an infectious retrovirus of Drosophila melanogaster

Retroviruses are commonly considered to be restricted to vertebrates. However, the genome of many eukaryotes contains mobile sequences known as retrotransposons with long terminal repeats (LTR retrotransposons) or viral retrotransposons, showing similarities with integrated proviruses of retroviruses, such as Ty elements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, copia-like elements in Drosophila, and endogenous proviruses in vertebrates. The gypsy element of Drosophila melanogaster has LTRs and contains three open reading frames, one of which encodes potential products similar to gag-specific protease, reverse transcriptase, and endonuclease. It is more similar to typical retroviruses than to LTR retrotransposons. We report here experiments showing that gypsy can be transmitted by microinjecting egg plasma from embryos of a strain containing actively transposing gypsy elements into embryos of a strain originally devoid of transposing elements. Horizontal transfer is also observed when individuals of the "empty" stock are raised on medium containing ground pupae of the stock possessing transposing elements. These results suggest that gypsy is an infectious retrovirus and provide evidence that retroviruses also occur in invertebrates.

Which clinical anesthesia outcomes are important to avoid? The perspective of patients

Healthcare quality can be improved by eliciting patient preferences and customizing care to meet the needs of the patient. The goal of this study was to quantify patients' preferences for postoperative anesthesia outcomes. One hundred one patients in the preoperative clinic completed a written survey. Patients were asked to rank (order) 10 possible postoperative outcomes from their most undesirable to their least undesirable outcome. Each outcome was described in simple language. Patients were also asked to distribute $100 among the 10 outcomes, proportionally more money being allocated to the more undesirable outcomes. The dollar allocations were used to determine the relative value of each outcome. Rankings and relative value scores correlated closely (r2 = 0.69). Patients rated from most undesirable to least undesirable (in order): vomiting, gagging on the tracheal tube, incisional pain, nausea, recall without pain, residual weakness, shivering, sore throat, and somnolence (F-test < 0.01).

IMPLICATIONS

Although there is variability in how patients rated postoperative outcomes, avoiding nausea/vomiting, incisional pain, and gagging on the endotracheal tube was a high priority for most patients. Whether clinicians can improve the quality of anesthesia by designing anesthesia regimens that most closely meet each individual patient's preferences for clinical outcomes deserves further study.

Three-vessel view of the fetal upper mediastinum: an easy means of detecting abnormalities of the ventricular outflow tracts and great arteries during obstetric screening

The three-vessel view is a transverse view of the fetal upper mediastinum is as simple to obtain as the four-chamber view. It demonstrates the main pulmonary artery, ascending aorta and superior vena cava in cross- or oblique sections. The purposes of this study were to describe the normal anatomy of the three-vessel view and to analyze what anatomical changes would occur in this view when there are lesions of the ventricular outflow tracts and/or great arteries. Sonograms of 29 fetuses with lesions involving the ventricular outflow tracts and/or great arteries were reviewed. Three-vessel views were evaluated in terms of vessel size, number, arrangement and alignment. Twenty-eight of 29 fetuses showed an abnormal three-vessel view that included abnormal vessel size (n = 12), abnormal alignment (n = 8), abnormal arrangement (n = 7) and abnormal vessel number (n = 3). The vessel size was abnormal in obstructive lesions of the right (n = 4) or the left (n = 8) side of the heart. An abnormal alignment was seen in tetralogy of Fallot (n = 6) and double-outlet right ventricle (n = 2) that showed anterior displacement of the aorta. An abnormal arrangement was seen in complete (n = 4) and corrected (n = 1) transposition, double-outlet right ventricle (n = 1) and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (n = 1). Only two vessels were seen in truncus arteriosus (n = 1). Four vessels were seen in persistent left superior vena cava (n = 2). A fetus with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum showed a normal three-vessel view. In conclusion, most of the lesions involving the ventricular outflow tracts and/or great arteries showed an abnormal three-vessel view.

Oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of cochlear sensory cells: otoprotective strategies

Apoptosis is an important process, both for normal development of the inner ear and for removal of oxidative-stress damaged sensory cells from the cochlea. Oxidative-stressors of auditory sensory cells include: loss of trophic factor support, ischemia-reperfusion, and ototoxins. Loss of trophic factor support and cisplatin ototoxicity, both initiate the intracellular production of reactive oxygen species and free radicals. The interaction of reactive oxygen species and free radicals with membrane phospholipids of auditory sensory cells creates aldehydic lipid peroxidation products. One of these aldehydes, 4-hydroxynonenal, functions as a mediator of apoptosis for both auditory neurons and hair cells. We present several approaches for the prevention of auditory sensory loss from reactive oxygen species-induced apoptosis: 1) preventing the formation of reactive oxygen species; (2) neutralizing the toxic products of membrane lipid peroxidation; and 3) blocking the damaged sensory cells' apoptotic pathway.

Convective solvent flow across the skin during iontophoresis

Enhanced flux of neutral solutes during transdermal iontophoresis is attributed largely to electroosmotic volume flow. In this study, the iontophoretic fluxes of tritiated water (3H2O) and 14C-labeled mannitol through hairless mouse skin (HMS) were determined. The following questions were addressed: (i) What is the variability of water flux during iontophoresis? (ii) To what extent is the iontophoretic flux of a neutral solute correlated with water flux? (iii) Does the intrinsic permeability of the skin to neutral solutes change following iontophoresis? (iv) What is the effect of low pH on electroosmotic volume flow? and (v) Does the skin remain permselective after removal of the stratum corneum? Transport of both water and mannitol reached steady-state levels during 10 hr of constant-current iontophoresis (0.36 mA/cm2). Anodal fluxes exceeded cathodal values. Cathodal mannitol flux was retarded, relative to passive transport, by net volume flow in the opposite direction, such that transport of this molecule increased significantly after the termination of current passage. Anodal equivalent volume flows for water and mannitol, respectively, were 2.7 (+/- 1.3) and 1.23 (+/- 0.59) microL/hr cm2, indicating that only approximately 50% of the water flux participated in the electroosmosis of mannitol. The passive permeability of water and mannitol after 10 hr of iontophoresis was, respectively, 6 and 30 times greater than the pretreatment values. At pH 7, the cationic permselectivity of HMS was marginal [the Na+ transport number (tNa+) was determined to be 0.46] and less than that reported for human skin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization and cloning of a novel glycoprotein expressed by stromal cells in T-dependent areas of peripheral lymphoid tissues

A novel glycoprotein (gp) expressed by stromal cells of peripheral lymphoid tissue has been characterized immunohistochemically, biochemically, and at the molecular level. This molecule, gp38, was identified with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) (clone 8.1.1) previously shown to react with a subpopulation of thymic epithelium. This mAb generated a reticular labeling pattern in medullary and paracortical areas of lymph nodes and in splenic white pulp. At the ultrastructural level, labeling by the 8.1.1 mAb was restricted to fibroblastic reticular stromal cells. Serial sections of lymph node and spleen labeled with anti-CD3, anti-B220, and 8.1.1 mAbs clearly showed that the 8.1.1+ cells were associated with T cell-dependent areas. In severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) or Nu/Nu mice, splenic white pulp also exhibited reticular labeling with the 8.1.1 mAb in the absence of detectable numbers of T cells, indicating that the appearance of 8.1.1-reactive stromal cells in discrete areas of peripheral lymphoid tissue was T cell independent. The cDNA encoding this stromal cell molecule was cloned by direct expression in COS cells and found to encode a 172 amino acid sequence with the typical features of a type I integral membrane protein. COS cells transfected with the gp38 clone direct the expression of an approximately 38-kD protein that reacts with the 8.1.1 mAb but not with isotype-matched controls. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of 8.1.1 mAb but not with isotype-matched controls. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of 8.1.1 with proteins in the National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF) data base showed that gp38 is very closely related to the early response protein OTS-8 obtained from a cDNA library of tumor promoting agent (TPA)-induced murine osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1.

Urban-rural differences in prehospital care of major trauma

OBJECTIVES

To compare differences in response times, scene times, and transport times by advanced life-support-trained paramedics to trauma incidents in urban and rural locations.

METHODS

This report was a prospective cohort study of professional emergency medical services conducted in a five-county area in the state of Washington. Ninety-eight percent of trauma transports are provided by professional paramedics trained in advanced life support. Subjects were included in this study if they qualified as a major trauma victim and were transported or found dead at the scene by one of the region's advanced life support transport agencies between August 1, 1991, and January 31, 1992. The severity of injury was rated using the Prehospital Index. Incident locations were defined as "rural" if they occurred in a US Census division (a geographic area) in which more than 50% of the residents resided in a rural location.

RESULTS

During the 6-month data collection period, advanced life support agencies responded to a total of 459 major trauma victims in the region. A geographic locations was determined for 452 of these subjects. Of these, 42% of subjects were injured in urban areas and the remainder in rural areas. The severity of injuries, as determined both by the triage classification (p = 0.17) and the distribution of Prehospital Index scores (p = 0.92), was similar for urban and rural major trauma patients. Twenty-six (5.7%) subjects died at the scene. About one quarter of both groups had a severe injury, as indicated by Prehospital Index score of more than 3. The mean response time for urban locations was 7.0 minutes (median = 6 minutes) compared with 13.6 minutes (median = 12 minutes) for rural locations (p < 0.0001). The mean scene time in rural areas was slightly longer than in urban areas (21.7 vs. 18.7 minutes, p = 0.015). Mean transport times from the scene to the hospital were also significantly longer for rural incidents (17.2 minutes vs. 8.2 minutes, p < 0.0001). Rural victims were over seven times more likely to die before arrival (relative risk = 7.4, 95% confidence interval 2.4-22.8) if the emergency medical services' response time was more than 30 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS

Response and transport times among professional, advanced life-support-trained paramedics responding to major trauma incidents are longer in rural areas, compared with urban areas.

A pilot cohort study of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of unresponsive thin endometrium resistant to standard therapies

STUDY QUESTION

Is thin endometrium unresponsive to standard treatments expandable by intrauterine perfusion with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)?

SUMMARY ANSWER

This cohort study is supportive of the effectiveness of G-CSF in expanding chronically unresponsive endometria.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

In a previous small case series, we reported the successful off-label use of G-CSF in four consecutive patients, who had previously failed to expand their endometria beyond 6.9 mm with the use of standard treatments.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION

In a prospective observational cohort pilot study over 18 months, we described 21 consecutive infertile women with endometria <7 mm on the day of hCG administration in their first IVF cycles at our center. All previous cycles using traditional treatments with estradiol, sildenafil citrate (Viagra™) and/or beta-blockers had been unsuccessful. G-CSF (Nupogen™) was administered per intrauterine catheter by slow infusion before noon on the day of hCG administration. If the endometrium had not reached at least a 7-mm within 48h, a second infusion was given following oocyte retrieval. Primary and secondary main outcomes were an increase in endometrial thickness and clinical pregnancy, respectively. Endometrial thickness was assessed by vaginal ultrasound at the most expanded area of the endometrial stripe.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS AND METHOD

This study was uncontrolled, each patient serving as her own control in a prospective evaluation of endometrial thickness. The mean ± SD age of the cohort was 40.5 ± 6.6 years, gravidity was 1.8 ± 2.1 (range 0-7) and parity was 0.4 ± 1.1 (range 0-4); 76.2% of women had, based on age-specific FSH and anti-Müllerian hormone, an objective diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve and had failed 2.0 ± 2.1 prior IVF cycles elsewhere.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

With 5.2 ± 1.9 days between G-CSF perfusions and embryo transfers, endometrial thickness increased from 6.4 ± 1.4 to 9.3 ± 2.1 mm (P < 0.001). The Δ in change was 2.9 ± 2.0 mm, and did not vary between conception and non-conception cycles. A 19.1% ongoing clinical pregnancy rate was observed, excluding one ectopic pregnancy.

LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION

Small sample size (but a highly selected patient population) in an uncontrolled cohort study and in unselected first IVF cycles at our center.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This pilot study supports the utility of G-CSF in the treatment of chronically thin endometrium and suggests that such treatment will, in very adversely affected patients, result in low but very reasonable clinical pregnancy rates.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This work was supported by the Foundation for Reproductive Medicine, New York, New York, USA, a not-for-profit research foundation and intramural grants from the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR)-New York. N.G. and D.H.B. are members of the board of the Foundation for Reproductive Medicine. N.G. is owner of CHR-New York, where the study was conducted. N.G. and D.H.B. have been recipients of research awards, travel grants and speaker honoraria from various pharmaceutical and medical device companies. None of these companies was, however, in any way associated with the materials and the manuscript presented here. N.G. and D.H.B. are listed as co-inventors on a number of awarded and still pending U.S. patents, none related to the materials presented here. N.G. is on the board of a medically related company, not in any way associated with the data presented here.

Neurotransmitters and memory: Role of cholinergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic systems

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), pathological changes are found in the basal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS), serotonergic raphe (RA), and noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) systems. The present study was designed to determine the extent to which selective damage in each of these systems individually could produce an impairment of memory, one of the clinical symptoms of AD. Rats were given selective lesions by injecting ibotenic acid into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis and medial septal area (i.e., BFCS); 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine into the medial and dorsal RA; and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the LC or by ip injections of (2-chloroethyl)N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine HCl (DSP4). Levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), norepinephrine, and serotonin verified lesion effectiveness and selectivity. Chronic changes in serotonergic-2 and beta-adrenergic receptors were also determined. Rats were tested in a delayed spatial alternation in a T-maze. BFCS lesions impaired choice accuracy with intertrial delays of 5, 30, and 60 s. RA lesions or DSP4 injections impaired choice accuracy only when the intertrial delay was 60 s. LC lesions (by 6-OHDA) did not impair choice accuracy at any delay. The results suggest that the pathological changes in the BFCS and RA are sufficient to produce the types of memory impairments associated with dementia, but the quantitative effects of pathology in these two systems are different.

Cloning and sequence analysis of candidate human natural killer-enhancing factor genes

A cytosol factor from human red blood cells enhances natural killer (NK) activity. This factor, termed NK-enhancing factor (NKEF), is a protein of 44,000 M(r) consisting of two subunits of equal size linked by disulfide bonds. NKEF is expressed in the NK-sensitive erythroleukemic cell line K562. Using an antibody specific for NKEF as a probe for immunoblot screening, we isolated several clones from a lambda gt11 cDNA library of K562. Additional subcloning and sequencing revealed that the candidate NKEF cDNAs fell into one of two catagories of closely related but non-identical genes, referred to as NKEF A and B. They are 88% identical in amino acid sequence and 71% identical in nucleotide sequence. Southern blot analysis suggests that there are two to three NKEF family members in the genome. Analysis of predicted amino acid sequences indicates that both NKEF A and B are cytosol proteins with several phosphorylation sites each, but that they have no glycosylation sites. They are significantly homologous to several other proteins from a wide variety of organisms ranging from prokaryotes to mammals, especially with regard to several well-conserved motifs within the amino acid sequences. The biological functions of these proteins in other species are mostly unknown, but some of them were reported to be induced by oxidative stress. Therefore, as well as for immunoregulation of NK activity, NKEF may be important for cells in coping with oxidative insults.

Green tea catechins decrease total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Green tea catechins (GTCs) have been studied in randomized control trials for their lipid-lowering effects. Studies, however, have been small and demonstrated conflicting results. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating the relationship between GTCs and serum lipid levels, including total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides. A systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database was conducted through March 2010. Randomized controlled trials evaluating GTCs vs control in human beings and reporting efficacy data on at least one of the aforementioned serum lipid endpoints were included. Weighted mean differences for changes from baseline (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for lipid endpoints were calculated using random-effects models. Twenty trials (N=1,415) met all inclusion criteria. Upon meta-analysis, GTCs at doses ranging from 145 to 3,000 mg/day taken for 3 to 24 weeks reduced total (-5.46 mg/dL [-0.14 mmol/L]; 95% CI -9.59 to -1.32) and LDL cholesterol (-5.30 mg/dL [-0.14 mmol/L]; 95% CI -9.99 to -0.62) compared to control. GTCs did not significantly alter HDL cholesterol (-0.27 mg/dL [-0.007 mmol/L]; 95% CI -1.62 to 1.09) or triglyceride (3.00 mg/dL [-0.034 mmol/L]; 95% CI -2.73 to 8.73) levels. The consumption of GTCs is associated with a statistically significant reduction in total and LDL cholesterol levels; however, there was no significant effect on HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels.

Identification of a homeodomain binding element in the bone sialoprotein gene promoter that is required for its osteoblast-selective expression

Bone sialoprotein is a 70-kDa extracellular matrix component that is intimately associated with biomineralization, yet the cis-acting elements of the Bsp gene that restrict its expression to mineralizing cells remain uncharacterized. To identify such elements, we analyzed a 2472-base pair fragment of the murine promoter that directs osteoblast-selective expression of a luciferase reporter gene and found that the region between -338 and -178 relative to the transcriptional start is crucial for its osteoblast-selective activity. We identified an element within this region that binds a protein complex in the nuclear extracts of osteoblastic cells and is required for its transcriptional activity. Introduction of a mutation that disrupts a homeodomain binding site within this sequence eliminates both its in vitro binding and nearly all of the osteoblastic-selective activity of the 2472-base pair promoter. We further found that the Dlx5 homeoprotein, which is able to regulate the osteoblast-specific osteocalcin promoter, can bind this element and stimulate its enhancer activity when overexpressed in COS7 cells. These data represent the first description of an osteoblast-specific element within the bone sialoprotein promoter and demonstrate its regulation by a member of a family of factors known to be involved in skeletogenesis.

Recovery following relief of unilateral ureteral obstruction in the neonatal rat

BACKGROUND

Obstructive nephropathy is a primary cause of renal insufficiency in infants and children. This study was designed to distinguish the reversible and irreversible cellular consequences of temporary unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) on the developing kidney.

METHODS

Rats were subjected to UUO or sham operation in the first 48 hours of life, and the obstruction was removed five days later (or was left in place). Kidneys were removed for study 14 or 28 days later. In additional groups, kidneys were removed at the end of five days of obstruction. Immunoreactive distribution of renin was determined in arterioles, and the distribution of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta1, clusterin, vimentin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin was determined in tubules and/or interstitium. The number of glomeruli, glomerular maturation, tubular atrophy, and interstitial collagen deposition was determined by morphometry. Renal cellular proliferation and apoptosis were measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen and the TdT uridine-nick-end-label technique, respectively. The glomerular filtration rate was measured by inulin clearance.

RESULTS

Renal microvascular renin maintained a fetal distribution with persistent UUO; this was partially reversed by the relief of obstruction. Although glomerular maturation was also delayed and glomerular volume was reduced by UUO, the relief of obstruction prevented the reduction in glomerular volume. Although relief of obstruction did not reverse a 40% reduction in the number of nephrons, the glomerular filtration rate of the postobstructed kidney was normal. The relief of obstruction did not improve tubular cell proliferation and only partially reduced apoptosis induced by UUO. This was associated with a persistent reduction in the tubular epidermal growth factor. In addition, the relief of obstruction reduced but did not normalize tubular expression of transforming growth factor-beta1, clusterin, and vimentin, all of which are evidence of persistent tubular injury. The relief of obstruction significantly reduced interstitial fibrosis and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin by interstitial fibroblasts, but not to normal levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The relief of obstruction in the neonatal rat attenuates, but does not reverse, renal vascular, glomerular, tubular, and interstitial injury resulting from five days of UUO. Hyperfiltration by remaining nephrons and residual tubulointerstitial injury in the postobstructed kidney are likely to lead to deterioration of renal function later in life.

Iontophoretic delivery of a series of tripeptides across the skin in vitro

The iontophoresis of eight tripeptides, of the general structure alanine-X-alanine, has been measured across hairless mouse skin in vitro. The peptides were blocked (a) at the carboxyl terminus using the mixed anhydride reaction with t-butylamine and (b) at the amino terminus by acetylation with 14C-acetic anhydride. The nature of the central residue (X) was varied by selecting one of five neutral amino acids, two negatively chargeable moieties (aspartic and glutamic acids), and a positively chargeable species (histidine). Constant current iontophoresis at 0.36 mA/cm2, using Ag/AgCl electrodes, was performed for 24 hr in diffusion cells, which allowed both anode and cathode to be situated on the same (epidermal) side of a single piece of skin. Due to a combination of osmotic and electroosmotic forces, the anodal iontophoretic flux of neutral peptides was significantly greater than passive transport. Steady-state fluxes were not achieved, however, suggesting that time-dependent changes in the properties of the skin barrier may be occurring. Limited, further experiments confirmed that, on a 24-hr time scale, these changes were not fully reversible. The cathodal delivery of anionic permeants was well controlled at a steady and highly enhanced rate by the current flow. This behavior closely paralleled earlier work using simple negatively charged amino acids and N-acetylated amino acid derivatives. It appears that the normalized iontophoretic flux of these anionic species is independent of lipophilicity but may be inversely related to molecular weight. The positively charged peptide, Ac-Ala-His-Ala-NH(But), showed greater anodal iontophoretic enhancement when delivered from a donor solution at pH 4.0 than from a solution at pH 7.4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nckbeta adapter regulates actin polymerization in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts in response to platelet-derived growth factor bb

The SH3-SH3-SH3-SH2 adapter Nck represents a two-gene family that includes Nckalpha (Nck) and Nckbeta (Grb4/Nck2), and it links receptor tyrosine kinases to intracellular signaling networks. The function of these mammalian Nck genes has not been established. We report here a specific role for Nckbeta in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced actin polymerization in NIH 3T3 cells. Overexpression of Nckbeta but not Nckalpha blocks PDGF-stimulated membrane ruffling and formation of lamellipoda. Mutation in either the SH2 or the middle SH3 domain of Nckbeta abolishes its interfering effect. Nckbeta binds at Tyr-1009 in human PDGF receptor beta (PDGFR-beta) which is different from Nckalpha's binding site, Tyr-751, and does not compete with phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase for binding to PDGFR. Microinjection of an anti-Nckbeta but not an anti-Nckalpha antibody inhibits PDGF-stimulated actin polymerization. Constitutively membrane-bound Nckbeta but not Nckalpha blocks Rac1-L62-induced membrane ruffling and formation of lamellipodia, suggesting that Nckbeta acts in parallel to or downstream of Rac1. This is the first report of Nckbeta's role in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling to the actin cytoskeleton.

Antioxidant function of recombinant human natural killer enhancing factor

Natural killer enhancing factor (NKEF) is a member of a new class of highly conserved antioxidant proteins. Members of this family have been described as thiol-specific antioxidants. In this study, we show that recombinant proteins encoded by the two human NKEF genes (nkef-A and B) possess antioxidant function in the protection of protein and DNA from oxidative damage. The production of separate proteins from each of the genes encoding NKEF is an important step in the elucidation of its function.

A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial testing the effects of acupuncture on allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment for allergic rhinitis.

METHODS

This study was a multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled study. Participants were randomized to either the active acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waitlist groups. The active and sham acupuncture groups received acupuncture treatment three times per week for 4 weeks. In the sham group, minimal acupuncture at nonacupuncture points was used. The waitlist group did not receive any acupuncture treatment.

RESULTS

Of the 238 participants, 97, 94, and 47 individuals were assigned to the active acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and waitlist group, respectively. After the treatment, the difference in the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) was significantly reduced in the active acupuncture group compared with the sham acupuncture (difference: -1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.96, -0.09, P = 0.03) and waitlist (difference: -2.49, 95% CI: -3.68, -1.29, P < 0.0001). The active acupuncture group exhibited a significant change in the total non-nasal symptom score (TNNSS) compared with the waitlist (difference: -0.78, 95% CI: -1.22, -0.34, P = 0.0002), but not the sham acupuncture group (difference; 0.15, 95% CI: -0.21, 0.5, P = 0.56). Both active and sham acupuncture treatments resulted in significant improvements in TNSS and TNNSS compared to baseline.

CONCLUSION

Active acupuncture showed a significantly greater effect on symptoms of allergic rhinitis than either sham acupuncture or no active treatment. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis decreased significantly after treatment in the both acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups. Acupuncture appears to be an effective and safe treatment for allergic rhinitis.

Renal tubulointerstitial injury from ureteral obstruction in the neonatal rat is attenuated by IGF-1

BACKGROUND

The administration of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has been shown to ameliorate the renal injury resulting from ischemic acute renal failure. As there are a number of similarities between acute renal failure and obstructive nephropathy, we examined the effects of IGF-1 on the renal cellular response to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in the neonatal rat.

METHODS

Forty-five rats were subjected to UUO or sham operation within the first 48 hours of life and received IGF-1 (2 mg/kg/day) or saline for the following three or seven days, after which kidneys were removed for study by morphometry and immunohistochemistry. To determine the effects of UUO on endogenous expression of IGF-1 and its receptor, six additional rats were subjected to UUO or sham operation, and mRNA was measured by solution hybridization.

RESULTS

There was no effect of seven days of UUO on the renal expression of endogenous IGF-1 or its receptor. Moreover, seven days of exogenous IGF-1 did not improve the suppression of nephrogenesis, the delay in glomerular maturation, or the reduction in tubular proliferation induced by ipsilateral UUO. However, in the obstructed kidney, IGF-1 reduced tubular expression of vimentin, apoptosis, and tubular atrophy by 38 to 50% (P < 0.05). In addition, IGF-1 also decreased renal interstitial collagen deposition in the obstructed kidney by 44% (P < 0.05). Following three days of UUO, the administration of IGF-1 also reduced tubular apoptosis (P < 0.05), but did not alter tubular proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

IGF-1 has a profound salutary effect on the tubular and interstitial response to UUO in early development, without affecting glomerular injury or development. These results suggest that IGF-1 may have therapeutic potential in the management of congenital obstructive nephropathy.

Suppression of lymphokine-activated killer induction by neutrophils

Peripheral blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) suppressed the induction of PBL lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) function by rIL-2 in vitro. The suppression depended on the concentration of PMN in the IL-2 culture, and required intact PMN. However, PMN did not require treatment with immunoregulators such as IL-2, LPS, or TNF to express the suppressive activity, and no direct contact with PBL was needed for the suppression. Addition of anti-TNF antibodies had no effect on the suppression, suggesting that no endogenous TNF in the culture was involved in the suppression. PMN did not inhibit LAK function by preventing utilization of IL-2 by PBL or by selective depletion of NKH-1+ cells which constitute the majority of LAK precursors in PBL. The suppression was reversed by superoxide dismutase but not by catalase, suggesting that superoxide anion, not hydrogen peroxide, was involved in the suppression. No other suppressive factor was detectable in PMN culture supernates. Our results of PMN regulating LAK induction in vitro suggest that PMN may have a role in determining the outcome of immunotherapy with IL-2 in vivo.