Correlation of the sinoscopic appearance of the maxillary antrum with histological and bacteriological findings

Assessment of the maxillary antral mucosa in chronic sinusitis prior to surgery is notoriously difficult. Sinoscopy using a Hopkin's rod system is proving increasingly popular. The accuracy of diagnosis of mucosal disease by this means in 26 antra is here correlated with histological evidence of inflammation and bacteriological evidence of infection in antral mucosal biopsies. It is shown that the surgeon's assessment of the mucosal appearance correlates well with the histology and bacterial culture. Absence of mucopus or bacterial growth on culture did not indicate absence of disease.

Biomedical applications of polyurethanes: implications of failure mechanisms

Three mechanisms have been described which explain various observed interactions between polyurethane chemistry and body chemistry. These include calcification, environmental stress cracking, and chain scission. Each may result in implant device failure, and each appears to involve metal ion complexation as a key parameter. Continued expansion of polyurethane into implantable product applications will require further clarification of the effect of each of these interactions on long-term product performance. It is believed that design considerations and polymer modifications will help control the effects of each of the interactions and will result in new and improved polyurethane implant products.

Bar suture (toggle pin) vs open surgical abomasopexy for treatment of left displaced abomasum in dairy cattle

Fifty-nine dairy cows with left displacement of the abomasum were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 2 treatments. Twenty-eight were treated by right paramedian abomasopexy via laparotomy, and 31 were treated by percutaneous fixation of the abomasum, using the bar suture or toggle pin technique. Comparisons of the 2 groups, at 4 follow-up examinations, yielded no significant differences in return to normal milk production, return to normal feed intake, mortality, culling rate, tissue reaction at the surgical site, or redisplacement up to 60 days into the subsequent lactation.

Autoradiographic localization of insulin-like growth factor II receptors in cerebellar cortex of weaver and Purkinje cell degeneration mutant mice

Autoradiography was used to visualize insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) receptors in the cerebellar cortex of weaver and Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) mice. These mutants were selected for their respective absence of granule or Purkinje cells. Histological preparations confirmed a severe loss of granule cells in the cerebella of weaver mutants and an absence of Purkinje cells in those of pcd mutants. Autoradiographs showed specific IGF-II binding to the granule cell layer of the cerebellar cortex in control mice, and in pcd mutants. No specific [125I]human IGF-II binding was observed in the cerebellar cortex of weaver mutants. These studies suggest that specific IGF-II receptor sites are located on the granule cells of the cerebellum.

Hyperadrenocorticism in cats: seven cases (1978-1987)

Hyperadrenocorticism was diagnosed in 7 cats with concurrent diabetes mellitus. Four cats had pituitary adenoma with bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia, 1 cat had pituitary carcinoma with bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia, 1 cat had adrenocortical carcinoma, and 1 cat had adrenocortical adenoma of the left adrenal gland. One year later, adrenocortical adenoma involving the right adrenal gland also was diagnosed in this cat. Clinical signs included polyuria and polydipsia (n = 7), development of pot-bellied appearance (n = 5), dermatologic alterations (n = 5), lethargy (n = 3), weight loss (n = 3), dyspnea/panting (n = 2), and recurrent bacterial infections (n = 2). In 6 cats, the diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism was established before death on the basis of results of the ACTH stimulation test (n = 3) and the dexamethasone screening test (n = 5). Pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism was differentiated from adrenocortical neoplasia on the basis of results of the dexamethasone suppression test (n = 4), endogenous ACTH concentration (n = 3), results of abdominal radiography and ultrasonography (n = 3), and exploratory celiotomy (n = 1). Four cats died or were euthanatized without treatment attempts. Treatment with mitotane followed by 60Co teletherapy was ineffective in one cat with pituitary adenoma. One cat with pituitary carcinoma died one week after bilateral adrenalectomy. Bilateral adrenocortical adenomas were removed surgically in the affected cat.

Effects of infection with caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus on milk production in goats

A recently assembled commercial herd of Alpine goats was studied. Milk production criteria--305-day milk production (M), butter fat content (BF), and solids nonfat content (SNF)--and somatic cell counts (linear score) were monitored by Dairy Herd Improvement Association test records. Milk samples from all milking goats in the herd were obtained for bacteriologic culture for mastitis organisms on 2 occasions; the infection rate ascribed to major pathogens was 3%. In November 1985, serum specimens were obtained from 154 does in first lactation. Of these, 56 (36%) were seropositive for caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) antibodies by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), 91 (59%) were seronegative, and serotest results for 7 (5%) were inconclusive. In December, 80 seronegative and 48 seropositive goats remained in the herd and had 305-day projections available. The median production values for seronegative goats (1,539.5 lb of M, 52 lb of BF, 46 lb of SNF) were higher than those for seropositive goats (1,446 lb of M, 45 lb of BF, 44.5 lb of SNF), but this difference was only significant (t test, P less than 0.05) for BF. Does were ranked by a formula that combined M, BF, and SNF, with a desired minimal daily herd average of 5 lb of M, 3% BF, and 3% SNF. A decision was made not to keep offspring from does of the lowest quartile before CAE test results were obtained. This group consisted of 13 of the 80 (16%) seronegative goats and 18 of the 48 (38%) seropositive goats. Thus, a positive CAE test result by AGID was associated (chi 2, P less than 0.01) with poor production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pharmacists' views about health promotion practices

A mail survey was conducted among a sample of 1,115 Mississippi pharmacists. The survey instrument included 25 statements concerning personal health practices which the respondents were asked to rate, using a Likert scale, on their importance to the health of an average person. Only one item, "Avoidance of alcohol altogether," received a mean score in the unimportant range. The item rated highest was "Taking prescriptions exactly as prescribed." Paradoxical attitudes concerning cigarettes and vitamins are discussed.

Chelating peptide-immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. A new concept in affinity chromatography for recombinant proteins

We report our experimental results supporting the hypothesis that a specific metal-chelating peptide (CP) on the NH2 terminus of a protein can be used to purify that protein using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC). The potential utility of this approach resides with recombinant proteins since the nucleotide sequence that codes for the protein can be extended to include codons for the chelating peptide and thereby generate the gene for a chimeric CP-protein that can be cloned, expressed, and affinity-purified with immobilized metal ions. The chelating peptide purification handle could then be removed chemically or enzymatically after purification has been achieved to generate a protein with the natural amino acid sequence. The feasibility of using a chelating peptide as a purification handle has been demonstrated using a leuteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analog, 2-10 LHRH, which contains the previously identified chelating peptide, His-Trp, on the NH2 terminus. 2-10 LHRH had a high affinity for a Ni(II) IMAC column due to the NH2-terminal dipeptide sequence His-Trp, forming a coordination complex with Ni(II), whereas the controls, 3-10 LHRH and 4-10 LHRH, lacking the CP sequence, did not bind. Furthermore, 2-10 LHRH could be purified from a mixture of histidine-containing peptides on a Ni(II) IMAC column in one step. His-Trp proinsulin was used as a model of a recombinant CP-protein. The S-sulfonates of His-Trp-proinsulin and proinsulin were isolated from Escherichia coli engineered to overproduce these proteins as trpLE' fusion proteins. His-Trp-proinsulin(SSO3-)6 had a higher affinity for immobilized Ni(II) than proinsulin (SSO3-)6. Both proteins were eluted by decreasing the pH or by introducing a displacing ligand into the buffer. Ni(II) eluted from the column with much higher concentrations of displacing ligand than the proteins.

Testing propositions derived from Rogers' conceptual system

This research tests hypotheses derived from the Rogerian conceptual system, the science of unitary human beings. The investigation sought to explore the effects of high frequency, low frequency, and ambient sound environments on vividness and creativity of imagery. The theo retical grounding of the research was synthesized from Rogers' princi ples of integrality and resonancy and the correlates of patterning in unitary human beings. The hypotheses of this study asserted that sub jects in an environment of high frequency sounds will have greater vividness and creativity of imagery than those in environments of low frequency sounds or ambience. The study used a pre-test and post-test control group design with 180 subjects randomly assigned to one of three sound environments for 20 minutes. The Betts' Questionnaire on Mental Imagery and Onomatopoeia and Images were the instruments selected for measuring vividness and creativity of imagery, respectively. The hypotheses did not receive experimental support. The discussion of findings elucidates both theoretical and methodological issues related to testing hypotheses derived from the Rogerian conceptual system. Recommendations for future study include replicating the study with high and low frequency sounds that are less annoying and tedious, such as sounds from nature or musical sounds.

Anti-human immunodeficiency virus agent 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine inhibits replication of Epstein-Barr virus

We show that the anti-human immunodeficiency virus agent, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), which suppresses infectivity and cytopathic effects of human immunodeficiency virus, also effectively inhibits Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA replication. However, AZT has no effect on four other human herpesviruses: cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus, and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. The combination of acyclovir and AZT, while it is not synergistic, has an additive effect against EBV replication. AZT may prove to be a useful drug for treatment of coinfections with human immunodeficiency virus and EBV.

Cerebral coenurosis in a cat

Coenurus serialis, the intermediate stage of Taenia serialis, was the cause of progressive, fatal, intracranial disease in a 5-year-old cat. X-Ray computed tomographic findings were identical to those associated with intracranial parasitic cysts in people, in whom x-ray computed tomographic features are considered pathognomonic and superior to those of other diagnostic methods. The presumed source of the coenurus was the owner's dog.

Interactions of the receptor for insulin-like growth factor II with mannose-6-phosphate and antibodies to the mannose-6-phosphate receptor

Recently, the sequence of the human receptor for insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) was found to be 80% identical [Morgan et al., (1987) Nature 329, 301-307] to the sequence of a partial clone of the bovine cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor [Lobel et al., (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 2233-2237]. In the present study, the purified receptor for insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) was found to react with two different polyclonal antibodies to the purified mannose-6-phosphate receptor. Moreover, mannose-6-phosphate was found to stimulate the binding of labeled IGF-II to the IGF-II receptor by two-fold. This effect had the same specificity and affinity as the reported binding of mannose-6-phosphate to its receptor; mannose-1-phosphate and mannose had no effect on the binding of labeled IGF-II to its receptor, and the half-maximally effective concentration of mannose-6-phosphate was 0.3 mM. Also, mannose-6-phosphate did not affect labeled IGF-II binding to the insulin receptor. These results support the hypothesis that a single protein of Mr-250,000 binds both IGF-II and mannose-6-phosphate. Furthermore, they indicate that mannose-6-phosphate can modulate the interaction of IGF-II to its receptor.

Plasma endogenous ACTH concentrations and plasma cortisol responses to synthetic ACTH and dexamethasone sodium phosphate in healthy cats

Plasma cortisol responses of 19 healthy cats to synthetic ACTH and dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP) were evaluated. After administration of 0.125 mg (n = 5) or 0.25 mg (n = 6) of synthetic ACTH, IM, mean plasma cortisol concentrations increased significantly (P less than 0.05) at 15 minutes, reached a peak at 30 minutes, and decreased progressively to base-line values by 120 minutes. There was no significant difference (P greater than 0.05) between responses resulting from the 2 dosage rates. After administration of 1 mg of DSP/kg of body weight, IV (n = 7), mean plasma cortisol concentrations decreased at postadministration hour (PAH) 1, and were significantly lower than control cortisol concentrations at PAH 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 (P less than 0.01). Administration of 0.1 mg of DSP/kg, IV (n = 8) or 0.01 mg of DSP/kg, IV (n = 14) induced results that were similar, but less consistent than those after the 1 mg of DSP/kg dosage. Mean plasma cortisol concentrations returned to base-line values by PAH 24. There was not a significant difference between the 3 doses (P greater than 0.05) at most times. Measurement of endogenous ACTH in 16 healthy cats revealed plasma ACTH of less than 20 to 61 pg/ml. Seemingly, administration of synthetic ACTH consistently induced a significant (P less than 0.05) adrenocortical response in healthy cats. On the basis of time-response studies, post-ACTH stimulation cortisol samples should be collected at 30 minutes after ACTH administration to ensure detection of peak adrenocortical response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The receptor for insulin-like growth factor II mediates an insulin-like response

Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) shares sequence homology and predicted three-dimensional structure with insulin and IGF-I. IGF-II can bind, therefore, to a limited extent with the receptors for these two other hormones, as well as to a distinct receptor for IGF-II. Previous studies have been unable to attribute a particular response of IGF-II through its own receptor. In the present studies, the IGF-II receptor is shown to mediate the stimulation of glycogen synthesis in human hepatoma cells since: (i) IGF-II is found to be capable of stimulating a response at concentrations in which it would primarily interact with its own receptor; (ii) the response to IGF-II was not blocked by monoclonal antibodies which inhibit the responses of cells through the insulin and IGF-I receptors; and (iii) polyclonal antibodies to the IGF-II receptor were found to mimic the ability of IGF-II to stimulate glycogen synthesis. These results indicate that the IGF-II receptor mediates a particular biological response--stimulation of glycogen synthesis in hepatoma cells. Furthermore, a monovalent Fab fragment of the polyclonal antibody to the IGF-II receptor was also shown to stimulate glycogen synthesis in these cells. These data indicate that clustering of the IGF-II receptor is not required to stimulate a biological response.