Phosphorylation of a cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (HSPDE4B2B) by mitogen-activated protein kinase

A cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase, HSPDE4B2B, was found to be phosphorylated when expressed in Sf9 cells or yeast. Deletion of amino acids 81-151 and 529-564 had no effect on the phosphorylation of HSPDE4B2B. Mass spectrometric analysis of purified HSPDE4B2B(1-564). HSPDE4B2B(81-564) and HSPDE4B2B(152-528) showed that phosphorylation occurred predominantly on Ser487 and Ser489. The stoicheiometry of phosphorylation was 1.2:1 (Ser487:Ser487, 489). There was no evidence by MS for a non-phosphorylated form of HSPDE4B2B(81-564) or HSPDE4B2B(152-528) when expressed in Sf9 cells. There was no detectable phosphorylation of purified HSPDE4B2B(152-528) expressed in Escherichia coli. Radiolabelling experiments with 32P revealed that phosphorylation of HSPDE4B2B(152-528) expressed in Sf9 cells was abolished when Ser487 and Ser489 were mutated to alanines. Analysis of the amino acid sequence revealed that Ser487 and Ser489 of HSPDE4B2B conform to the consensus motifs for phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) and casein kinase II respectively. Kinetic experiments in vitro showed that MAP kinase-phosphorylated E.coli expressed and purified HSPDE4B2B(151-528) with a K(m) of 63 microM and a Vmax of 3.0 mumol/min per mg. In comparison, MAP kinase phosphorylated myelin basic protein with a Km of 26.0 microM and a Vmax of 5.5 mumol/min per mg under the same conditions. Using MS and mutational analysis we found that MAP kinase-phosphorylated E. coli expressed HSPDE4B2B(152-528) exclusively at Ser487. These results suggest that phosphodiesterases could contribute to the cross-talk between the cAMP and MAP kinase signalling pathways.

Molecular analysis of the TK locus in L5178Y large and small colony mouse lymphoma cell mutants induced by hycanthone methanesulfonate

Mouse lymphoma cells of the L5178Y TK + /-3.7.2C line were exposed to varying concentrations of the anti-schistosomal drug hycanthone methanesulfonate. The trifluorothymidine (TFT)-resistant cells fell into two classes based on colony size. Southern blot analyses were performed using NcoI-digested DNA from a number of large and small mutant colonies from each treatment group. Two different restriction fragment banding patterns were identified in these analyses, those colonies that contained the 6.4 kb NcoI restriction fragment and those that did not. A total of 471 mutant colonies were analyzed and 84.5% (398) of these colonies did not exhibit the 6.4 kb fragment. There did not appear to be a hycanthone methanesulfonate dose response effect in the number of colonies that did not contain the 6.4 kb fragment among the treated groups. In addition, 82% (154 out of 188) of spontaneous mutants did not contain the 6.4 kb fragment. The results imply that greater than 80% of all spontaneous mutations found in the mouse lymphoma assay regardless of colony size do not contain the 6.4 kb fragment and each may be considered to be a large scale mutation. In addition, greater than 80% of the hycanthone induced mutations in the mouse lymphoma assay do not contain the 6.4 kb fragment and thus may be considered to be a large scale mutation.

Agouti structure and function: characterization of a potent alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor antagonist

The murine agouti gene encodes for a novel 131 amino acid protein. The sequence includes a 22 residue putative secretion signal, an internal basic region, and a C-terminal domain containing 10 cysteines. Agouti has been found to antagonize the binding of certain pro-opiomelanocortin peptides, such as alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), to the murine melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1-R). We report the purification of a secreted murine agouti to homogeneity by a two-step procedure from baculovirus-infected Trichoplusia ni (T. ni). The protein is glycosylated and exhibits competitive, high-affinity antagonism (Ki = 0.8 nM) versus alpha-MSH in cell-based assays employing B16F10 cells. Association state analysis by analytical ultracentrifugation reveals that agouti exists in a monomer--dimer plus aggregate equilibrium at low micromolar concentrations. Data from secondary structure studies indicate that the protein is highly stable to thermal denaturation. Enzymatic digestion to probe disulfide bond arrangement yielded a discrete C-terminal (Val 83-Cys 131) domain. The isolated highly cysteine-rich C-terminal domain retains alpha-MSH antagonism equipotent with mature agouti. This bioactive domain contains all 10 cysteines which exhibit sequence homology when aligned with several conotoxins.

Marital status of caregiving daughters and co-residence with dependent parents

The role of caregiving daughters' marital status is examined as it relates to their sharing households with disabled elderly parents. Married daughters fared best in well-being, income, and social support. Never-married women were the most likely to have never moved out of the parental home. Separated/divorced caregivers, more than the married and widowed, had moved into the parent's home rather than the reverse and widowed daughters had lived in re-formed joint households longest. The main reason for re-forming shared households was disability of the parent. Among other reasons were death or withdrawal of previous caregiver and financial problems, with separated/divorced daughters the most likely to mention finances.

1,N2-cyclic deoxyguanosine adducts and guanine adducts of 2-haloacroleins. Isolation, characterization, isomerization and stability

The reaction of the mutagenic 2-haloacroleins, 2-fluoroacrolein, -2-chloroacrolein and 2-bromoacrolein, with nucleosides and 5'-mononucleotides was studied. We found two different regioisomers of 1,N2-cyclic deoxyguanosine adducts of 2-chloroacrolein and 2-bromoacrolein: type A, the 6-hydroxy, 7-haloadduct in which the OH-substituent is vicinal to the N2-atom of the guanine moiety and type B, the 8-hydroxy, 7-haloadduct in which the OH-group is adjacent to the N1-atom of the guanine moiety. The major adducts were the trans pairs of diastereomers of type A and type B in which the 6,7-substituents as well as the 7,8-substituents are in the energetically favoured diaxial position of the newly formed tetrahydropyrimidine ring. In the case of the type A regioisomers, the cis pairs of diastereomers (traces with chloroacrolein and about 4% with bromoacrolein) were also found in which the halosubstituent probably takes the equatorial position. Due to the anomeric effect, the OH-group takes the axial position in both regioisomers. No cis isomers of the type B regioisomers could be isolated. Acid hydrolysis of the deoxyguanosine adducts released deoxyribose, and the respective guanine adducts were isolated and characterized. Besides the vicinal halo, hydroxy adducts, trace amounts of the corresponding dihydroxy adducts were formed by hydrolysis of the chlorine or bromine substituents. The dihydroxy compounds possess the same structures and conformations in the newly formed tetrahydropyrimidine ring as do the halo, hydroxy adducts. Under our conditions no adducts other than those with deoxyguanosine and guanine could be identified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Refined crystal structures of glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori var. X100

The refined crystal structures of a proteolytic fragment of glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori var. X100 have been determined at pH 6 and 4 to a resolution of 2.2 A and 2.4 A, respectively. The models include the equivalent of residues 1 to 471 of glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger and a complete interpretation of the solvent structure. The R-factors of the pH 6 and 4 structures are 0.14 and 0.12, respectively, with root-mean-square deviations of 0.014 A and 0.012 A from expected bondlengths. The enzyme has the general shape of a doughnut. The "hole" of the doughnut consists of a barrier of hydrophobic residues at the center, which separates two water-filled voids, one of which serves as the active site. Three clusters of water molecules extend laterally from the active site. One of the lateral clusters connects the deepest recess of the active site to the surface of the enzyme. The most significant difference in the pH 4 and 6 structures is the thermal parameter of water 500, the putative nucleophile in the hydrolysis of maltooligosaccharides. Water 500 is associated more tightly with the enzyme at pH 4 (the pH of optimum catalysis) than at pH 6. In contrast to water 500, Glu179, the putative catalytic acid of glucoamylase, retains the same conformation in both structures and is in an environment that would favor the ionized, rather than the acid form of the side-chain. Glycosyl chains of 5 and 8 sugar residues are linked to Asparagines 171 and 395, respectively. The conformations of the two glycosyl chains are similar, being superimposable on each other with a root-mean-square discrepancy of 1.9 A. The N-glycosyl chains hydrogen bond to the surface of the protein through their terminal sugars, but otherwise do not interact strongly with the enzyme. The structures have ten serine/threonine residues, to each of which is linked a single mannose sugar. The structure of the ten O-glycosylated residues taken together suggests a well-defined conformation for proteins that have extensive O-glycosylation of their polypeptide chain.

Diminished brain glucose metabolism is a significant determinant for falling rates of systemic glucose utilization during sleep in normal humans

Systemic glucose utilization declines during sleep in man. We tested the hypothesis that this decline in utilization is largely accounted for by reduced brain glucose metabolism. 10 normal subjects underwent internal jugular and radial artery cannulation to determine cerebral blood flow by N2O equilibrium technique and to quantitate cross-brain glucose and oxygen differences before and every 3 h during sleep. Sleep stage was graded by continuous electroencephalogram, and systemic glucose turnover was estimated by isotope dilution. Brain glucose metabolism fell from 33.6 +/- 2.2 mumol/100 g per min (mean +/- SE) before sleep (2300 h) to a mean nadir of 24.3 +/- 1.1 mumol/100 g per min at 0300 h during sleep (P = 0.001). Corresponding rates of systemic glucose utilization fell from 13.2 +/- 0.8 to 11.0 +/- 0.5 mumol/kg per min (P = 0.003). Diminished brain glucose metabolism was the product of a reduced arteriovenous glucose difference, 0.643 +/- 0.024 to 0.546 +/- 0.020 mmol/liter (P = 0.002), and cerebral blood flow, 50.3 +/- 2.8 to 44.6 +/- 1.4 cc/100 g per min (P = 0.021). Brain oxygen metabolism fell commensurately from 153.4 +/- 11.8 to 128.0 +/- 8.4 mumol/100 g per min (P = 0.045). The observed reduction in brain metabolism occurred independent of stage of central nervous system electrical activity (electroencephalographic data), and was more closely linked to duration of sleep. We conclude that a decline in brain glucose metabolism is a significant determinant of falling rates of systemic glucose utilization during sleep.

Medicaid payment for nonphysician practitioners: an access issue

As part of congressional efforts in the 1980s to expand access to care for Medicaid mothers and children, states were required to pay for services provided by certain advanced practice nurses. These mandates created the impetus in many states to expand payment policies for nonphysician practitioners. State Medicaid payment policies are often less restrictive than those of the Medicare program. However, not all states have been receptive to policy expansions and do not cover nonphysician practitioner services to the extent that professional practice acts allow. A few states have yet to meet the 1989 federal mandates.

Identification and characterization of deoxyguanosine adducts of mutagenic beta-alkyl-substituted acrolein congeners

The reaction of the mutagenic beta-alkyl-substituted acroleins (E)-2-pentenal, (E)-2-hexenal, (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal, and 3,3-dimethylacrolein with nucleosides and 5'-mononucleotides was studied. We found two different types of adducts with deoxyguanosine and 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate. No adducts could be isolated with either nucleosides other than deoxyguanosine or nucleotides other than 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate. With pentenal, hexenal, and 3,3-dimethylacrolein, we identified and characterized 1,N2-cyclic adducts and 7,8-cyclic adducts. The 1,N2-adducts of pentenal and hexenal were mixtures of diastereomers, one pair in which the substituents in the newly formed ring were trans (6S,8S and 6R,8R) and another in which they were cis. The cis isomers were formed to a much lesser extent. In all cases, the regioisomer is formed in which the OH group is vicinal to the N-1 atom of the guanine moiety. In the case of the 7,8 adducts, the ribose cleaved spontaneously during the reaction, and a mixture of isomers in which the substituents were cis and trans in the newly formed tetrahydropyrrole ring was observed. Since these compounds form adducts in a similar way to crotonaldehyde and are also mutagenic like crotonaldehyde, it was proposed to regard them as carcinogenic, like crotonaldehyde, unless experimental examination demonstrates nonmutagenicity.

The possible role of alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in mutagenesis and carcinogenesis

alpha, beta-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds are industrially important compounds, ubiquitous in the environment and are formed endogenously. They interact with proteins and enzymes. Genotoxicity was found in eucaryotic cells and some compounds were carcinogenic. Unsaturated carbonyl compounds are considered to play an important role in human cancer. Insufficient and contradictory results were reported on mutagenicity. We demonstrated a clear mutagenic potential for these compounds and have shown interference of their bacterial toxicity with an adequate testing. Structure-mutagenicity relationships were confirmed by the results of the SOS-chromotest. The compounds induce DNA-strand breaks. However, we did not find indications for cross linking. With mutagenic alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds we isolated and characterized 1,N2-cyclic deoxyguanosine adducts, 7,8-cyclic and 7-linear guanine adducts as well as 1,N2-7,8-biscyclic adducts and 1,N2-cyclic, 7-linear bisadducts. Reactivity of these compounds towards nucleosides runs in parallel with their mutagenic potential. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities most probably depend on these reactions with DNA, and DNA adducts can be utilized as indicators for the role of these compounds in human carcinogenicity.

Vesicoureteral reflux and lower urinary tract injury: the possible role of suprapubic cystostomy

Incidental vesicoureteral reflux was noted frequently during routine cystographic evaluation of patients who suffered vesicourethral trauma and who were managed by suprapubic cystostomy. Based on this observation we designed a retrospective study to document the prevalence of vesicoureteral reflux among 30 consecutive patients following vesicourethral trauma. In 9 patients drainage was instituted by urethral catheter and in 21 by suprapubic cystostomy. Of the latter 21 patients 10 (47.6%) had evidence of vesicoureteral reflux on cystography, which was associated with complete rupture of the urethra in 9 (90%). No patient who was treated initially with a urethral catheter had evidence of vesicoureteral reflux on cystography. We conclude that the prevalence of vesicoureteral reflux is significantly affected by the coexistence of severe vesicourethral injury and the presence of suprapubic cystostomy. The significance of this observation is in the potential risk of ascending upper urinary tract infections due to the hazardous combination of vesicoureteral reflux and frequent recurrent lower urinary tract infections. Presence of vesicoureteral reflux in these patients may necessitate a prophylactic antibiotic regimen. The specific mechanisms that lead to increased prevalence of vesicoureteral reflux in patients following severe vesicourethral injury are not defined by our results. However, we propose a multifactorial concept that may explain our observation.

Biomonitoring studies and susceptibility markers for acrolein congeners and allylic and benzyl compounds

The importance of genotoxic acrolein congeners and allylic and benzyl compounds as industrial compounds, ubiquitous environmental pollutants, and naturally occurring substances necessitates the availability of adequate biomonitoring techniques. Endogenously formed acrolein congeners are considered to play an important role in carcinogenesis. Our studies have demonstrated that acrolein congeners react with DNA components and form adducts with the guanine moiety. We have identified and characterized cyclic 1,N2-deoxyguanosine adducts, cyclic 7,8-guanine adducts, linear 7-guanine adducts, 1,N2,7,8-bis-cyclic adducts, and 1,N2-cyclic, 7-linear bis adducts. Both the reactivity of the acroleins toward nucleosides and their mutagenicity in S. typhimurium TA100 decrease with increasing degree of alkyl substitution. Adducts are now available as reference substances for developing sensitive detection methods. Of the biomonitoring methods investigated for allylic and benzyl compounds, the detection of cysteine and histidine adducts isolated from hemoglobin seems to be the most sensitive. Gas chromatography with electron capture detection of heptafluorobutyric acid derivatives allows a detection limit in the femtomole range, HPLC-fluorescence detection of O-phthalic dialdehyde derivatives allows a limit in the picomole range, and detection of 9-fluorenylmethyl-chlorofomiate derivatives allows a limit in the femtomole range.

Identification and characterization of deoxyguanosine-crotonaldehyde adducts. Formation of 7,8 cyclic adducts and 1,N2,7,8 bis-cyclic adducts

Crotonaldehyde, a chemically reactive alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound, is an important industrial chemical and a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. It has been shown to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. We have studied the reaction of crotonaldehyde with nucleosides and 5'-mononucleotides and found three different types of adducts with deoxyguanosine and 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate. No adducts could be isolated either with nucleosides other than deoxyguanosine or with nucleotides other than 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate. With crotonaldehyde, deoxyguanosine produced 1,N2 and 7,8 adducts as well as 1,N2/7,8 bis-adducts. The 1,N2 adducts were mixtures of diastereomers: one pair in which the substituents in the newly formed ring were trans [adduct Ia (6S,8S) and (6R,8R)], about 94%, and another pair Ib in which they were cis. In the case of the 7,8-adducts IIa,b, the ribose was cleaved and a mixture of isomers in which the substituents were cis-IIa and trans-IIb (2:1) in the newly formed tetrahydropyrrole ring was observed. A 3:2 cis-IIIa and trans-IIIb mixture of 1,N2,7,8 bis-adducts was found with the isomerism in the newly formed tetrahydropyrrole ring in analogy to the 7,8 adducts IIa,b. The corresponding bis-adduct with the cis form in the newly formed tetrahydropyrimidine ring was not observed.

Differential effects of daughters' marital status on their parent care experiences

This study compared the parent care experiences of five groups of daughters (N = 492) (married, remarried, separated/divorced, widowed, and never married). Data include demographic characteristics and measures of depression, positive affect, personality strength, health, social support, relationship quality, caregiving burden, caregiving mastery, and caregiving satisfaction. Women with husbands had more socio-emotional and instrumental support, much higher incomes, less financial strain from caregiving, and less depression. They felt their own particular marital status made caregiving easier than did the three groups of not-married women.

Measurement of free radicals from smoke inhalation and oxygen exposure by spin trapping and ESR spectroscopy

Research in smoke inhalation has established that free radicals are produced from gases released during combustion and these species impair lung function. Using spin traps and their adducts in an animal model free radicals were measured. Various hyperbaric oxygen regimens were tested in an attempt to attenuate pulmonary damage caused by free radical reactions. Our data demonstrated that persistent oxygen- and carbon-centered free radicals are detectable in intravascular fluids after smoke inhalation. The smoke inhalation model showed however, clearing of spin trap adducts one hour after smoke exposure. Other researchers have found that when 100% oxygen is given at 1 atmosphere absolute (ATA) for 1 h, free radicals were not detectable. However, oxygen given at 2.5 ATA does produce detectable free radicals. With continued exposure at this pressure, the levels of free radicals increase for up to 60 min. This study suggests that the level of free radical induced oxygen toxicity may be a function of oxygen pressure and duration of oxygen exposure.

Effect of transport time and FiO2 on SpO2 during transport from the OR to the PACU

Early postoperative hypoxemia may be due to a reduced functional residual capacity, hypoventilation, and ventilation-perfusion mismatch. These factors reduce the partial pressure of the arterial oxygen which ultimately reduces the oxygen transported to the tissues by decreasing the hemoglobin saturation. This may lead to cellular ischemia and death. Oxygen saturation may decrease during transport from the operating room to the postanesthesia care unit. The length of transport time in large operating suites may exceed 5 minutes, which may lead to inadequate oxygenation. This research used a pretest-posttest control group design on a convenience sample. Subjects were randomized into either the treatment or control group. At emergence, the SpO2 measured and the stopwatch started. The treatment group received 40% oxygen via a venturi mask during transport while the control group breathed room air. After a routine transport to the postanesthesia care unit, the SpO2 was again measured and the transport time was recorded. Oxygen saturation was found to be significantly greater in the group breathing supplemental O2 during transport.

Identification and characterization of deoxyguanosine adducts of methyl vinyl ketone and ethyl vinyl ketone. Genotoxicity of the ketones in the SOS Chromotest

The reaction of the alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and ethyl vinyl ketone (EVK) with nucleosides and 5'-mononucleotides was studied. The genotoxic activity of MVK and EVK in the SOS Chromotest was investigated. Three different types of adducts with deoxyguanosine were found and their structures elucidated: the cyclic 1,N2 adducts, the linear N7 adducts with one still-unreacted carbonyl function, and the cyclic 1,N2, linear N7, bis adducts. The spectroscopic and other relevant characterization data for the deoxyguanosine adducts and the corresponding guanine adducts are presented here together with details of the chromatographic methods used for isolation. The adducts described could also be isolated in the reactions of MVK and EVK with 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate. No adducts could be isolated either with nucleosides other than deoxyguanosine or with nucleotides other than 2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate, indicating that the guanine moiety is the most reactive DNA constituent for MVK and EVK. MVK and EVK were clearly genotoxic in the SOS Chromotest according to the criteria of Quillardet and Hofnung. The formation of these adducts was proposed as the mechanism for the genotoxicity of MVK and EVK: all data available support the assumption that MVK and EVK represent a mutagenic and carcinogenic risk for mankind.

Mutagenicity and genotoxicity of ethylvinyl ketone in bacterial tests

The mutagenic and genotoxic effects of ethylvinyl ketone were investigated. This alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound is widely distributed in the environment, in particular in food. Whereas ethylvinyl ketone shows only weak genotoxicity in the SOS Chromotest with Escherichia coli PQ37, it was distinctly mutagenic per se in the Salmonella preincubation assay with TA100. Using SKF 525 (an inhibitor of microsomal monooxygenase) and trichloropropene oxide (an inhibitor of epoxide hydrolase) we found indication for additional activation via epoxidation by S9 mix. The need for further investigation of the genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of this compound is strongly indicated.

Comparative bacterial clearances of muscle and skin/subcutaneous tissues with and without dead bone: a laboratory study

Seventeen New Zealand White rabbits underwent implantation of three different concentrations of bacteria and a sterile saline control solution with and without dead autologous bone in eight separate muscular and eight separate subcutaneous sites. Following a period of 1 week, each site was surgically explored and samples of tissue were taken for histology and quantitative culture. Results reveal that final bacterial concentrations in the subcutaneous sites were significantly lower than in the muscle sites (p less than or equal to 0.0001) for each concentration of bacteria, with and without dead bone. Dead bone resulted in very significantly greater bacterial concentrations in both subcutaneous and muscle sites. Clinically, these results indicate that a thorough bony wound debridement is more important than the type of tissue used to close the wound. Flap tissue should be selected with regard to the perfusion, contour, and appearance of the recipient site.

Caregiving daughters and their local siblings: perceptions, strains, and interactions

Daughters who are principal caregivers to disabled elderly mothers are compared with their geographically proximate sisters and brothers as to the amount of help each group provides, the effects of care they experience, and the problems and benefits of the siblings' interactions about the caregiving situations. Caregivers reported the most and brothers the least service provision and strain; sisters fell in between, and also equaled caregivers in strain from intersibling problems. Negative intersibling interactions are associated with less emotional closeness in the families and the mothers' greater care needs.

Selecting a family therapy model: the role of personality attributes in eclectic practice*

The expanding knowledge and skill bases within the interdisciplinary family therapy profession pose a significant challenge for evolving practitioners, at whatever stage along the professional development process they find themselves. This challenge raises a basic question regarding whether there are any constraining forces to the level of eclecticism in practice towards which one can aspire. This paper empirically explores the role played by the personality attributes of the family therapist in facilitating and/or inhibiting one's adherence to a variety of approaches to family practice.

Parent care and geographically distant children

Interviews were conducted with geographically distant adult children whose female siblings were primary caregivers for elderly widowed mothers. Female distant siblings were more likely than males to express guilt, strain, and other emotional effects deriving from the mother's situation, as well as certain intersibling tensions relative to the mother's care.

Factor VII activity state in coronary artery disease

In a recent study, Dalaker et al. (Br J Haematol 1985; 61:315-22) reported that men at high risk for cardiovascular disease had an increased mean level of factor VII procoagulant activity that was apparently attributable to an increase of a phospholipase C-sensitive form of factor VII in their plasma. We chose to investigate this phenomenon further by observing patients at high risk of coronary artery disease with assays that reflect the activity state of factor VII. We measured factor VII levels in patients before coronary arteriography and in normal subjects by an amidolytic assay (FVIIam assay) and by a standard clotting assay (FVIIc-A assay), both of which reflect the total amount of factor VII and are insensitive to activated factor VII, and by the method of Seligson et al. (Blood 1978;52:978-88) (FVIIc-B assay), which is sensitive to the presence of activated factor VII. In the FVIIc-A and FVIIam assays, the patients had a significantly higher mean value than the normal subjects; in the FVIIc-B assay, the patients had a significantly lower mean value than did the normal subjects. Moreover, the ratio of FVIIc-B to FVIIam, which is an indicator of the factor VII activity state, was much lower for the patients (0.70) than for the normal subjects (0.99). Thus, patients at high risk for coronary artery disease have an increased mean level of total factor VII that is not associated with an increase in activated factor VII and therefore presumably reflects an increase in zymogen factor VII.

The course of asthma during pregnancy, post partum, and with successive pregnancies: a prospective analysis

We studied 366 pregnancies in 330 prospectively managed women with asthma to determine the effect of pregnancy on asthma. Asthma activity was assessed by (1) daily symptom and medication diaries and (2) monthly auscultation and spirometry during pregnancy and for 3 months post partum. At 3 months post partum, subjects were asked to assess the overall course of their asthma during pregnancy compared to the usual course for them, and the course of their asthma during the 3 months post partum compared to the asthma during pregnancy. Asthma worsened during pregnancy in 35% of the women, improved in 28%, and was unchanged in 33%. Based on diary-card analysis, asthma was significantly less frequent and less severe during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy than during any other gestational interval. In women whose asthma improved during pregnancy, diary-card analysis revealed a gradual improvement with progressive pregnancy, whereas in women whose asthma worsened during pregnancy, there was an increase in asthma symptoms during 29 to 36 weeks gestation. During labor and delivery, asthma symptoms occurred in 10% of women with approximately equal proportions of these women receiving either no treatment or inhaled bronchodilators; only two subjects required intravenous aminophylline. During the 3 months post partum, asthma reverted toward its prepregnancy course in 73% of women. In 34 subjects prospectively studied for two successive pregnancies, there existed a significant concordance between the asthma course during the first and second pregnancies. The mechanistic and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Complete rectal prolapse: the anatomical and functional results of treatment by an extended abdominal rectopexy

Between 1970 and 1985 (inclusive), 66 patients presented with complete rectal prolapse; 59 (89 per cent) were treated by extended abdominal rectopexy. Forty-four patients (75 per cent) have been followed for more than 2 years: all cases were cured of their complete prolapse, no patients died, and major complications were few. Constipation (47 per cent) and incontinence (19 per cent) caused serious problems for many patients postoperatively.

Adult daughters and parent care: a comparison of one-, two- and three-generation households

This paper compares the effects of parent-care associated with three living arrangements of elderly widowed mothers who were being helped by married daughters: elderly mother living separately; two-generation households (mothers, daughters, sons-in-law); and three-generation households (grandchildren present). Daughters whose mothers lived separately fared the best; their mothers were the most cognitively and functionally capable and the daughters reported the fewest negative effects of caregiving. Daughters in two-generation households provided the most care; their mothers were the oldest and most impaired. Since daughters in three-generation households reported more negative mental and emotional effects of care, the unique problems of caregiving in such households are discussed.

Interrelationships between asthma and pregnancy: clinical and mechanistic considerations

Asthma appears to be one of the most common potentially serious medical problems to complicate pregnancy. There is abundant literature suggesting that asthma and pregnancy may have reciprocal influences on each other. This article will review the literature dealing with the effect of asthma on pregnancy and the effect of pregnancy on asthma. For each of the bidirectional relationships, a review of clinical observations will be followed by a review of potentially relevant mechanistic considerations.

Factor IX concentrate therapy and thrombosis: relation to changes in plasma antithrombin III

Commercial factor IX (fIX) concentrate therapy has been associated with thrombogenic complications, the cause of which is uncertain. We have previously reported that infusion of these fIX concentrates led to a decrease in antithrombin III (ATIII) functional activity, but not antigen, from pre-infusion levels. The patient plasmas also showed a cathodal shift in ATIII antigen by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP). We chose to characterize these ATIII changes more extensively in additional patients, by functional assays, radial immunodiffusion (RID), and CIEP. The effects of commercial fIX concentrate therapy on plasma ATIII levels appear to be dose-related, with most pronounced effects at 100 U/Kg; the effects are also cumulative, with a persistence of ATIII changes 24 hours after infusion in patients on daily therapy. We also studied pre- and post-infusion ATIII levels in patients who received 100 U/Kg of a more purified fIX concentrate (American Red Cross), which contains little or no activated clotting factors and has been shown to be non-thrombogenic in animal models. These patients showed no change post-infusion in ATIII levels by clotting, amidolytic, or RID assays, nor any significant change by CIEP. These data suggest that the ATIII changes that occur predictably after commercial fIX concentrate therapy are caused by a contaminating protein or proteins other than fIX and that the ATIII changes observed are related to the thrombotic complications of these commercial concentrates.

Genotoxicity of allyl compounds--a quick screening strategy based on structure-activity relationships and a battery of prescreening tests

A proposed strategy for the rapid screening of the genotoxic activities of allylic compounds is based on structure-activity relationships elaborated by a battery of quick screening tests. The procedure facilitates the selection of appropriate representatives of this class of compound for subsequent testing, so that both expensive and time-consuming assays and the use of animals can be drastically reduced. The studies have yielded several important results. Allylic compounds with suitable leaving groups have been shown to exert direct genotoxic activity. In the metabolic activation of these compounds the formation of epoxides is clearly of minor importance, playing a role only in the case of 2,3-dichloro-1-propene and some of its homologues, whereas all reactive allylic compounds can be activated to genotoxic alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds (acrolein). The most significant factors for genotoxicity are the leaving groups and halogen substituents. Alkyl substituents increase the direct genotoxicity while decreasing the indirect activity (via acroleins).

Language and person cognition: effects of communicative set on trait attribution

People may be especially prone to construe an individual's behavior in terms of global traits when they anticipate verbal communication about that person. In a first experiment, subjects expecting to communicate their impressions of a target person generated a greater number of global trait descriptions and made a greater number of unqualified, mutually consistent trait attributions than did control subjects. Three further experiments tested the hypotheses that (a) the specifically verbal nature of the anticipated communication at least partly accounts for this effect and (b) expecting to receive a verbal communication may suffice to produce the effect as well. Both hypotheses received support: Subjects expecting either to transmit or to receive verbal impressions ascribed more traits to the target person, and were more influenced by their implicit personality theory in rating the target's dispositions, than subjects expecting to transmit impressions nonverbally .

Murine auto- and cross-tolerance to volatile anaesthetics

Auto-tolerance and cross-tolerance to halothane, isoflurane and enflurane were tested on 36 mice divided into three equal groups. Each group was first exposed to increasing concentrations of either of the three anesthetics on 13 occasions. The concentration at which each mouse lost its righting reflex during successive exposures in a rotating cage was noted. Cross-tolerance was assessed by comparing the number of mice which had lost their righting reflexes during their first exposure to a given anaesthetic agent to the number which lost it after having been exposed to another anaesthetic. All animals developed auto-tolerance to halothane, isoflurane and enflurane. Cross-tolerance was noted only between mice exposed to isoflurane and enflurane and between mice exposed to halothane and subsequently anaesthetized with isoflurane, but not vice versa.

Effect of stimulus on the chemical composition of human tears

We examined the effect of the nature of the stimulus on the chemical composition of human tears. The protein concentration of emotional tears from women exceeded that of irritant-induced tears by 24% (P less than .01). Polyacrylamide disk gel electrophoresis disclosed no significant difference between the distribution of positively or negatively charged proteins of irritant-induced and emotional tears. Manganese concentrations in tears (30 ng/ml) exceeded serum concentrations from the same subjects by 30-fold. These manganese concentrations in tears were considerably less than previously reported values. We found no differences for the concentrations of protein or manganese in human tears between the sexes.

pH Determination in Acidified Foods: Collaborative Study

A proposed method for determining pH of acidified foods has been developed and subjected to collaborative study. The method appears to be both accurate and precise. Five samples consisting of pimientos, marinated pimientos, 2 pH buffer solutions, and chocolate syrup were sent to each of 12 collaborators along with a copy of the method. Two of the collaborators were FDA District laboratories while the remainder were representatives from industry, universities, and state health agencies. Many different types of pH meters and combinations of electrodes were used by the collaborators. The tabulated results from the collaborators are presented. The method has been adopted official first action.

Mevinolin: a highly potent competitive inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and a cholesterol-lowering agent

Mevinolin, a fungal metabolite, was isolated from cultures of Aspergillus terreus. The structure and absolute configuration of mevinolini and its open acid form, mevinolinic acid, were determined by a combination of physical techniques. Mevinolin was shown to be 1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-beta, delta-dihydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-8-(2-methyl-1-oxobutoxy)-1-naphthalene-hepatanoic acid delta-lactone. Mevinolin in the hydroxy-acid form, mevinolinic acid, is a potent competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase [mevalonate: NADP+ oxidoreductase (CoA-acylating), EC 1.1.1.34]; its Ki of 0.6 nM can be compared to 1.4 nM for the hydroxy acid form of the previously described related inhibitor, ML-236B (compactin, 6-demethylmevinolin). In the rat, orally administered sodium mevinolinate was an active inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis in an acute assay (50% inhibitory dose = 46 microgram/kg). Furthermore, it was shown that mevinolin was an orally active cholesterol-lowering agent in the dog. Treatment of dogs for 3 weeks with mevinolin at 8 mg/kg per day resulted in a 29.3 +/- 2.5% lowering of plasma cholesterol.

Lateral eye movements and field-dependence--independence

The relationship between field-dependence--independence and lateral eye movements was investigated for a sample of 41 male and 39 female right-handed undergraduates. Subjects were administered the Portable Rod-and-frame Test, the Embedded-figures Test, and the Block Design, Object Assembly, and Picture Completion scales of the WAIS. Eye movements in response to 60 questions requiring reflective thought were recorded. Contrary to predictions, right-movers did not perform better than left-movers on the tests of field-dependence--independence. Among males, however, both consistent right- and left-movers performed significantly better than inconsistent movers. The correlation, for males, between lateral eye-movement consistency and a composite measure of field-dependence--independence was .65 (p less than .001). It was argued that eye-movement consistency and cognitive ability level are a joint function of extent of brain lateralization.

Field dependence and facial recognition

29 male and 28 female undergraduates were administered two measures of Witkin's field-dependence dimension--the Portable Rod-and-frame Test and the Group Embedded-figures Test--and a test of facial recognition. Field-independent males were significantly more accurate in the recognition of photographed human faces than field-dependent males. Field-independent females were also more accurate than field-dependent females, although the relation was nonsignificant. While it has often been claimed that field-dependent individuals remember faces better, the results of the present study, as well as others which have examined this relationship, support the opposite conclusion.

Parenteral clindamycin phosphate: pharmacology with normal and abnormal liver function and effect on nasal staphylococci

Parenteral clindamycin was evaluated in 41 patients with a variety of infections. The four major findings were as follows. (i) Five hours after the intravenous administration of 600 mg of clindamycin, the mean serum concentration in patients with "moderate to severe" hepatic dysfunction was 24.3 mug/ml, and in those with normal liver function it was 8.3 mug/ml (P < 0.02). This suggests that the dose of clindamycin might be modified in patients with liver disease. (ii) There was a positive association between the 5-h serum clindamycin level and the degree of elevation of the serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase. (iii) No significant side effects were observed. Of 24 patients with preexisting hepatic dysfunction, 5 showed deterioration and 5 showed improvement of liver function during therapy. (iv) Whereas all pre-treatment isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from the anterior nares were susceptible to clindamycin, 6 of 9 post-treatment isolates were resistant, most probably due to selection of resistant organisms.