Settlement size and fertility in the Nordic countries

While the variation in childbearing patterns across countries and between socio-economic groups within a country has been studied in detail, less is known about the differences in fertility patterns across settlements within a country. Using aggregate and individual-level register data, we examine fertility variation across settlements in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. We observe a significant variation in fertility level by settlement size in all four of these Nordic countries - the larger the settlement, the lower the fertility. Second, the variation in fertility level has decreased over time, but significant differences in fertility between settlements of different size persist. Third, the timing of childbearing also varies across settlements - the larger the settlement, the later the peak of fertility. Fourth, our analysis of parity-specific fertility in Sweden shows that the major socio-economic characteristics of women account for only a small portion of fertility variation across settlements.

Autosomal dominant mutation causing the dorsal ridge predisposes for dermoid sinus in Rhodesian ridgeback dogs

OBJECTIVES

To define the mode of inheritance of the dorsal ridge and investigate if the ridge predisposes to the congenital abnormality dermoid sinus in the Rhodesian ridgeback.

METHODS

Segregation analysis was performed, including 87 litters (n=803) produced in Sweden between 1981 and 2002. Data were corrected to avoid bias in the segregation ratio. Chi-squared analysis was performed including 402 litters (n=3598) for the evaluation of a possible genetic correlation between the ridge and dermoid sinus.

RESULTS

The ridge is inherited in an autosomal dominant mode and predisposes for dermoid sinus. The frequency of ridgeless offspring in the Swedish Rhodesian ridgeback population is estimated to be 5.6 per cent.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Rhodesian ridgeback dogs that carry the ridge trait are predisposed to dermoid sinus.

Antagonism of the prostaglandin D2 receptor CRTH2 attenuates asthma pathology in mouse eosinophilic airway inflammation

Background

Mast cell-derived prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂), may contribute to eosinophilic inflammation and mucus production in allergic asthma. Chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule expressed on TH₂ cells (CRTH2), a high affinity receptor for prostaglandin D₂, mediates trafficking of TH₂-cells, mast cells, and eosinophils to inflammatory sites, and has recently attracted interest as target for treatment of allergic airway diseases. The present study involving mice explores the specificity of CRTH2 antagonism of TM30089, which is structurally closely related to the dual TP/CRTH2 antagonist ramatroban, and compares the ability of ramatroban and TM30089 to inhibit asthma-like pathology.

Methods

Affinity for and antagonistic potency of TM30089 on many mouse receptors including thromboxane A₂ receptor mTP, CRTH2 receptor, and selected anaphylatoxin and chemokines receptors were determined in recombinant expression systems in vitro. In vivo effects of TM30089 and ramatroban on tissue eosinophilia and mucus cell histopathology were examined in a mouse asthma model.

Results

TM30089, displayed high selectivity for and antagonistic potency on mouse CRTH2 but lacked affinity to TP and many other receptors including the related anaphylatoxin C3a and C5a receptors, selected chemokine receptors and the cyclooxygenase isoforms 1 and 2 which are all recognized players in allergic diseases. Furthermore, TM30089 and ramatroban, the latter used as a reference herein, similarly inhibited asthma pathology in vivo by reducing peribronchial eosinophilia and mucus cell hyperplasia.

Conclusion

This is the first report to demonstrate anti-allergic efficacy in vivo of a highly selective small molecule CRTH2 antagonist. Our data suggest that CRTH2 antagonism alone is effective in mouse allergic airway inflammation even to the extent that this mechanism can explain the efficacy of ramatroban.

Clinical measurements of proprioception, muscle strength and laxity in relation to function in the ACL-injured knee

A knee injury with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture may cause deficits in proprioception, increased laxity and decreased muscle strength. Although it may be common knowledge that these factors affect knee function, only a few studies have been performed where this has been investigated in the clinical situation, and the results are not conclusive. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate how and to what extent proprioception, laxity and strength affect knee joint function and evaluate if the methods commonly used for estimating these factors clinically seem to be relevant. The study encompassed 36 patients with ACL deficiency. A single-leg hop test for distance and subjective rating of knee function were defined as dependent variables and analyzed separately in stepwise linear regression models where proprioception, knee joint laxity, hamstrings and quadriceps strength, age and sex were defined as independent variables. Higher threshold values (poorer proprioception), increased side-to-side difference of anterior laxity and poorer strength significantly predicted shorter length of the hop test. Higher rating of subjective function corresponded to female gender, lesser side-to-side difference of anterior laxity and better proprioception.

In Vitro Methods to Study RNA Interference During an Adenovirus Infection

RNA interference (RNAi) has attracted a lot of interest during recent years as a method to knock-down gene expression and as a possible antiviral system. Here we present a collection of in vitro methods to study RNAi and the effect of an adenovirus infection on RNAi. We describe methods to measure the two key enzymatic complexes involved in RNAi: Dicer and RISC.

Sample preserving deep interface characterization technique

We propose a nondestructive technique based on atomic core-level shifts to characterize the interface quality of thin film nanomaterials. Our method uses the inherent sensitivity of the atomic core-level binding energies to their local surroundings in order to probe the layer-resolved binary alloy composition profiles at deeply embedded interfaces. From an analysis based upon high energy x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory of a Ni/Cu fcc (100) model system, we demonstrate that this technique is a sensitive tool to characterize the sharpness of a buried interface. We performed controlled interface tuning by gradually approaching the diffusion temperature of the multilayer, which lead to intermixing. We show that core-level spectroscopy directly reflects the changes in the electronic structure of the buried interfaces, which ultimately determines the functionality of the nanosized material.

Effects of growth differentiation factor-5 on the intervertebral disc--in vitro bovine study and in vivo rabbit disc degeneration model study

STUDY DESIGN

In vitro studies on the effects of recombinant human growth and differentiation factor-5 (rhGDF-5) on matrix metabolism of bovine intervertebral disc cells and an in vivo study on the effect of rhGDF-5 in the rabbit anular puncture model.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the reparative capacity of rhGDF-5 on the intervertebral disc.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

The in vitro and in vivo effects of rhGDF-5, a crucial protein in the developing musculoskeletal system, on repair of the degenerated intervertebral disc remain unidentified.

METHODS

In vitro, bovine nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus cells were cultured with or without rhGDF-5 (100 or 200 ng/mL). On days 7, 14, and 21, the contents of deoxyribonucleic acid and proteoglycan, and the synthesis of proteoglycan and collagen were assessed. In vivo, 16 adolescent New Zealand white rabbits received anular punctures in 2 lumbar discs. Four weeks later, phosphate buffered saline or rhGDF-5 (10 ng, 1 and 100 mug) was injected into the nucleus pulposus. The rabbits were followed up for 16 weeks for disc height, magnetic resonance imaging, and histologic grading.

RESULTS

In vitro, rhGDF-5 increased the deoxyribonucleic acid and proteoglycan contents of both cell types significantly after day 14. rhGDF-5 at 200 ng/mL significantly stimulated proteoglycan synthesis (nucleus pulposus: +138%, anulus fibrosus: +24%) and collagen synthesis (nucleus pulposus: +95%, anulus fibrosus: +23%) at day 21. In vivo, the injection of rhGDF-5 resulted in a restoration of disc height, improvement of magnetic resonance imaging scores, and histologic grading scores with statistical significance (P < 0.05-0.001).

CONCLUSION

A single injection of rhGDF-5 has a reparative capacity on intervertebral discs, presumably based on its effects to enhance extracellular matrix production in vitro.

Cervical muscle afferents play a dominant role over vestibular afferents during bilateral vibration of neck muscles

A previous study showed that vibratory stimulation of neck muscles in humans induced short-latency electromyographic (EMG) activation of lower leg muscles, producing postural reactions at the feet. These findings indicated that cervical proprioception contributes to stabilization of stance through rapidly integrated pathways. However, as vibration may excite both proprioceptive and vestibular afferents, and because of the proximity of neck muscles to the vestibular apparatus, neck muscle vibration could also have activated the vestibular system thereby contributing to the effect observed. To investigate any possible contribution of vestibular stimulation, vibratory stimuli were applied bilaterally and separately to the splenius muscles of the neck and the planum mastoideum overlying the vestibular organs. Ten normal subjects, with eyes closed, were exposed to vibratory stimulation of two different amplitudes and frequencies. Responses were assessed by EMG activity recorded from tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles of both legs and by changes in center of pressure as measured by a force platform. Results indicated that vibration induced reproducible EMG and postural responses in the anteroposterior direction, particularly on cessation of vibration. EMG and postural responses were considerably lower and less consistent with mastoid vibration compared with neck muscles vibration. Previous reports suggest that vibratory stimulation could propagate to the vestibular organs and generate a vestibular-induced postural activation. However, our findings indicate that cervical muscles afferents play a dominant role over vestibular afferents when vibration is directed towards the neck muscles.

Gendering family composition: sex preferences for children and childbearing behavior in the Nordic countries

It has been argued that a society's gender system may influence parents' sex preferences for children. If this is true, one should expect to find no evidence of such preferences in countries with a high level of gender equality. In this article, we exploit data from population registers from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden to examine continuities and changes in parental sex preferences in the Nordic countries during the past three to four decades. First, we do not observe an effect of the sex of the first born child on second-birth risks. Second, we detect a distinct preference for at least one child of each sex among parents of two children. For third births, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish parents seem to develop a preference for having a daughter, while Finns exhibit a significant preference for having a son. These findings show that modernization and more equal opportunities for women and men do not necessarily lead to parental gender indifference. On the contrary, they may even result in new sex preferences.

Local magnetic effects of interface alloying in Fe/Co superlattices

Effects of interface alloying and the thickness dependence of magnetic properties of Fe/Co(001) multilayers have been investigated. The thicknesses of the Fe layers have been varied between two and 14 monolayers while the Co layers have been held constant at 7 ML. From conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) measurements and electronic structure calculations it is found that the magnitude of the Fe magnetic hyperfine field is larger close to the interface and smaller in the middle of thick (≥9 ML) Fe layers. For a thinner Fe layer (≤5 ML) the largest field is found in the centre of the Fe layer. By modelling the effects of interface alloying from earlier data for bulk Fe-Co alloys, and comparing with the experimental results, the degree of interface alloying is estimated to be 2-3 ML at each interface.

Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET)

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the representative outcomes of the intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) procedure in terms of pain relief, reduction of disability, and risk of complications.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis, using a random-effects model. A Medline literature search was conducted using search terms associated with the IDET procedure including IDET, intradiscal electrothermal therapy, intervertebral disk, and annuloplasty.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The outcomes analyzed were the visual analog scale (VAS) assessment of pain, the bodily pain, and physical functioning subscales of the SF-36 health survey, and the Oswestry disability index.

RESULTS

From 1998 to March 2005, 62 peer-reviewed articles were identified regarding the IDET procedure. Forty-five articles were excluded, leaving a total of 17 unique published reports included in this review. The overall mean improvement in pain intensity was 2.9 points as measured by the VAS. The overall mean improvement in physical function was 21.1 points as measured by the SF-36. The overall mean improvement in bodily pain was 18.0 points as measured by the SF-36. The overall mean improvement in disability was 7.0 points as measured by the Oswestry disability index. The overall incidence of complications was 0.8%.

CONCLUSION

Although variation exists in the reported outcomes among the various studies of the IDET procedure, the pooled results of the published studies provide compelling evidence of the relative efficacy and safety of the IDET procedure.

Injury-related fear-avoidance, neuroticism and burn-specific health

Dysfunctional beliefs such as fear-avoidance (i.e. fear of re-injury) and personality traits such as neuroticism are risk factors for poor health. However, there is little information regarding associations with poor perceived health after severe burn and what level of fear-avoidance is associated with poor health. In this study, we investigated fear-avoidance and neuroticism regarding their associations with post-burn health. Participants were 86 recovered burn patients and data were collected by a postal survey. Post-burn health was assessed with the nine subscales of the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B). In logistic regressions, fear-avoidance was related to poorer health in six subscales assessing both physical and psychosocial problems. Neuroticism was associated with poorer health in three subscales assessing mainly psychosocial problems. Chi-square analyses showed that participants with a moderate or high level of fear-avoidance >or=1.0 (out of 4) were more likely to describe their health as poor and had a longer sick leave than those with a fear-avoidance level of <1.0. In summary, fear-avoidance was associated with poorer health even at moderate levels and was associated with several aspects of post-burn health.

A retrospective survey of outpatients with long-term tracheostomy

BACKGROUND

The Respiratory Unit (RU) at Danderyd University Hospital opened in 1982, with the expressed goal of supporting outpatients with long-term tracheostomy. The primary aim of this retrospective study in tracheostomized patients was to compare the need for hospital care in the 2-year period before and after the tracheostomy.

METHODS

Data were collected from patient medical records at the RU, from the National Board of Health and Welfare, Sweden and from the Official Statistics of Sweden. The subjects were RU patients in 1982 (Group 1, n = 27) and in 1997 (Group 2, n = 106) with long-term tracheostomy surviving at least 4 years after the tracheostomy.

RESULTS

Both groups had few and unchanged needs for hospital care after tracheostomy. They spent > or = 96% of their time out of hospital. In 1997, (group 2) the number of patients, diagnoses and need for home mechanical ventilation had increased. Life expectancy was assessed for patients in Group 1. Data showed that they lived as long as an age-matched and gender-adjusted control cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term tracheostomy may not increase the need for hospital care and does not reduce life expectancy. These clinical observations were made in a setting where patients had regular access to a dedicated outpatient unit.

Osteogenic protein-1 injection into a degenerated disc induces the restoration of disc height and structural changes in the rabbit anular puncture model

STUDY DESIGN

In vivo study of the effect of injection of osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) on a rabbit anular needle puncture model of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration.

OBJECTIVE

To study radiographic, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), biochemical, and histologic changes in the rabbit IVD after injection of OP-1 into the nucleus pulposus in a needle puncture disc degeneration model.

SUMMARY OF THE BACKGROUND DATA

Growth factors, such as OP-1, have the ability to stimulate synthesis of proteoglycans and collagen in vitro. The in vivo injection of OP-1 into the normal rabbit IVD has increased disc height and proteoglycan content in the anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. However, to our knowledge, no attempts have yet been made to determine the effects of these growth factors in an in vivo model of disc degeneration.

METHODS

New Zealand adolescent white rabbits (n = 90, 8 for baseline evaluation, 82 at 8 times) received an anular puncture in 2 noncontiguous discs with an 18-gauge needle to induce disc degeneration. Four weeks later, either 5% lactose (10 microL) or OP-1 (100 microg in 10 microL 5% lactose) was injected into the center of the nucleus pulposus. The disc height was followed radiographically for up to 24 weeks after the injections. At the 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24-week times after the injection, rabbits were euthanized, and MRI of the harvested spinal columns was obtained to grade the degeneration. The discs injected with OP-1 or lactose and noninjected discs were subjected to biochemical and histologic analysis. The specimens at the 24-week time were limited to histologic evaluation.

RESULTS

The anular puncture with a needle induced a consistent disc narrowing within 4 weeks. The injection of OP-1 induced a restoration of disc height at 6 weeks, which was sustained for the entire experimental period, up to 24 weeks after the injection. The injection of lactose alone did not change the course of disc narrowing over the same time. MRI grading score showed significant differences between the OP-1 and lactose groups at the 8, 12, and 24-week times, suggesting an increase in water content in the nucleus pulposus of the OP-1 group. The proteoglycan content of the nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus was significantly higher in the OP-1 group than in the control group. The degeneration grades of the punctured discs in the OP-1 group were significantly lower than those in the lactose group.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study show the feasibility of restoring degenerative rabbit discs by a single injection of OP-1 into the nucleus pulposus. Importantly, the effects of the OP-1 injection on disc height were sustained for up to 24 weeks. The metabolic changes in the cells, following a single injection, might be sustained and, thus, induce long-term changes in disc structure. An efficacy study in large animals is required to show further that the intradiscal injection of OP-1, or bone morphogenetic proteins or growth factors with similar properties would be useful for the structural restoration of the IVD in humans.

The demographics of same-sex marriages in Norway and Sweden

The present study investigates the demographics of same-sex marriages—that is, registered partnerships—in Norway and Sweden. We give an overview of the demographic characteristics of the spouses of these partnerships, study patterns of their divorce risks, and compare the dynamics of same-sex couples with those of heterosexual marriages. We use longitudinal information from the population registers of the two countries that cover all persons in partnerships. Our demographic analyses include information on characteristics such as age, sex, geographic background, experience of previous opposite-sex marriage, parenthood, and educational attainment of the partners involved. The results show that in many respects, the distributions of married populations on these characteristics differ by the sex composition of the couples. Patterns in divorce risks are rather similar in same-sex and opposite-sex marriages, but divorce-risk levels are considerably higher in same-sex marriages. The divorce risk for female partnerships is double that for male partnerships.

Cervical muscle afferents play a dominant role over vestibular afferents during bilateral vibration of neck muscles

A previous study showed that vibratory stimulation of neck muscles in humans induced short-latency electromyographic (EMG) activation of lower leg muscles, producing postural reactions at the feet. These findings indicated that cervical proprioception contributes to stabilization of stance through rapidly integrated pathways. However, as vibration may excite both proprioceptive and vestibular afferents, and because of the proximity of neck muscles to the vestibular apparatus, neck muscle vibration could also have activated the vestibular system thereby contributing to the effect observed. To investigate any possible contribution of vestibular stimulation, vibratory stimuli were applied bilaterally and separately to the splenius muscles of the neck and the planum mastoideum overlying the vestibular organs. Ten normal subjects, with eyes closed, were exposed to vibratory stimulation of two different amplitudes and frequencies. Responses were assessed by EMG activity recorded from tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles of both legs and by changes in center of pressure as measured by a force platform. Results indicated that vibration induced reproducible EMG and postural responses in the anteroposterior direction, particularly on cessation of vibration. EMG and postural responses were considerably lower and less consistent with mastoid vibration compared with neck muscles vibration. Previous reports suggest that vibratory stimulation could propagate to the vestibular organs and generate a vestibular-induced postural activation. However, our findings indicate that cervical muscles afferents play a dominant role over vestibular afferents when vibration is directed towards the neck muscles.

Labour-market status and first-time parenthood: the experience of immigrant women in Sweden, 1981-97

This paper investigates the impact of labour-market attachment on first births of foreign-born women in Sweden. The study uses a longitudinal, register-based dataset consisting of the entire population of immigrants from ten nations and a 5-per-cent random sample of natives. The effects of earned income are evident, with increased income levels increasing the probability of becoming a mother for all observed nationalities. The effects of various forms of participation and non-participation in the labour force do not vary greatly between immigrants and the Swedish-born. Among all subgroups, we find a higher propensity to begin childbearing among those who are established in the labour market. Contrary to popular belief, receiving welfare benefits clearly reduces first-birth intensity for immigrants but not for natives. The similarity in patterns across widely different national groups supports the notion that various institutional factors affecting all subgroups are crucial in influencing childbearing behaviour.

Differential expression of monomeric and proteolytically processed forms of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in rat tissues

Purple acid phosphatase (PAP), also known as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), uteroferrin or type 5 acid phosphatase (Acp5) is synthesized as an N-glycosylated monomeric latent precursor, which can be processed by limited proteolysis to a disulfide-linked two-subunit form with increased enzyme activity. In this study, we disclosed that the proteolytically processed two-subunit form constitutes the major PAP/TRAP variant in monocytic cells in spleen, thymus, liver and colon. In addition significant expression of the monomeric PAP/TRAP, indicating a non-enzymatic function, was detected in epithelial cells of colon, lung and kidney. Interestingly, proteolytic processing alone did not activate the enzyme but rendered the enzyme more susceptible to activation by reductants. Thus, beside limited proteolysis, the subcellular redox state could also be a determinant of enzyme action in vivo. The co-localization of PAP/TRAP and the cysteine protease cathepsin L could suggest a role for cathepsin L in the in vivo proteolytic processing of PAP/TRAP in monocytic cells.

Physiological and genetic characterisation of some new Aphanomyces strains isolated from freshwater crayfish

Five Aphanomyces strains were isolated during suspected outbreaks of crayfish disease in Spain and Italy. Genetic and physiological evidence show that the strains isolated from the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii and Pacifastacus leniusculus, do not fit into any previously identified group of Aphanomyces astaci and are not capable of killing crayfish following standardised experimental infection. RAPD-PCR and ITS sequencing analysis show a high degree of similarity between the new isolates, while they are clearly different from the A. astaci reference strains. They do, however, possess some properties, which are commonly associated with parasitic species such as repeated zoospore emergence and the lack of sexual reproduction. The five isolates share some physiological properties i.e. a high growth rate, and germination in response to nutrients and, in contrast to A. astaci, they do not express chitinase constitutively during growth or sporulation. Until their taxonomic status is fully elucidated we suggest that the new isolates be given the tentative species name Aphanomyces repetans.

Physiological and genetic characterisation of some new Aphanomyces strains isolated from freshwater crayfish

Five Aphanomyces strains were isolated during suspected outbreaks of crayfish disease in Spain and Italy. Genetic and physiological evidence show that the strains isolated from the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii and Pacifastacus leniusculus, do not fit into any previously identified group of Aphanomyces astaci and are not capable of killing crayfish following standardised experimental infection. RAPD-PCR and ITS sequencing analysis show a high degree of similarity between the new isolates, while they are clearly different from the A. astaci reference strains. They do, however, possess some properties, which are commonly associated with parasitic species such as repeated zoospore emergence and the lack of sexual reproduction. The five isolates share some physiological properties i.e. a high growth rate, and germination in response to nutrients and, in contrast to A. astaci, they do not express chitinase constitutively during growth or sporulation. Until their taxonomic status is fully elucidated we suggest that the new isolates be given the tentative species name Aphanomyces repetans.

Hyperventilation in the vestibular clinic: use of the Nijmegen Questionnaire

The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of hyperventilation syndrome in patients seen for vestibular assessment and to assess the clinical utility of the Nijmegen Questionnaire in this group. The Nijmegen Questionnaire and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) were administered prospectively to a consecutive series of 100 patients identified as candidates for vestibular assessment within the University Hospital Neuro-otology practice. Twenty-three per cent of patients seen for vestibular assessment were diagnosed with hyperventilation syndrome using the Nijmegen Questionnaire. Seventeen of these (74%) would have remained undetected had the Nijmegen questionnaire not been used. No relationship was found between vestibular assessment results and either Nijmegen or DHI scores. A significant correlation was found between DHI scores and Nijmegen Questionnaire scores (rho = 0.348, P = 0.0005). In conclusion, the Nijmegen Questionnaire is a quick, easy to administer and low-impact assessment tool for hyperventilation syndrome and is a useful adjunct to the otological consultation. Diagnosed patients can then be offered breathing control exercises as part of a vestibular rehabilitation programme.

Muscle blood flow in response to concentric muscular activity vs passive venous compression

AIM

To measure muscle blood flow (MBF) using photoplethysmography (PPG) following concentric muscular activity of the leg (active treatment) or passive venous compression (passive treatment) with or without venous obstruction.

METHODS

In study A, blood flow in the anterior tibial muscle was measured in 15 healthy subjects with a mean age of 30 years. In study B, blood flow in the gastrocnemius muscle was measured in nine healthy subjects with a mean age of 34 years. Subjects performed concentric muscular activity in one leg. Passive venous compression by a venous foot pump was applied in the contralateral leg.

RESULTS

MBF increased significantly following concentric muscular activity, but not following passive venous compression. MBF decreased in both legs when venous obstruction, induced by a thigh tourniquet, was applied. However, MBF was significantly higher following concentric muscular activity than passive venous compression.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that concentric muscular activity produces higher MBF values than passive venous compression.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 1,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxamides for treatment of autoimmune disorders: structure-activity relationship

Roquinimex-related 3-quinolinecarboxamide derivatives were prepared and evaluated for treatment of autoimmune disorders. The compounds were tested in mice for their inhibitory effects on disease development in the acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model and selected compounds in the beagle dog for induction of proinflammatory reaction. Structure-activity relationships are discussed. Compound 8c, laquinimod, showed improved potency and superior toxicological profile compared to the lead compound roquinimex (1b, Linomide) and was selected for clinical studies (currently in phase II).

Immunocytochemical demonstration of estrogen receptor β in human periodontal ligament cells

Two transcription associated estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes have been identified and named ERalpha and ERbeta. In the present study we investigate the expression of these ER subtypes in cultured human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells by immunocytochemistry. ERbeta immunoreactivity was observed in the nuclei of about 40% of the PDL cells, while no ERalpha immunoreactivity was detected. In human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, serving as positive controls, both ERalpha and ERbeta immunoreactivities were demonstrated. No immunoreactivity was observed after omission of the primary antibodies. This study suggests that estrogen acts on gene transcription preferentially via ERbeta in human PDL cells.

Spermine prevents cytochrome c release in glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in mouse thymocytes

Apoptosis can be induced in primary cultures of mouse thymocytes using the glucocorticoid dexamethasone. Addition of the polyamine spermine simultaneously with dexamethasone reduces the induction of apoptosis compared to treatment with dexamethasone alone. We investigated the signal transduction pathway at the mitochondrial level in order to elucidate spermine's protective effect. Mitochondrial involvement is evident due to the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and activation of caspase-9 in dexamethasone-treated thymocytes. The addition of spermine inhibited the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol, and also the activation of caspase-9. When the mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) was added to dexamethasone- plus spermine-treated thymocytes, the number of apoptotic cells in the pre-G(1)peak was reduced compared to thymocytes treated with only dexamethasone plus spermine. Comparing concanavalin A added to dexamethasone-treated or to dexamethasone plus spermine-treated thymocytes, showed a markedly reduced pre-G(1)peak in the latter. Thus, the spermine-induced inhibition of cytochrome c release confers a survival advantage on thymocytes.

Factor analysis of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory

The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI; C. W. Newman, G. P. Jacobson, & J. B. Spitzer, 1996) is widely used in a clinical context to assess tinnitus-related self-reported handicap and to report treatment outcomes. Test-retest reliability has been reported to be high, and high convergent validity with other measures of tinnitus distress has been reported. Factor analysis of the subscales of the THI has previously been reported for a Danish translation, but not for the English version. In the present study, the THI was factor analyzed using data collected from a group of 80 clinical tinnitus patients and 116 patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma. The factor analysis yielded strong support for a unifactorial structure of the scale, with a majority of items loading on the first factor, and high internal consistency of the total score. The authors recommend use of the total score in research and in clinical practice.

Roquinimex inhibits dextran sodium sulfate-induced murine colitis

OBJECTIVE

Roquinimex is a modulator of the immune system and has been shown to attenuate induction of several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of roquinimex in a model of murine colitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this purpose, Balb/c mice were exposed to 5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in the drinking water for five to six days. Roquinimex (300 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) was administered by subcutaneous (s.c.) injection 3 days prior to and throughout the treatment period with DSS. In separate experiments, 300 mg kg(-1) day(-1) of roquinimex was given therapeutically after initiation of DSS challenge.

RESULTS

DSS provoked clinical signs of colitis, reduced crypt height (CH) and increased mucosal damage score (MDS) as analyzed by histology. In addition, challenge with DSS increased the colonic content of myeloperoxidase (MPO). Prophylactic administration of DSS-treated mice with roquinimex significantly reduced clinical signs of colitis, MDS and the CH-reduction. Moreover, in roquinimex treated animals, the MPO activity was significantly reduced by more than 50% compared to DSS control mice. Notably, therapeutic administration of roquinimex in DSS-treated mice also significantly inhibited the MDS, CH-reduction and MPO activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that roquinimex strongly inhibits murine colitis and may provide a novel pharmacological approach to treat inflammatory bowel disease.

Antiferroelectric liquid-crystal mixture without smectic layer shrinkage at the direct Sm-A*-Sm-C(*)(a) transition

We report results of x-ray, optic, electro-optic, and dielectric investigations on an antiferroelectric liquid-crystal mixture exhibiting a direct second-order phase transition between the Sm-A* and Sm-C(*)(a) phases with virtually no shrinkage in the smectic layer spacing. The birefringence measurements and texture observations suggest that the phase transition follows the diffuse cone model of Adrian de Vries, which explains the constant layer spacing. The antiferroelectric nature of the tilted phase is verified by the presence of twin polarization reversal peaks in the current response and by the absence of strong absorptions in the dielectric spectrum. The threshold for switching this phase to the synclinic, ferroelectric state is sharp and occurs at a very low voltage.

Exploration of coping patterns in burned adults: cluster analysis of the coping with burns questionnaire (CBQ)

The aim of this study was to investigate coping patterns, health status and personality traits in burned adults. Subjects were 161 burn patients treated at the Uppsala University Hospital between 1980 and 1995. Measures were the coping with burns questionnaire (CBQ), the burn specific health scale-brief (BSHS-B) and the Swedish universities scales of personality (SSP). The CBQ was subjected to a K-means cluster analysis and three clusters were derived: extensive, adaptive, and avoidant copers. Extensive copers used the most coping and took an intermediate role regarding health status and the personality trait of neuroticism. Adaptive copers preferred the strategies emotional support and optimism/problem solving, and had the highest health status ratings. Avoidant copers preferred the strategy avoidance and reported the lowest use of emotional support and optimism/problem solving. They had the lowest health status ratings and the highest ratings on neuroticism and aggressiveness. The clusters did not differ in severity of injury or time since injury. In conclusion, coping patterns can be discerned among burn patients, and those individuals preferring avoidance and lacking other coping options displayed more maladaptive traits and poorer health status years after the burn.

Masking of tinnitus and mental activity

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tinnitus on mental activity. In a mixed design study, the performance of 20 subjects with tinnitus and 20 healthy control subjects was compared on the digit-symbol test, completed in three auditory conditions: silence, masking and intermittent masking. Results showed marked overall differences between patients and controls on all three conditions. Lower scores on the digit-symbol test were observed during the intermittent masking condition compared with the masking condition for the patients. There was no difference between silence (e.g. tinnitus) and the masking condition, or between silence and the intermittent masking condition. The control subjects scored lower on the task when exposed to the intermittent masking compared to both silence and masking. The patients had higher depression and anxiety scores than the controls. These findings suggest that there is a link between masking sounds and how tinnitus affects cognitive capacity.

Estrogen receptor specificity for the effects of estrogen in ovariectomized mice

Estrogen exerts a variety of important physiological effects, which have been suggested to be mediated via the two known estrogen receptors (ERs), alpha and beta. Three-month-old ovariectomized mice, lacking one or both of the two estrogen receptors, were given estrogen subcutaneously (2.3 micro g/mouse per day) and the effects on different estrogen-responsive parameters, including skeletal effects, were studied. We found that estrogen increased the cortical bone dimensions in both wild-type (WT) and double ER knockout (DERKO) mice. DNA microarray analysis was performed to characterize this effect on cortical bone and it identified four genes that were regulated by estrogen in both WT and DERKO mice. The effect of estrogen on cortical bone in DERKO mice might either be due to remaining ERalpha activity or represent an ERalpha/ERbeta-independent effect. Other effects of estrogen, such as increased trabecular bone mineral density, thymic atrophy, fat reduction and increased uterine weight, were mainly ERalpha mediated.