Decrease of hypothalamic TRH levels but not plasmatic TSH levels after ablation of submandibular salivary glands in the rat

Indirect relationships are thought to exist between submandibular salivary glands (SSG) and the central nervous system (CNS) via superior cervical ganglia (SCG). To study this topic, the concentrations of thyrotropin releasing hormone (THR) and somatostatin (SRIF) were measured in both whole and specific areas of the hypothalamus, as well as plasmatic thyrotropin stimulating hormone (TSH) levels following ablation of SSG. Twenty, forty and fifty days after ablation of SSG, groups of operated and sham-operated animals weighing 230-260 g at the beginning of experimentation, were killed by cervical dislocation. Plasma was taken, frozen and stored for TSH-radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the hypothalami were removed and homogenized in either 0.1 N HCl (for TRH-RIA) or 0.2 N acetic acid (for SRIF-RIA). Twenty days after ablation of SSG in another group, TRH concentrations were measured in both the median eminence (ME) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), dissected by the micropunch technique. The results show that twenty days after SSG ablation, the hypothalamic TRH concentrations was significantly lower in operated than in sham-operated animals (295.2 +/- 24.8 vs 226 +/- 11.15 pg/mg hypothalamus respectively p less than 0.01, n = 9). No differences were observed at later intervals. This finding seems to be specific for this peptide since the SRIF level was not modified twenty days after SSG removal. Among the discrete hypothalamic areas examined, only the ME exhibited a significant decrease in TRH content (25.43 +/- 3.02 ng/mg prot. VS. 41.24 +/- 1.33 ng/mg prot., respectively). Despite these results on TRH levels, no modifications in plasmatic TSH levels were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Perceived health status among the new urban homeless

Homelessness may be the leading social problem in the United States in the mid 1980s. While there may be anywhere from 250,000 to three million homeless persons, few empirically based published studies are available concerning the correlates of mental and physical health status among the homeless. Los Angeles, where the present study was conducted, has been designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to have one of the largest homeless populations (34,000-50,000) in the U.S. The current study is based on 269 in-depth interviews with homeless men and women in Los Angeles County, California. The homeless were found to be younger, better educated and disproportionately non-white compared to the profiles of the skidrow homeless of the past decades. Nearly half the men were veterans of military services, including 30% who were veterans of the Vietnam War. Respiratory infections and hypertension were the most prevalent health problems. The data suggest that a large segment of the homeless persons were depressed, 15.6% reported lifetime prevalence of hospitalization for emotional or nervous problems, and 12.6% reported hospitalization for substance abuse disorders. Multiple regression was utilized to test the validity of a perceived health status index as measured among the homeless and to identify the correlates of health. The health index reflect primarily an affliction by a chronic disease, the severity of an acute condition, the duration of depressed mood, and the alcoholism symptomatology. Length of unemployment, education, gender, and number of nights spent in a shelter were the best predictors of poor health in this population. Evidence from this study, as well as others, suggests that efforts should be made to avoid using the term homeless metaphorically. The causes of homelessness are multiple and complex and the resulting subgroups among the homeless population have different problems which require a variety of strategies to meet their needs.

Effect of submandibular salivary gland removal on body weight, plasmatic testosterone levels, testicular weight and spermatogenesis in rats

In this work we report the effect of the removal of submandibular salivary glands (S.S.G.) on plasmatic testosterone levels and other aspects of testicular function and on body weight in rats. Our results were obtained with 72 male rats weighing 230-260 g whose S.S.G. were removed. At only twenty days after removal a slight but significant decrease (p less than 0.05) of testicular absolute weight (3.431 +/- 75 mg vs 3.612 +/- 53 mg) was detected. This decrease was probably due to atrophy of interstitial tissue, as revealed by histological examination. In contrast, neither plasmatic testosterone (T) levels nor spermatogenesis (S.P.G.) were altered. The effect on testicular weight at twenty days was not closely associated with the effect on body weight. Changes in this latter parameter were observed twenty days after extirpation of S.M.G. (107 +/- 5.5 vs 124 +/- 4.3 g; p less than 0.02) and up until forty days (175.6 +/- 4.1 g vs 202.8 +/- 5.5; p less than 0.05) after S.S.G. removal. Difference in gain of body weight is not influenced by nutritional lack, as shown by the fact that nutritional absorption is not modified in the operated animals controlled in wire bottom cages. These data suggest that S.S.G. right play a trophic regulatory role, separately, on testes and body without the mediation of T. The direct involvement of biological peptides contained in S.S.G. is discussed.

Supratentorial ependymoma: CT appearance

The computed tomographic appearances of 22 biopsy-proved supratentorial ependymomas were analyzed. Supratentorial ependymomas were usually intraparenchymal, larger than 4 cm, and cystic. Contrast enhancement was moderate to intense, with homogeneous or ring-enhancement patterns commonly seen. Intratumoral calcification was present in one-third of the cases, while hydrocephalus and peritumoral edema were seen in 50%. Intratumoral hemorrhage was not a characteristic of the lesion. In contrast to cellular ependymomas, malignant ependymomas and ependymoblastomas demonstrate higher attenuation prior to administration of contrast material, more intense enhancement, lower frequency of calcification within the tumor, and less distinct margination.

[Rape by 2 assaillants and gang rape in Montreal]

A survey was conducted in 230 cases of rape and rape attempts heard in the Judicial District of Montreal between January 1975 and May 1978. Data were compiled from the 30 assaults including two or more assaillants. Results show that in cases of rape committed by two men the aggressors are older than gang rapists, meet the victim mainly in her flat or in a bar, and rape her in her own home, in a car or a hotel. In these cases, voyeurism seems to be an important factor since, most of the time, rape is committed by only one of the two aggressors. On the other hand, gang rapists are younger, meet the victim in public places, on the street or when she is hitch-hiking and attack her in one of the aggressors' house, in public places or on the street. Exhibitionism seems more present in this group of rapists. For both groups the victims are mainly single, younger than the aggressors and have diverse occupations. Finally, regarding the legal outcome half of the subjects were liberated or acquitted in both groups. Rape committed by two men had never been studied or compared with gang rape up until now. Results of this survey show dynamic and demographic differences between these two groups of sexual delinquents.

In vivo release of somatostatin from rat median eminence after local K+ infusion or delivery of nociceptive stress

The effects of local infusion of a 16 mM K+ solution or of a nociceptive stress on the release of somatostatin (SRIF) from the hypothalamus was measured in unanesthetized male rats implanted with a push-pull cannula in the median eminence. Although the baseline secretion rate of SRIF was increased in animals displaying agitation as a result of handling stress, both treatments induced fast doubling of SRIF release lasting for 15-30 min. Neither an equimolar Na+ infusion into the median eminence nor a similar K+ infusion into the 3rd ventricle had any affect on this release. The possible role of SRIF release in the mechanism of growth hormone inhibition following nociceptive stress is discussed.

Predicting changes in perceived health status

Panel data from the Los Angeles Health Survey (N = 903) were used to examine variables associated with changes in perceived health status over a one-year period. Our findings replicate previous research showing that perceived health status is associated with variations in chronic illness, disability, and the utilization of health services. However, we found that neither positive nor negative changes in perceived health status were related to any indicator of health beliefs or practices or physical health status. The data suggest that single item measures of perceived health status may reflect the individual's sense of long-standing chronic illness.

Anti-tetanus toxoid antibody synthesis after booster immunization in systemic lupus erythematosus. Comparison of the in vitro and in vivo responses

The in vivo and in vitro synthesis of anti-tetanus toxoid antibody (anti-tet) was measured after booster immunization with tetanus toxoid in 9 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 9 controls. In vitro culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from both patients and controls showed maximal anti-tet synthesis 7 days after booster immunization, and maximal serum titers occurred by day 14. The initial in vitro burst of anti-tet synthesis was not dependent upon pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulation, whereas later synthesis was PWM dependent. Two differences between patients and controls were observed: 1) patients with SLE had a lower mean pre-boost serum titer of anti-tet, and 2) one-third of the patients showed a blunted serum anti-tet response. To study whether these abnormalities were a result of altered immune regulation, anti-tet synthesis was measured by the coculture of separated SLE-B or control-B cells and separated SLE-T or control-T cell populations (+/- irradiation to remove suppressor T cell activity). These coculture studies showed that both abnormalities were due to a lack of SLE-B cell response, not to abnormalities of SLE-helper T or SLE-suppressor T cell function.

Human gas exchange during water immersion

We measured lung volumes, closing volume (CV), alveolo-arterial oxygen difference (P(A-a)O2) and steady-state diffusing lung capacity per liter ventilation (DLCO/V) in 18 men immersed up to the neck in water. The subjects were divided into 3 groups, according to relative changes in P(A-a)O2 and DLCO/V. In group 1 (n = 6), P(A-a)O2 decreased and DLCO/V increased, probably because of the hemodynamic changes induced by immersion. Their end expiratory level was above closing volume in water. In group 3 (n = 6), P(A-a)O2 increased and DLCO/V decreased, probably as a result of a decrease in ventilation in the dependent parts of the lung, considering that breathing range (ERV + VT) was less than closing volume. In group 2 (n = 6), P(A-a)O2 increased significantly and DLCO/V, only slightly. Tidal volume was only partially included in closing volume. The increase in exchange surface area was probably unable to compensate for the arterial hypoxia brought on by the decrease in ventilation in the dependent parts of the lung. The relationship between end expiratory level and closing volume, which seemed to explain the results observed during immersion, was itself a consequence of the subjects' age and body build.