Group therapy in a forensic setting

Mentally ill offenders are especially difficult patients to rehabilitate. Although group therapy is a universal method of treating these patients, their ability to benefit from group therapy has not been proven. The authors studied a group of patients held on Warrants of the Lieutenant Governor to assess their personality characteristics and their ability to develop group dynamics which are beneficial in other patient populations. The findings were that forensic patients have personality characteristics which preclude the development of these therapeutic dynamics.

Primary structure and functional expression of the alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta- and epsilon-subunits of the acetylcholine receptor from rat muscle

The isolation and characterization of five clones carrying sequences of the alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta- and epsilon-subunit precursors of the rat muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR) are described. The deduced amino acid sequences indicate that these polypeptides contain 457-519 amino acids and reveal the structural characteristics common to subunits of ligand-gated ion channels. The pattern of subunit-specific mRNA levels in rat muscle shows characteristic changes during development and following denervation, suggesting that innervation of muscle reduces the expression of the alpha-, beta- and delta-subunit mRNAs, suppresses the expression of the gamma-subunit mRNA, and induces expression of epsilon-subunit mRNA. Subunit-specific cRNAs generated in vitro were injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes, resulting in the assembly of two functionally different AChR channel subtypes. The AChR gamma, composed of the alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-subunits, has functional properties similar to those of the native AChRs in fetal muscle. The AChR epsilon, composed of alpha-, beta-, delta- and epsilon-subunits, corresponds to the end-plate channel of the adult muscle. Thus in rat skeletal muscle the motor nerve regulates the expression of two functionally different AChR subtypes with different molecular composition by the differential expression of subunit-specific mRNAs.

Fetal pancreas transplantation in miniature swine. IV. Suppression of DTH and MLR responses by treatment with ultraviolet light-irradiated peripheral blood lymphocytes

Irradiation of peripheral blood lymphocytes of miniature swine with ultraviolet light prevented them from initiating proliferative responses in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions and also reduced IL-2 production in these MLRs. When pigs were injected in a series of 4-5 weekly transfusions with UV-irradiated allogeneic PBL differing at the MHC, PBL of recipient pigs progressively responded less strongly to donor PBL in MLRs over the treatment period. These pigs also gave negligible delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to donor PBL at the end of the treatment period. Of the seven UV-irradiated PBL-treated pigs, four produced no antidonor PBL antibody and three produced antibody. Serum from the three antibody-producing pigs also suppressed MLRs of unrelated PBL. By contrast, pigs that received a series of injections of untreated allogeneic PBL gave strong DTH responses to donor PBL and heightened proliferation in MLRs with donor PBL, and all produced antidonor PBL antibody.

Effects of simvastatin and cholestyramine in familial and nonfamilial hypercholesterolemia. Multicenter Group I

Simvastatin, a potent inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, was compared with cholestyramine resin in a randomized open-label 12-week multicenter study of 251 high-risk patients with familial or nonfamilial hypercholesterolemia. Simvastatin, 20 mg and 40 mg daily, produced mean reductions in total cholesterol of 26% and 33%, respectively, and reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of 32% and 40%. Cholestyramine resin, 4 to 12 g twice daily, reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels 15% and 21%, respectively. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased 8% to 10% by all treatments. Plasma triglyceride levels were moderately decreased by simvastatin treatment, while triglyceride levels increased with cholestyramine treatment. Simvastatin was better tolerated than cholestyramine, which had numerous gastrointestinal tract side effects. No patient had a serious drug-related adverse event.

Acute and chronic effects of bone ablation with a pulsed holmium laser

A pulsed holmium laser transmitted through a quartz fiber was used to create osteotomies in the facial bones and sinuses of rabbits. The ablation process was quantified and residual thermal injury was assessed by light microscopy. Adjacent thermal damage was determined to vary between 130 and 220 microns and was independent of radiant exposure and pulse repetition rate. In other studies, large osteotomies were made to examine the biological response and to assess the technical feasibility of using fiber-delivered laser pulses in an operative setting. The animals tolerated the procedure without obvious problems and postoperative follow-up revealed a vigorous healing response. Because it can ablate both bone and soft tissue and can be transmitted through readily available, flexible quartz fibers, the holmium laser may prove to be a useful adjunct to endoscopic sinus surgical procedures.

Islet transplantation for the cure of diabetes

This symposium format was similar to that used in the Kroc Foundation Meetings that Josiah Brown organized previously. As it had been at the Kroc Meetings, this memorial symposium dedicated to Dr. Brown was very successful in terms of the quality of the presentations, updating the most critical findings in islet transplantation and fostering the free exchange of provocative opinions. All participants well recognized that there has been tremendous advancement in islet isolation techniques, understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying islet rejection, and the development of methods of immunomodulation to overcome rejection-related problems. Progress in these areas is one more step toward the final goal of providing new treatment for diabetics.

Developmental regulation of five subunit specific mRNAs encoding acetylcholine receptor subtypes in rat muscle

The muscular content of the mRNAs encoding the five subunits of the nicotonic acetylcholine receptor was measured during postnatal development in the rat. Subunit specific mRNAs show differential regulation. The levels of the alpha-, gamma- and delta-subunit specific mRNAs decrease steadily after birth, while the beta- and epsilon-subunit mRNAs increase transiently and then decrease. The adult pattern of subunit specific mRNA levels is reached at 4-6 weeks postnatally. The content of gamma- and epsilon-subunit mRNA changes in a reciprocal fashion during the first 2 postnatal weeks, supporting the view that differential regulation of gamma- and epsilon-subunit mRNA during development is one mechanism mediating the appearance of the adult, epsilon-subunit containing, subtype of end-plate channel. Denervation of neonatal muscle increases the levels of all subunit-specific mRNAs during further development. It prevents the postnatal decrease in gamma-subunit mRNA and enhances the initial increase in epsilon-subunit mRNA. This makes it appear that the epsilon-subunit gene is less sensitive to regulation by the nerve in the postnatal period than the gamma-subunit gene.

Fetal pancreas transplantation in miniature swine. II. Survival of fetal pig pancreas allografts cultured at room temperature

Islet-allograft survival has been shown to be markedly prolonged in rodents when donor tissue has been precultured at 24 degrees C. In this study, the feasibility of this approach was tested in NIH minipigs transplanted with fetal pancreases. Collagenase-digested fetal pig pancreatic tissues survived in culture at 24 degrees C for 6-7 days and continued to grow in vitro at 37 degrees C after being transferred. These tissues no longer stimulated allogeneic lymphocytes in vitro, although some tissues cultured at 37 degrees C did. This allogeneic stimulation did not correlate to the number of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-positive cells in stimulator pancreatic cultures. When transplanted into an omentum pouch of normal, nonimmunosuppressed minipigs, fresh fetal pancreatic tissues were rejected within 14 days. Tissues cultured at 24 degrees C grew, and beta-cells proliferated in minipigs treated daily with cyclosporin A (CsA) and azathioprine. Twelve normal minipigs were transplanted with 24 degrees C-cultured fetal pancreases: 8 pigs received no treatment, 2 received 14 mg.kg-1.day-1 CsA for 14 days, and 2 received 6-7 intravenous injections of platelets prepared from pooled farm-pig blood before grafting. Strong lymphocytic infiltration was detected in all grafts removed between 30 and 90 days posttransplantation. However, beta-cells were found on day 45 in one of five minipig pancreas grafts incompatible at the MHC loci and on days 60-90 in all three grafts compatible at MHC but incompatible at minor histocompatibility loci. Short-term CsA treatment did not prolong survival of allografts from farm pigs into minipigs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Platelet-generated thromboxane A2 enhances norepinephrine release from adrenergic nerves

Platelet-generated thromboxane A2 enhances norepinephrine release from adrenergic nerves. Microsomes were prepared from outdated human platelets and incubated with arachidonic acid to produce thromboxane A2. The incubate was added to isolated, electrically stimulated rabbit portal veins to determine its effect on adrenergic neurotransmission. Immunoreactive thromboxane B2 concentrations were measured to assess the generation of the precursor, thromboxane A2. Addition of microsomes in the presence of arachidonic acid (1 microM) caused a concentration-dependent increase in thromboxane B2 concentrations, electrically induced force and norepinephrine release. Inclusion of acetylsalicylic acid (10 microM) or the thromboxane synthase inhibitor, U63557A (100 micrograms/ml), in the arachidonic acid-microsome incubate eliminated the potentiation of force, norepinephrine release and thromboxane B2 generation. The thromboxane receptor antagonist, SQ30741 (1 microM), also eliminated the microsome effects on neurogenic force and norepinephrine release but not on thromboxane generation. The microsome-arachidonic acid incubate did not influence norepinephrine concentration-contractile response curves. These data are consistent with a potentiative action of thromboxane A2 on adrenergic neurotransmission, primarily mediated by enhanced release of norepinephrine. The physiological or pathological significance of this observation depends on the thromboxane concentrations in the vicinity of adrenergic nerves.

Alpha adrenergic receptors mediate angiotensin-induced prostaglandin production in the rabbit isolated vas deferens

The effect of alpha adrenergic receptor antagonists on concentration-dependent response to angiotensins II and III was examined in the electrically stimulated isolated rabbit vas deferens. The force generated by a nonadrenergic neural mechanism was reduced by both peptides whereas the force generated by adrenergic neural mechanisms was enhanced. Angiotensin III-induced inhibition of the nonadrenergic contraction was significantly greater than that of angiotensin II for all groups. Yohimbine (1 X 10(-4) M), an alpha-2 receptor antagonist, attenuated the depression of the nonadrenergic contraction produced by angiotensins II and III. Yohimbine (1 X 10(-5) and 1 X 10(-4) M) also significantly reduced angiotensin II-induced prostaglandin E (PGE) synthesis. Yohimbine only significantly altered the angiotensin III-induced PGE synthesis at an antagonist concentration of 1 X 10(-4) M. Rauwolscine (1 X 10(-8) and 1 X 10(-7) M) attenuated angiotensin II-induced PGE production and at a higher concentration (1 X 10(-6) M) reduced angiotensin III-induced PGE production. The alpha-1 antagonist, prazosin (1 X 10(-6) M), did not alter nonadrenergic contractile or PGE responses to either angiotensin. The alpha-2 agonist, clonidine, both inhibited the nonadrenergic neural contraction and enhanced PGE synthesis. We interpret these data to indicate that angiotensins II and III may act via separate mechanisms to induce PGE synthesis in the vas deferens, with angiotensin II effects being more dependent on norepinephrine release from adrenergic nerves.

Experimental studies on the disappearance of subretinal fluid after episcleral buckling procedures without drainage

We have developed an experimental model to show that an additional mechanism apart from absorption by pigment epithelium is responsible for the absorption of subretinal fluid. The cause of a fast diminution of subretinal fluid after a buckling procedure is the prominence of the buckle as an obstacle to fluid movements in the eye. This results in any fluid being pushed through the retinal hole into the vitreous. When the retinal hole is closed by the buckle, the remaining part of the subretinal fluid is slowly absorbed by the pigment epithelium present. We performed a preliminary qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phenomena occurring using the finite element method of Zienkiewicz.