Antibody response to a synthetic peptide covering a LAV-1/HTLV-IIIB neutralization epitope and disease progression

Sequential sera of homosexual men participating in a prospective study on the incidence of HIV-1 infection and risk factors for AIDS were tested for the presence of antibodies to a synthetic 17-mer (Neu21; KSIRIQRGPGRAFVTIG) representing a neutralization epitope as present on the LAV-1/HTLV-IIIB strain of HIV-1. Of 191 at entry, 143 (75%) HIV-1-seropositive men remained anti-Neu21-negative during the follow-up period of 36 months. Thirty-seven (19%) HIV-1-seropositive men were persistently anti-Neu21-positive. Eleven (6%) HIV-1 seropositive men seroconverted for anti-Neu21 during follow-up. Of 75 men developing antibodies to HIV-1, 17 (23%) developed antibodies to Neu21. The incidence of anti-Neu21 seroconversion (calculated as attack rate) after 36 months was significantly lower (P less than 0.00001) among HIV-1-seropositive individuals (8%) than among the 75 HIV-1 seroconverters tested (25%), indicating that seroconversion to this neutralization domain occurs early during infection. AIDS and AIDS-related complex were diagnosed in 17% of the anti-Neu21 negatives and in 11% of the anti-Neu21 positives; this difference was not significant. The presence of HIV-1 antigen (29 versus 28%), the absence of antibodies to core proteins (45 versus 46%) and low CD4+ cell numbers (34 versus 40%) were not seen more frequently among anti-Neu21 negatives than among anti-Neu21 positives. These results argue against a role for antibodies to this LAV-1/HTLV-IIIB neutralization domain in protection against disease progression.

Psychological determinants of sexual arousal: a review

The literature on the psychological determinants of genital and subjective sexual arousal is reviewed. Various psychological mechanisms are identified and in each instance the available empirical evidence is summarized. Areas requiring further research are indicated and suggestions for methodological improvements are presented.

Metalloendoprotease inhibitors block protein synthesis, intracellular transport, and endocytosis in hepatoma cells

Fusion of membrane vesicles has been implicated in many intracellular processes including the transport of proteins destined for secretion or storage. Vesicular transport coupled with membrane fusion has been demonstrated for rough endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi and Golgi to plasma membrane transport as well as receptor mediated endocytosis and receptor recycling. Recent studies with inhibitors suggest that metalloendoproteases may mediate a wide variety of intracellular fusion events. Thus, in order to examine the potential role of metalloendoproteases in both transport/secretion and endocytosis/recycling we have used selected dipeptide substrates to probe these processes in human HepG2 cells. Using pulse-chase labeling, immunoprecipitation, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis we show that transport and secretion of newly synthesized proteins along the exocytotic route were completely inhibited by substrate dipeptides (e.g. Cbz-Gly-Phe-amide, where Cbz is benzyloxycarbonyl) but not by irrelevant dipeptides (e.g. Cbz-Gly-Gly-amide). The effect was rapid, reversible, and specific. The secretory pathway was blocked between the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi as well as Golgi and plasma membrane as judged by the status of N-glycosylation intermediates. In addition, these inhibitors specifically inhibited protein synthesis without alterations in cellular ATP concentrations. However, cell-free amino acid incorporation was not inhibited. Receptor-mediated uptake of asialoglycoproteins was specifically and reversibly inhibited by dipeptide substrates. This effect appears to be secondary to inhibition of recycling as neither ligand binding nor internalization were affected. Thus the present observations suggest that metalloendoprotease activity may be involved in the regulation of multiple intracellular pathways perhaps at the level of vesicular fusion events.

Persistent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 antigenemia in children correlates with disease progression

In a longitudinal study, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antigen (HIV-Ag) was measured in serum specimens from 54 children with HIV-1 infection followed for a median duration of 17 months. The persistent detection of free HIV-Ag in a group of 25 children was associated with clinical deterioration in 22 (88%) and a mortality of 52%, whereas the persistent nondetection of free HIV-Ag in a group of 18 children was associated with clinical deterioration in five (28%) and a mortality of 11% during the period of observation. Nine children had transient HIV-1 antigenemia and two children converted from HIV-Ag negative to positive during the study. Free HIV-Ag levels varied inversely with antibody reactivity to viral core proteins p24 and p17 determined by Western immunoblot, suggesting either the formation of immune complexes or a balance between viral expression and the host immune response. Five mother-infant pairs were studied for HIV-Ag expression in the perinatal period. In three of these pairs, both mother and infant were HIV-Ag negative, in one pair the mother had high levels of HIV-Ag and the infant was HIV-Ag negative. In the remaining mother-infant pair, the neonate became HIV-Ag positive but the mother was HIV-Ag negative prepartum and postpartum. These data suggest that HIV-Ag probably does not cross the placenta and that the detection of free HIV-Ag in the offspring of a HIV-1 infected mother most likely indicates viral infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A long-term follow-up study of couples treated for sexual dysfunctions

A 5-8 year follow-up was conducted on 140 couples treated for sexual dysfunctions, of whom 88 couples (63%) actually participated. Differences between participant and nonparticipant clients were analyzed. Clients evaluated various aspects of their sexual and nonsexual functioning before and after therapy and in the follow-up period. The correlation between retrospective and original pre- and posttherapeutic data was determined. The effects of treatment for couples not divorced or given additional therapy, couples who separated, and couples given additional therapy were analyzed and compared. The treatments generally led to increased satisfaction about sexual and nonsexual interaction with the partner. The improvement was found to be fairly stable in the follow-up.

Treatment of homosexual and heterosexual sexual dysfunction in male-only groups of mixed sexual orientation

Males complaining of erectile and ejaculatory dysfunctions were treated in a structured therapy program. Twenty-one males of heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual orientation were divided into five groups, with two male therapists for each group. Patients were those usually considered difficult to treat in that 16 had a primary sexual dysfunction with an average duration of 6 years. Extensive evaluations were made before therapy, at the completion of therapy, and at 2-months follow-up. Pre-therapeutic, post-therapeutic, and follow-up measurements indicated that the program was highly successful.

A comparison of sex therapy and communication therapy: couples complaining of orgasmic dysfunction

Forty-eight couples who complained of female orgasmic dysfunction received one of two therapies: sex therapy and communication therapy. Each couple was treated by a team of one male and one female therapist. Pretherapeutic, posttherapeutic and follow-up measurements showed that female sexual satisfaction increased in both therapies, but that the increase came more quickly in sex therapy. Male sexual satisfaction increased in sex therapy, but diminished in communication therapy. A two-phase model of the sexual response was tested against the therapeutic results. The experience of sexual interaction and the orgasmic experience improved in males and females in sex therapy, and in females in communication therapy. The male experience of sexual interaction deteriorated in communication therapy, while the male orgasmic experience initially increased and subsequently diminished again. Satisfaction with the total relationship increased in the males in communication therapy, and in the females in sex therapy.