Responses of antibody titers to intramammary immunization with Escherichia coli J5 bacterin

The effect of an immunization schedule on responses of antibody titers was tested following vaccination with an Escherichia coli J5 bacterin. Eighteen cows were equally distributed among three immunization schedules: 1) subcutaneous injection at 14 d prior to the end of lactation, intramammary immunization at 7 d after drying off, and subcutaneous injection at 30 d into the dry period; 2) subcutaneous injections at drying off, at 30 d into the dry period, and within 12 h after calving; and 3) unimmunized controls. The E. coli J5 bacterin consisted of 5 ml of 10(9) boiled cells/ml of 0.9% NaCl plus 0.005% phenol emulsified with 5 ml of Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Subcutaneous injections were administered on the upper part of the rib cage, posterior to the scapula. Intramammary immunizations of 2.5 ml of bacterin were infused via the teat canal into each of the four mammary glands. Intramammary immunization increased rectal temperatures at 12 h after infusion, but subcutaneous injections did not induce febrile responses. Intramammary immunization enhanced immunoglobulin G titers in serum and whey on d 0 of lactation compared with subcutaneous immunizations. Immunoglobulin G titers in serum also were greater at d 30 of the dry period and at d 14 and 21 of lactation for cows that received intramammary immunization than for cows that were vaccinated by subcutaneous injections only. Immunoglobulin M titers in whey and serum on d 21 of lactation were greater for cows that received intramammary immunizations than for cows that were immunized by subcutaneous injections only.

Protein kinase C-mediated interphase lamin B phosphorylation and solubilization

Disassembly of the sperm nuclear envelope at fertilization is one of the earliest events in the development of the male pronucleus. We report that nuclear lamina disassembly in interphase sea urchin egg cytosol is a result of lamin B phosphorylation mediated by protein kinase C (PKC). Lamin B of permeabilized sea urchin sperm nuclei incubated in fertilized egg G1 phase cytosolic extract is phosphorylated within 1 min of incubation and solubilized prior to sperm chromatin decondensation. Phosphorylation is Ca2+-dependent. It is reversibly inhibited by the PKC-specific inhibitor chelerythrine, a PKC pseudosubstrate inhibitor peptide, and a PKC substrate peptide, but not by inhibitors of PKA, p34(cdc2) or calmodulin kinase II. Phosphorylation is inhibited by immunodepletion of cytosolic PKC and restored by addition of purified rat brain PKC. Sperm lamin B is a substrate for rat brain PKC in vitro, resulting in lamin B solubilization. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide maps of lamin B phosphorylated by the cytosolic kinase and by purified rat PKC are virtually identical. These data suggest that PKC is the major kinase required for interphase disassembly of the sperm lamina.

How Do Logical Inference Rules Help Construct Social Mental Models?

Starting from recent approaches in mental model research, it is argued that (1) logical inference rules are used in order to construct mental cliques from learned sentiment relations, and (2) social context cues (operationalized as primes) play a crucial role in activating such rules. Transitivity and antitransitivity are taken as examples, and are shown as core constituents of such models. In a first experiment, priming was achieved by announcing the sorting of fictitious persons in either two or three cliques. Thirty-one subjects studied eight sets of sentiment relations among these persons that either did or did not satisfy their primed clique expectations. They showed longer study times and more requests for additional information in the case of inconsistent fits between prime and set. Their sorting solutions also showed clear priming effects. A second experiment (n = 30) showed that when undergoing a recognition test after seeing the relation sets, subjects tended to confuse model-consistent distractors with information they had actually seen. In a third experiment (n = 30) the results from Experiment 1 were replicated using more realistic learning materials.

Temporal Adjustments in the Evaluation of Events: The "Rosy View"

In a series of three investigations we examined people's anticipation of, actual experiences in, and subsequent recollection of meaningful life events: a trip to Europe, a Thanksgiving vacation, and a 3-week bicycle trip in California. The results of all three studies supported the hypothesis that people's expectations of personal events are more positive than their actual experience during the event itself, and their subsequent recollection of that event is more positive than the actual experience. The "rosy view" phenomenon is associated with an increase in the number of negative thoughts during the event which seem to be caused by distractions, disappointment, and a less positive view of the self. However, these effects are short-lived; within days after the event, people have much more positive evaluations of the event. We discuss alternative interpretations for our findings and implications for group and organizational settings.

Vascular endothelial growth factor expression is increased in renal cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

To compare the expression of VEGF in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and normal kidney.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed on tumour and normal adjacent kidney collected from 31 patients (29 RCC and 2 oncocytomas) as well as proliferating vascular endothelial cells (VEC) in culture.

RESULTS

Expression of 3 VEGF isoforms was detected in normal renal parenchyma and all ROC by RT-PCR, but was not apparent in proliferating VEC. In 27 RCC, Western blot analysis demonstrated 3-37 fold increases in VEGF expression when compared to normal parenchyma. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated VEGF staining of both tumour cells and adjacent vascular endothelium. Normal kidney showed no staining for VEGF. In the 2 remaining RCC and both oncocytomas VEGF was not increased.

CONCLUSIONS

VEGF expression is increased in RCC and may have a paracrine effect in these tumours in stimulating angiogenesis.

[E-test to study small inhibitor concentrations, bacterial diversity and to identify presumptively beta-lactamases in strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii associated with +nosocomial infections]

BACKGROUND

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii are two important nosocomial agents that require permanent testing of their antimicrobial susceptibility.

AIM

To use E-test to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations, estimate bacterial diversity and presumably identify B-lactamases of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii isolated from nosocomial infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty eight strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii isolated in a teaching hospital were analyzed with E-test strips to determine their minimal inhibitory concentrations for different antimicrobials.

RESULTS

More than 75% of Acinetobacter baumanii were resistant to Piperacillin, Cefpirome, Cefepime, Gentamicin or Amikacin, 40% of strains were resistant to Ceftazidime, 27 and 53% of isolates had a decreased susceptibility to Meropenem and Piperacillin-tazobactam respectively. Twenty eight to 54% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were resistant to Cefepime, Cefpirome, Ciprofloxacin and Gentamicin. Eighteen and 10% of strains were resistant to Meropenem and Imipenem respectively. Less than 10% of strains were resistant to Amikacin, Azireonam, Piperacillin-tazobactam or Ceftazidime. Most of beta-lactam resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was associated to decreased susceptibility or resistance to Cefpirome, Cefepime or to Meropenem-Imipenem and did not match clearly with known beta-lactamase profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

The knowledge of susceptibility of these bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections, will help to plan the appropriate use of antimicrobials.

Vasectomy is associated with an increased risk for urolithiasis

We evaluated vasectomy as a potential risk factor for urolithiasis. Vasectomy is a common method of contraception among otherwise healthy men. This is also the population at highest risk for urolithiasis. We conducted a case-control study of patients in a large prepaid health maintenance organization. Cases were men experiencing initial episodes of urolithiasis, ascertained by reviewing radiology logs and medical records. The age-matched controls were men with no history of urolithiasis. In logistic regression models, the relative risk of urolithiasis for men with vasectomies compared with men without vasectomies was 1.9 for men younger than 46 years of age (95% confidence interval = 1.2 to 3.1, P = 0.005), and the relative risk was 0.9 (95% confidence interval = 0.5 to 1.5, P > 0.8) for men who were at least 46 years old. The relative risk of urinary calculi was 2.0 (95% confidence interval 1.0 to 4.1, P < 0.05) for men with vasectomies 0 to 4 years before evaluation compared with men without vasectomies, and the excess risk persisted as long as 14 years postvasectomy. Vasectomy was associated with a twofold increased risk for urolithiasis in men younger than 46 years of age. This increased risk may persist for up to 14 years postvasectomy. Given the large number of men who undergo vasectomy worldwide each year, the increased risk for urolithiasis among vasectomized men may result in substantial excess morbidity.

Structural studies of spider silk proteins in the fiber

Although spider silk has been studied for a number of years the structures of the proteins involved have yet to be definitely determined. X-ray diffraction and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used to study major ampullate (dragline) silk from Nephila clavipes. The silk was studied in its natural state, in the supercontracted state and in the restretched state following supercontraction. The natural silk structure is dominated by beta-sheets aligned parallel to the fiber axis. Supercontraction is characterized by randomizing of the orientation of the beta-sheet. When the fiber is restretched alignment is regained. However, the same reorientation was observed for wetting of minor ampullate silk which does not supercontract. Thus, the reorientation of beta-sheets alone cannot explain the supercontraction in dragline silk. Cocoon silk showed very little beta-sheet orientation in the natural state and there were no changes upon wetting. NMR and X-ray diffraction data are consistent with the beta-sheets arising from the poly-alanine sequences known to be present in the proteins of major ampullate silk as has been proposed previously.

The Influence of Sorbitol on the Adsorption of Surfactants at the Air-Liquid Interface

Neutron reflection and surface tension have been used to study the adsorption of the nonionic surfactant monododecyl hexaethylene glycol (C12E6) and the mixed nonionic-anionic surfactants n-dodecyl triethylene glycol (C12E3) and Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at the air-liquid interface. Water and a sorbitol (d-glucitol, CH2OH(HCOH)4CH2OH)/water mixture were selected as the solvents. The addition of 300 g/liter of sorbitol to an aqueous solution of C12E6 reduces the critical micellar concentration, cmc, from approximately 7 x 10(-5) to approximately 3 x 10(-5) M, and increases the surface pressure at the cmc; the effect on the C12E3/SDS mixture is less. Despite these changes, the pattern of adsorption at the air-liquid interface is essentially unaltered by the addition of sorbitol, and the surface tension and neutron reflectivity data are in good agreement. The consequences of the sorbitol addition are however seen directly in the structure of the C12E6 monolayer. The ethylene oxide (EO) chain is more extended than in water, and more displaced from the solvent, consistent with dehydration of the ethylene oxide group.

Intensive speech treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease: short-and long-term comparison of two techniques

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term (12 months) effects of two forms of speech treatment on the speech and voice deficits that occur in Parkinson's disease. Thirty-five patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were assigned to one of two speech treatment groups: voice and respiration (The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment [LSVT]) or placebo (respiration) treatment. Vocal intensity data from before, immediately after, and at 6 and 12 months after speech treatment revealed statistically significant differences between the treatment groups. Only subjects in the LSVT group improved or maintained vocal intensity above pretreatment levels by 12 months after treatment. The placebo group had statistically significant deterioration of vocal intensity levels from before to 12 months after treatment during conversational monologue. The LSVT group did not deteriorate to levels below pretreatment in vocal intensity over the 12-month period. This study is the first to document the short-and long-term effects of intensive speech treatment (LSVT), which focuses on the voice, for patients with Parkinson's disease compared with a placebo speech treatment group.

Dietary and behavioral risk factors for urolithiasis: potential implications for prevention

Few studies have examined urolithiasis in primary care populations, and limited data are available on non-drug interventions to reduce the risk for urinary calculi. Therefore, we conducted a case control study of patients enrolled in a large prepaid health maintenance organization. The 240 study cases were men experiencing initial episodes of urolithiasis, ascertained by reviewing radiology procedure logs and medical records. The 392 controls were age-matched men with no history of urolithiasis chosen from a list of randomly selected men. Data were collected using standardized telephone interviews. Odds ratios were calculated for potential risk factors. In logistic regression analyses the risk for urinary tract calculi was related to both consumption variables, such as a low-fat or weight reduction diet (adjusted odds ratio, 0.41; P < 0.0005) and beer drinking (adjusted odds ratio, 0.41; P < 0.0001), and to demographic variables, such as African-American ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio, 0.29; P = 0.03) and a positive family history (adjusted odds ratio, 2.22; P < 0.001). These findings suggest the need to evaluate appropriate behavioral interventions to reduce the morbidity associated with urolithiasis. Prospective studies should evaluate the possibilities that beer drinking, even in modest amounts, and a low-fat or weight reduction diet are associated with substantial reductions in risk.

Phase Ia/Ib trial of anti-GD2 chimeric monoclonal antibody 14.18 (ch14.18) and recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) in metastatic melanoma

We performed a phase Ia/Ib trial of chimeric anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody 14.18 (ch14.18) in combination with recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) to determine the maximum tolerated dose as well as immunologic and biologic responses to the regimen. Sixteen patients with metastatic malignant melanoma received escalating doses of ch14.18 (15-60 mg/m2) administered intravenously for 4 h on day 1. Twenty-four hours later, subcutaneous injections of rhGM-CSF were administered daily for a total of 14 days. Significant side effects were related to ch14.18 infusion and consisted of moderate to severe abdominal and/or extremity pain, blood pressure changes, headache, nausea, diarrhea, peripheral nerve dysesthesias, myalgias, and weakness. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed at 60 mg/m2 and consisted of severe hypertension, hypotension, and atrial fibrillation in one patient each, respectively. Significant increases in white blood cell count, granulocyte count, eosinophil count, and monocyte count occurred after rhGM-CSF treatment. Significant enhancement of in vitro and in vivo monocyte and neutrophil tumoricidal activity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity along with significant elevations in C-reactive protein and neopterin were observed. Despite these immunological and biological changes, no antitumor activity was seen. In short, the combination of ch14.18 and rhGM-CSF resulted in toxicity similar to that observed with ch14.18 alone without improvement in tumor response.

Fostering the growth of research-based oncology nursing practice

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

To describe the initial stages involved in fostering a research-based oncology nursing practice in a comprehensive cancer program, including planning the initial implementation strategies to stimulate research awareness and create a program of research studies in clinical oncology nursing.

DATA SOURCES

Literature searches; published articles, abstracts, and books; interviews with staff nurses; departmental, committee, and task force meetings; nursing grand rounds and workshops.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Review and use of the available information facilitated the design of implementation strategies that addressed issues identified in the literature and in clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

The nursing department was able to plan, introduce, and evaluate a series of activities directed toward integrating research and clinical practice and building a series of research studies in oncology nursing. Introducing both goals was challenging but facilitated staff learning about research, participating in research-related activities, and seeing results from research studies relevant to their clinical practice.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Research can be introduced successfully into the clinical setting if staff are involved in the planning and design of research-related activities and if research expertise is available to foster and support their participation.

Winter poisoning of coyotes and raptors with Furadan-laced carcass baits

Three bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), and two coyotes (Canis latrans) found in a field in north-central Kansas (USA) in December 1992 were poisoned by flowable carbofuran (Furadan 4F) placed on sheep (Ovis aries) carcasses to kill coyotes. The carbofuran was placed on the carcasses in October 1992, but the coyotes and raptors apparently were killed in late December. Thus, flowable Furadan can cause direct and secondary deaths of wildlife under some circumstances for at least 60 days following placement.

Monoclonal origins of malignant mixed tumors (carcinosarcomas). Evidence for a divergent histogenesis

Malignant mixed tumors (carcinosarcomas) are examples of unusual neoplasms whose occurrences have been observed in increasingly diverse sites but whose pathogenesis remains a complete mystery. Two antithetical hypotheses that have been advanced to explain the histogenesis of these tumors include the convergence hypothesis, which proposes an origin from two or more stem cells (multiclonal hypothesis), and the divergence hypothesis, which proposes an origin from a single totipotential stem cell that differentiates into separate epithelial and mesenchymal directions (monoclonal hypothesis). To test these hypotheses, a novel strategy for the determination of clonality from as few as 100 tumor cells obtained by enzymatic digestion of either fresh or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues and cell sorting was used that exhibited the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in amplifying a 511-bp region located within the first intron of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase gene, a site that contains inactive X chromosomal obligately methylated HpaII/MspI sites and single-base allelic polymorphisms in 5% females. Carcinoma cells gated on the basis of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-anti-cytokeratin and sarcoma cells gated on the basis of FITC-antivimentin or FITC-anti-desmin were sorted to homogeneity on FACSTAR and then subjected to genomic DNA extraction and Hpa II digestion before PCR amplification and subsequent analysis of the product on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The comigrations of the single homoduplexes generated from both the carcinoma cells and sarcoma cells in six different malignant mixed tumors obtained from four different organs indicated clonal identity and monoclonality in all cases. These findings of monoclonality were confirmed independently by two other methods of clonality determination. The findings of a monoclonal origin of carcinosarcomas support the single totipotential stem-cell-divergence hypothesis.