Exploring Attitudes Toward "Sugar Relationships" Across 87 Countries: A Global Perspective on Exchanges of Resources for Sex and Companionship

The current study investigates attitudes toward one form of sex for resources: the so-called sugar relationships, which often involve exchanges of resources for sex and/or companionship. The present study examined associations among attitudes toward sugar relationships and relevant variables (e.g., sex, sociosexuality, gender inequality, parasitic exposure) in 69,924 participants across 87 countries. Two self-report measures of Acceptance of Sugar Relationships (ASR) developed for younger companion providers (ASR-YWMS) and older resource providers (ASR-OMWS) were translated into 37 languages. We tested cross-sex and cross-linguistic construct equivalence, cross-cultural invariance in sex differences, and the importance of the hypothetical predictors of ASR. Both measures showed adequate psychometric properties in all languages (except the Persian version of ASR-YWMS). Results partially supported our hypotheses and were consistent with previous theoretical considerations and empirical evidence on human mating. For example, at the individual level, sociosexual orientation, traditional gender roles, and pathogen prevalence were significant predictors of both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS. At the country level, gender inequality and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. However, being a woman negatively predicted the ASR-OMWS, but positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. At country-level, ingroup favoritism and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-OMWS. Furthermore, significant cross-subregional differences were found in the openness to sugar relationships (both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS scores) across subregions. Finally, significant differences were found between ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS when compared in each subregion. The ASR-YWMS was significantly higher than the ASR-OMWS in all subregions, except for Northern Africa and Western Asia.

The Psychological Science Accelerator's COVID-19 rapid-response dataset

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psychological Science Accelerator coordinated three large-scale psychological studies to examine the effects of loss-gain framing, cognitive reappraisals, and autonomy framing manipulations on behavioral intentions and affective measures. The data collected (April to October 2020) included specific measures for each experimental study, a general questionnaire examining health prevention behaviors and COVID-19 experience, geographical and cultural context characterization, and demographic information for each participant. Each participant started the study with the same general questions and then was randomized to complete either one longer experiment or two shorter experiments. Data were provided by 73,223 participants with varying completion rates. Participants completed the survey from 111 geopolitical regions in 44 unique languages/dialects. The anonymized dataset described here is provided in both raw and processed formats to facilitate re-use and further analyses. The dataset offers secondary analytic opportunities to explore coping, framing, and self-determination across a diverse, global sample obtained at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be merged with other time-sampled or geographic data.

The mental representation of occupational stereotypes is driven as much by their affective as by their semantic content

BACKGROUND

Studies on person perception showed that stereotypes can be activated by presenting either characteristic traits of group members, or labels associated to these groups. However, it is not clear whether these pieces of semantic information activate negative and positive stereotypes directly, or via an indirect cognitive pathway leading through brain regions responsible for affective responses. Our main objective with this study was to disentangle the effects of semantic and affective contents. To this end, we intended to scrutinize whether the representation of occupational labels is independent of the emotions they evoke.

METHODS

Participants (N = 73, M = 27.0, SD = 9.1, 31 men 42 women,) were asked to complete two tasks presented online. In the first task they had to arrange 20 occupational labels-randomly chosen from a pool of 60 items-in a two-dimensional space, moving the mouse pointer along two undefined axes. In a second task the axes' names were defined a priori. Subjects were asked to arrange the labels according to valence, the extent to which the word evoked pleasant or unpleasant feelings, and arousal, the extent to which the word evoked excitement or calmness.

RESULTS

Based on the final coordinates of the labels, two cluster analyses were carried out separately in the two tasks. The two clusters were compared with Fisher's exact test, which revealed that the cluster structures overlap significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the spontaneous categorization and the semantic representation of occupations rely largely on the affective state they evoke. We propose that affective content might have a primacy over detailed semantic information in many aspects of person perception, including social categorization.

Sibling relationship quality and parental rearing style influence the development of Dark Triad traits

Currently our understanding of environmental factors that influence the development of dark personality traits (DT) is limited. Therefore, we conducted three studies using online questionnaires, each examining a different aspect of the relation between dark personality traits and family environment. In Study 1, 117 adults (mean age: 30.36 years, SD = 10.19) filled out questionnaires regarding their childhood relationship with siblings and their own DT traits. We found that the amount of conflicts with siblings during adolescence correlated positively with Machiavellianism and psychopathy. The feeling of closeness towards the siblings showed negative correlation with Machiavellianism. Parental partiality towards the other sibling was positively correlated with narcissism. In Study 2, 111 adolescents (mean age: 15.92, SD = 1.24) reported their perceptions of the rearing style of their parents, in addition to their sibling relationships and DT traits. Perceived parental emotional warmth was negatively associated, whereas both rejection and overprotection were positively correlated with psychopathy. Parental warmth was positively, while rejection negatively associated with narcissism. Machiavellianism was positively associated with the amount of conflicts with siblings, but negatively with closeness to siblings. In Study 3, 110 adults (mean age: 32.62 years, SD = 12.25) reported their levels of the Vulnerable Dark Triad that included measures of primary and secondary psychopathy, maladaptive covert narcissism, and borderline personality organization. Results indicated that sibling relation quality had a significant effect on primary psychopathy and borderline traits. Parental rejection and overprotection correlated with borderline traits and vulnerable narcissism. The results of these studies shed some light on how environmental impulses, particularly the quality of relationships between family members, affect the development of personality.

A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on 12 May 2020. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4878591.v1.

Sibling Relations in Patchwork Families: Co-residence Is More Influential Than Genetic Relatedness

In "patchwork" families, full siblings, maternal and paternal half-siblings, and non-related children are raised together, and sometimes, genetically related children are separated. As their number is steadily growing, the investigation of the factors that influence within-family relations is becoming more important. Our aim was to explore whether people differentiate between half- and full-siblings in their social relations as implied by the theory of inclusive fitness, and to test whether co-residence or genetic relatedness improves sibling relations to a larger extent. We administered the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire to 196 individuals who were in contact with full-, half-, or step-siblings in their childhood. We built Generalized Linear Mixed Models models to test for the effects of relatedness and co-residence on sibling relations. In general, a higher degree of relatedness was associated with better sibling relations, but only among those who did not live together during childhood. Co-resident siblings' overall pattern of relation quality was not influenced by the actual level of genetic relatedness. In contrast to this, full siblings reported having experienced more conflicts during childhood than half-siblings, possibly resulting from enhanced competition for the same parental resources. The results suggest that inclusive fitness drives siblings' relations even in recent industrial societies. However, among individuals who live together, the effect of relatedness might be obscured by fitness interdependence and the subjective feeling of kinship.

[Angioneurotic edema induced by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors]

Angioneurotic oedema is one of rare side effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, its incidence is around 0.1-0.2%. Angio-oedema most commonly develops in the first 4 weeks of the treatment, but it can be observed later, after several months or even years. The association between the oedema and the drug intake can be difficult to recognize if the oedema is of delayed type and because the attacks can disappear spontaneously without discontinuation of the drug. The angioneurotic oedema is tend to be worsening during the treatment, and finally the obstruction of the upper respiratory tract can be fatal. The affected sites are the face, lips, tongue, upper respiratory tract, and the oedema can also develop in the gastrointestinal tract with abdominal pain and diarrhea, which can be misdiagnosed. The pathomechanism is thought to be rather biochemical than immunological. The pathogenetic factors are under investigation nowadays, but the increased level of bradykinin seems to be the most important factor. Authors treated 248 patients with angioneurotic oedema in the Department of Dermatology (Semmelweis Hospital, Miskolc) between January of 1997 and December of 2000, 44 patients took angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and 16 patients were suspected as suffering from angio-oedema induced by this drug. All of the patients remained symptom-free after the adequate treatment and discontinuation of the suspected drug. Authors describe the clinical picture of the angio-oedema, the risk factors, and the contraindications of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor treatment.

Copy number of cancer genes predict tumor grade and survival of pancreatic cancer patients

Pancreatic cancer is on the increase. While means of early diagnosis are being sought, it continues to present late. Prognostication is based on patient and tumor characteristics, including expression or mutation of cancer-related genes. Few studies have examined the impact of the amplification of these genes on the outcome of pancreatic cancer. We have now used a non-radioisotopic slot-blot technique to relate gene copy numbers of p53, c-myc and K-ras to tumor grade and survival. Outcomes were corrected for patient characteristics, tumor location and TNM staging. The Kaplan-Meier test for likelihood of survival showed that increase in copy number of the two oncogenes and loss of p53 were associated with non-significant reduction in survival. When these variations in cancer gene copy numbers were, however, examined by logistic regression analysis in the context of patient and tumor characteristics, survival was negatively related to K-ras amplification (p = 0.0291). Tumor grade, but not survival was positively related to loss of p53 gene copy (p = 0.0131) as well as c-myc amplification (p = 0.0248). Thus using a simple non-radioisotopic technique for the detection of cancer gene copy number in association with patients and disease characteristics, we could predict survival on the one hand and tumor behavior on the other. Such information could be used to plan initial and follow-up therapy.

C-myc amplification and cluster analysis in human gastric carcinoma

The tumour samples ot 23 patients (9 male, 14 female, aged 28-85) were randomly selected for the study. DNA was isolated from paraffin embedded tissue for quantitative dot-blot hybridization, in order to determine the amplification values for the c-myc and K-ras oncogenes. The clinical and histological parameters studied were as follows: grade, TNM staging system, Lauren's histological type, localization and the severity of the disease. Amplified c-myc was found in 6 cases. Amplification was concomitant with c-myc overexpression detected with immunohistochemical staining. The amplification--9.1-fold on the average (ranging from 2.12 to 18.2) was significantly associated with the presence of distant metastasis (corr. coeff.: 0.5623, p < 0.01), but with none of the other parameters. No case with K-ras amplification was recorded. The result of the multivariate cluster analysis proved that age was the decisive factor in the segregation process. This age-related distribution (69 vs. 40, p < 0.001), however, did not coincide with either the incidence of distant metastasis or c-myc amplification.

[Investigation of oncogene amplification or deletion, and oncoprotein expression in papillary thyroid cancer]

AIM: Assessment of occurrence and possible prognostic significance of c-myc and Ha-ras amplification, p53 deletion and overexpression of cyclin D1, p53 and p21 in papillary thyroid cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from 24 patients were investigated. Dot-blot DNA hybridization was used to detect oncogene amplification or deletion. The expression of oncoproteins was determined by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: In our samples neither Ha-ras amplification nor p53 deletion were found. Low c-myc amplification (mean: 2.55) occured in 4 cases (17%). p53 protein was detected in 16 samples (66.6%), with p21 expression (chi(2)=7.02, p<0.01) in 6 cases (25%). The p53 expression did not influence the tumor fenotype. Cyclin D1 overexpression was found in 12 cases (50%), it was often associated with p21 expression (chi2=10.1, p<0.001) and in inverse relation to the tumor lymphocytic infiltration (chi(2)=5.35, p<0.05). Increased expression of estrogen receptor was shown in 4 cyclin D1 positive samples (17%). CONCLUSIONS: The p53 detected in our study is likely not to be mutant protein in all cases because its presence was associated with p21 expression that the mutant protein cannot induce and also it did not mean more aggressive tumor phenotype. The connection of cyclin D1 overexpression with the lymphocytic infiltration of the tumor suggests that the increased expression of cyclin D1 means poor prognosis. The coexpression of cyclin D1 and p21 raises the modulative character of the p21 protein, thought to be a tumor suppressor originally, but we find a CDK-independent, estrogen receptor mediated effect of cyclin D1 more likely, which has been described in breast cancer and is also proved by the coexpression of cyclin D1 and estrogen receptor detected here.

Diffraction of x rays in capillary optics

Propagation of x rays generated by a small-diameter incoherent source through the capillary waveguide that satisfies the multimode condition is studied with the Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction theory. The strong influence of diffraction on the propagation is demonstrated. The diffraction phenomenon is manifested by the appearance of diffraction fringes in both the guide channel and the far-field zone of the capillary output. Experimental data that confirm such behavior of the x-ray radiation is also presented. The results confirm the interference effects recently observed in some experiments on the grazing reflections of x rays in single- and multiple-capillary optics.

Possible role of normal development in carcinogenesis

Apart from intercellular communication and co-operation, the selection pressure on the initiated cells to give rise to a malignant clone seems to depend on the developmental status of the target organ as well as the growing capacity of the prospective tumour. According to our theoretical approach, slowly growing tumours are counter selected and unable to survive in rapidly growing normal tissue.

Age-dependent variation of doubling times in malignant disorders: why are the doubling times of tumours in childhood shorter than in adulthood?

The proportion of patients with any given type of cancer in relation to all cases with malignant disorders in the same age-group exhibits a characteristic age-dependent variation. The values of age of maximal relative frequency (AMRF) were determined from statistics for seven cancer clusters grouped by target organ. The results of this study reveal that there exists a theoretical way of estimating AMRF by the linear combination of the approximative average values of tumour doubling times and the age of half-time development of the respective organ. The good correlation (corr. coeff. = 0.985, P < or = 0.001) between the observed and calculated values for AMRF makes the standard error of the calculation as low as 7.3 years. The conclusion is that in young developing organisms, only those tumours with short doubling time are likely to exist and survive, whereas later, during the period of organic involution and weakening cell-cell cooperation, more and more cancer types of longer doubling time can establish themselves. It seems that weak cellular cooperation yields way to malignancy; nevertheless, the normal growth rate of the target tissue has to be exceeded by the potential tumour. A slowly growing tumour in rapidly growing normal tissue is counterselected.

Is the presence of distant metastasis associated with c-myc amplification in gastric cancer?

The expression of the c-myc oncogenes has already been reported in human gastric carcinoma. Overexpression can be the consequence of oncogene amplification and often correlates with different prognostic factors. Authors investigated the value of c-myc oncogene amplification in 23 patients (9 male, 14 female, aged 28-85 yrs) with gastric cancer and its correlation to the following clinical and histopathological parameters: grade, TNM stage, Lauren's type, localisation and severity of disease. DNA was isolated from formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue for quantitative dot-blot hybridisation. Amplified c-myc was found in 6 out of 23 cases. Its values ranged from 2.12 up to 18.2 (average 9.1). Significant association was found between the presence of c-myc amplification and distant metastasis (corr. coeff.: 0.5623, p < 0.01). High scores of the other parameters also correlated with c-myc, albeit not significantly. The result of cluster analysis, based on the similarity of the parameter values for the individual patients proved that the age was the decisive factor in creating two groups. The distribution of patients into these groups did not seem to coincide with the presence of c-myc amplification or distant metastasis, inspite of the proved correlation between them.

Spectrofluorimetric determination of diethazine and promethazine in pharmaceutical preparations

A simple, sensitive and accurate spectrofluorimetric method is described for the quantitative determination of diethazine and promethazine either in the pure form or in its pharmaceuticals. The method is based on the formation of red fluorescent product of these drugs with Au(III). A linear calibration graph is obtained over the range 0.05-100 p.p.m. of diethazine and promethazine.

Investigation of c-myc and K-ras amplification in renal clear cell adenocarcinoma

Tumour DNA samples isolated from 36 patients with renal clear cell carcinoma were investigated for c-myc and K-ras amplification, using a quantitative dot-blot hybridization. The characteristic clinical and histological parameters involved in the statistical analysis were age, sex, histological grade of the tumour, the TNM staging system, tumour size and weight, vascular invasion and the quality of life. The goal of the study was to estimate the prevalence as well as the prognostic value of the amplification of the oncogenes in question. Amplified c-myc (2.47-fold on the average) was found in three specimens (8.3%), showing slight correlation with intravasation (P > 0.05, n.s.). K-ras amplification (2.93-fold) detected in six tumours (16.6%) was shown to significantly correlate with both histological grade (2.2 vs. 1.8, P < 0.05) and tumour size (15 vs. 8 cm, P < 0.05). In cases with amplified K-ras also lymph node involvement was somewhat more frequent (P > 0.05, n.s.). No coamplification of these oncogenes was observed. The results of the study suggest that K-ras amplification may account for a more rapid progression of the disease.

Time-resolved line shape studies of Nd�:�YAG laser-induced microplasmas arising from gold surfaces

A systematic study of the time evolution of the line shape of radiation emitted by a gold plasma and an exact line intensity calculation was carried out. The emission of the hot and dense plasma produced by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in atmospheric air was measured by a time-gated optical multichannel analyzer. Asymmetric Lorentz-type profile equations were tested for two gold lines (406.51, 389.79 nm) as a function of time. A strong broadening, asymmetry and shift is observable up to 800-1000 ns after the laser pulse. Spectral profiles of the delayed (with 0.8-1.0 micros) and time-integrated (gate time of 2.5 micros) measurements were found to be well represented by a symmetric Lorentz-type curve.

Is cancer promotion associated with dysfunction in co-operation between differentiated cells?

In a selection-based computer model system we demonstrated that deteriorating cellular co-operation between differentiated cells could result in positive selection for initiated cells of high proliferative capacity. The ratio of the initiated cells to their normal counterparts increased from 0.47 to 0.63 when the strength of co-operation decreased to one hundredth. The correlation proved to be significant. A number of bioactive substances involved in cell-to-cell communication are already registered as cocarcinogens. Whether this approach can explain the role of other promoting agents remains to be answered. It is also possible that the high incidence rate of old-age cancer may be in part accounted for by this kind of co-operational failure during senescence.

Induction of renin release from isolated glomeruli by inorganic mercury(II)

Mercury(II) ions are known to accumulate in the kidney and their effect upon the renin-angiotensin system has also been described. The question, however, whether mercury(II) also exerts direct effect on the juxtaglomerular cells (JGC) to induce renin release remained to be answered. Suspension of isolated glomeruli was used to measure the mercury(II)-induced renin release in vitro. The glomeruli were isolated from female BALBc mice. HgCl2 was found to be capable of inducing renin release directly from JGC. The effect is concentration-dependent (P < 0.05, r = 0.914 and P < 0.01, r = 0.982, with and without Neutral Red vital staining) and becomes apparent already at a mercury(II) ion concentration as low as 1 microM. The renin-releasing effect of the mercury ion is to be inhibited by dithiothreitol (DTT) (renin activity 20.37 vs. 2.60 ng/ml.h in supernatant) as well as the elevated osmotic concentration of the incubating bath medium (20.37 vs. 6.84 ng/ml.h). This suggests that certain membrane sulfhydryl groups are implicated in the process on the one hand, and it is also in accordance with the known sensitivity of the renin granules to osmotic pressure on the other hand. Light and electron micrographs also demonstrate the direct, effective role of Hg(II) in the renin release process. Therefore, it is assumed that apart from its influence on tubulo-glomerular feedback a direct way of action of mercury(II) on renin release must also be taken into account.

Investigation of c-myc oncogene amplification in colorectal cancer

Tumour DNA samples of 20 patients with colorectal carcinoma were tested for c-myc amplification, using a quantitative dot-blot hybridization. Statistical analysis involving clinical and histological parameters like degree of differentiation, Dukes' stage, TNM staging system, age, sex and severity of disease, was applied to estimate the prognostic value of c-myc amplification. The amplification of the investigated oncogene--1.61-fold on the average--was found to significantly correlate with the presence of distant metastasis (corr. coeff.: 0.506, P < 0.05) and the severe course of the disease (corr. coeff.: 0.468, P < 0.05). This result supports the hypothesis that tumour cells with c-myc amplification represent a more malignant and aggressive phenotype. It is also worth noting that both c-myc amplification and formation of distant metastasis are late events in the progression of colorectal cancer, which accounts for the more severe course of the disease.

Furosemide-induced lysosomal enzyme release in mouse kidney in vivo and in vitro

The loop diuretic, furosemide, which has been known to elicit renin release in vivo as well as in vitro, has also been shown to induce lysosomal enzyme release. After administration of furosemide (10 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg), a significantly increased acid phosphatase activity (1.33 x 10(-4) and 1.73 x 10(-4) vs. 0.23 x 10(-4) U, p < 0.001) was detected in the urine of the drug-treated mice, accompanied by a reduction of the residual enzyme activity in the kidney (5.0% for 10 mg/kg and 18.4%--p < 0.05--for 300 mg/kg dosage). Two marker enzymes, acid phosphatase and beta-D-glucuronidase, were assayed to demonstrate that furosemide also exerts its effect in in vitro systems like renal cortex suspension (corr. coeff.: 0.899 for acid phosphatase and 0.908 for beta-D-glucuronidase, p < 0.001) and isolated lysosomes (corr. coeff.: 0.981 for acid phosphatase and 0.989 for beta-D-glucuronidase, p < 0.001 for both). This action of the drug seems to be different from the well-known furosemide-sensitive inhibition of ion transport systems and may become of clinical relevance for patients receiving high doses of furosemide.

The ras signaling pathway mimics insulin action on glucose transporter translocation

Recent observations suggest that insulin increases cellular levels of activated, GTP-bound Ras protein. We tested whether the acute actions of insulin on hexose uptake and glucose-transporter redistribution to the cell surface are mimicked by activated Ras. 3T3-L1 fibroblasts expressing an activated mutant (Lys-61) N-Ras protein exhibited a 3-fold increase in 2-deoxyglucose uptake rates compared with non-transfected cells. Insulin stimulated hexose uptake by approximately 2-fold in parental fibroblasts but did not stimulate hexose uptake in the N-Ras61K-expressing fibroblasts. Overexpression of N-Ras61K also mimicked the large effect of insulin on 2-deoxyglucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and again the effects of the two agents were not additive. Total glucose transporter protein (GLUT) 1 was similar between parental and N-Ras61K-expressing 3T3-L1 fibroblasts or adipocytes, whereas total GLUT-4 protein was actually lower in the N-Ras61K-expressing compared with parental adipocytes. However, expression of N-Ras61K in 3T3-L1 adipocytes markedly elevated both GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 in plasma membranes relative to intracellular membranes, and insulin had no further effect. These modulations of glucose transporters by N-Ras61K expression are not due to upstream regulation of insulin receptors because receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and association of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins were unaffected. These results show that activated Ras mimics the actions of insulin on membrane trafficking of glucose transporters, consistent with the concept that Ras proteins function as intermediates in this insulin signaling pathway.

Activation of protein kinases by insulin and non-hydrolyzable GTP analogs in permeabilized 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The molecular events that lead from the interaction of insulin with its receptor to the activation of protein serine/threonine kinases are still unknown. In this study, we have examined the role of GTP-binding proteins in this signaling pathway using differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes permeabilized with alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus. Addition of GTP gamma S (guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)) or insulin to such permeabilized cells markedly increases protein kinase activities in cell lysates using the microtubule-associated protein-2 kinase substrate peptide KRELVE-PLTPSGEAPNQALLR, which contains the threonine 669 phosphorylation site on the epidermal growth factor receptor. Similar stimulations of protein kinase activity by these agents are observed using the peptide KRRRLASLAA, which is selectively phosphorylated by ribosomal protein S6 kinases. The effects of insulin and GTP gamma S are not additive. Importantly, the GTP-binding protein antagonist GDP beta S (guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate)) inhibits the activation of the protein kinase activities by insulin in permeabilized 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that activation of Ras or other GTP-binding proteins is a key element of the signaling mechanism whereby insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activates the microtubule-associated protein-2 kinase cascade.

Studies on acute myelomonocytic leukemia in LBF1 rats

Granulocytic leukemia was induced in Long-Evans (LE) rats by using the Huggins and Sugiyama method. After serial passage the cells became transformed. The newly transformed cells could be transplanted to LBF1 hybrid rats and observed more readily. A quantity of 10(8) cells/100 g body weight was injected intravenously and after 2-3 weeks myelomonocytic leukemia developed. By examining the bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes, cytochemical tests verified this transformation. Transplanting 10(2)-10(4) cells under the renal capsule, a quickly growing solid tumor was observed, which caused metastasis to the parathymical lymph nodes and peritoneum. The investigation of oncogene expression for the myc and ras families revealed the presence of myc p62 and ras p21 oncoproteins in the tumor cells by using monoclonal antibodies in immunohistochemical tests. LBF1 rats proved to be good models in obtaining solid tumor growth and myelomonocytic leukemias, equivalent to human M4-M5 type leukemia.

Total body replacement with iliac bone graft and metal plate stabilization in lower cervical spine

15 patients presented with cervical spine dislocation and kyphotic spondylosis due to traumatic fracture and vertebral body tumour underwent surgical decompression and fixation via the anterior approach in one stage. Decompression was achieved by resection of the body of the vertebra while fixation meant implantation of iliac bone graft with metal plate fixation. Early reduction of the dislocation was impossible or insufficient in most of the cases. Therefore the majority of operations were "late decompression". Patients with root or partial cord lesions had the most significant improvement. In some selected cases, however, who suffered from a total cord lesion due to C6 or C7 fracture-dislocation, surgical decompression of the C7 and/or C8 roots by resection of the C6 or C7 vertebral bodies could lead to useful motor improvement in the hands and the fingers.

Association of goitrous autoimmune thyroiditis with HLA-DR3 in eastern Hungary

An association of HLA-DR5 and goitrous autoimmune thyroiditis has been reported elsewhere (Farid et al., 1981; Weissel et al., 1980). Recently, the disease was found to be associated with HLA-DR4 in Newfoundlanders (Farid & Thompson, 1986). In order to find out whether different HLA associations with the disease may be found in different ethnic groups, we have now typed 68 patients with autoimmune goitrous thyroiditis from Eastern Hungary for HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DR antigens; 66 of these patients were also typed for IgG heavy-chain markers (Gm). A significant increase in DR3 (OR = 3.30) and a non-significant increase in DR4 (OR = 1.67) were found in the patients when compared with controls. The Gm3 allele, g, interacted with DR3 to enhance the risk for goitrous autoimmune thyroiditis. Hashimoto's disease may show different associations in different ethnic groups, and indeed within the same ethnic group, when newly diagnosed patients are typed several years apart.

Genetic factors in Graves' ophthalmopathy

We investigated the distribution of HLA and immunoglobulin G heavy chain markers (Gm) in 117 patients with Graves' disease, 62 with ophthalmopathy and 55 without. With Graves' disease per se, there is a closer association with HLA-DR3 than with B8. The opposite was true for Graves' patients with ophthalmopathy (odds ratio for ophthalmopathy associated with B8 was 12.4 and with DR3 was 7.7, both with P less than 0.0005). HLA-DR7 interacts with B8 in modifying the risk for eye disease; using the phenotype B8- DR7- as reference, the odds ratios were 16.7 for B8+ DR7+, 8.7 for B8+ DR7- and 0.26 for B8- DR7+. Thus, DR7 enhanced the risk for ophthalmopathy in the presence of B8+ but had a protective influence in its absence. Although Gm showed no association with eye disease, it modified the risk for ophthalmopathy associated with HLA-B8; the odds ratios were 20.9 for B8+ Gmfb homozygozity (fb+), 15.3 for B8+ fb- and 1.7 for B8- fb+ (B8- fb- = 1.00). We conclude that the genetic factors contributing to Graves' ophthalmopathy are different from those related to liability for Graves' hyperthyroidism.

Heterogeneity of systemic lupus erythematosus elucidated by cluster analysis. The influence of HLA

For 75 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 39 laboratory and clinical characteristics, including HLA-A, B, C and DR typing, were analysed using a cluster analysis technique. Three groups were identified. Group I (46 patients) was characterized by infrequently severe disease, good response to therapy and infrequent multisystem involvement. Group II (24 patients) was characterized by a severe course of disease (although the tendency to remit after therapy was not unusual), and frequently, renal involvement and pericarditis. Group III (5 patients) was characterized by more severe renal disease. Of the 75 patients studied, 38.7% possessed HLA-DR3, compared to 17.4% of controls. Group I patients did not differ from controls but 80% of Group II patients and 4/5 Group III patients had DR3. Cluster analysis identifies subsets of SLE patients who show marked differences in disease course and severity, correlated with possession of the HLA B8, DR3 phenotype.

The relation of susceptibility to and biologic behavior of thyroid epithelial cell cancer to HLA-DR1

Fifty-two patients with thyroid epithelial cell cancer were studied for evidence of association with human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Twenty-eight patients (53.8%) and 19.4% of 160 controls were HLA-DR1-positive, conferring a relative risk of 4.85 (chi 2 = 21.3, P less than 0.0001). HLA-DR1 was increased in all histologic types of thyroid cancer. Interestingly 10 of 12 patients with metastatic disease were DR1-positive compared to 18 of 41 patients without metastases (relative risk = 6.1, chi 2 = 4.7, P less than 0.05). This study suggests that major histocompatibility complex-linked gene(s) determine susceptibility to and the biologic behavior of thyroid cancer.

Interaction of IgG heavy-chain allotypes (Gm) and HLA in conferring susceptibility to thyroid carcinoma

We have recently reported an increase in HLA-DR1 in 52 patients with thyroid epithelial cancer from Eastern Hungary (Juhasz et al., 1986). We have now investigated the association of IgG heavy chain markers (Gm) in 50 patients with this disease and explored possible interaction between Gm and HLA in modifying the risk for thyroid cancer. No Gm phenotype showed significant increases in the patients compared to 168 local controls. When both Gm and HLA, however, were considered, a marked heterogeneity in risk was noted. The odds ratio for DR1+fb+ homozygotes was 37.5, for DR1+fb- individuals 6.0 and for DR1-fb+ individuals 2.6 (DR1-fb- = 1.0). Thus Gm and HLA interact to enhance greatly the risk of thyroid cancer.

Interplay of immunoglobulin G heavy chain markers (Gm) and HLA in predisposing to systemic lupus nephritis

We have studied the distribution of IgG heavy chain markers (Gm) among 90 Hungarian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (55 of whom were also typed for HLA). This study confirms previously described increases in HLA-B8 and DR3 in this condition. No difference in the distribution of Gm phenotypes was found between patients and 168 controls from the same geographical area. HLA-B8/Gm homozygous individuals were, however, at greater risk for SLE (relative risk = 5.13) compared to B8 + Gm heterozygotes or B8- individuals, irrespective of Gm phenotype. When patients with renal manifestation (n = 40) were compared to those without, the Gm phenotype 3; 5, 13 was found to be significantly increased (chi 2 = 10.36, P less than 0.0001, relative risk (RR) = 4.69). HLA and Gm increased additively the risk for renal manifestations in that for those patients who were both Gm3;5,13+ and HLA-B8+, PR was 110, while it was 21.2 for Gm3;5, 13-/B8+, 7.9 for Gm3;5, 13+/B8- and 1.0 for Gm3;5, 13-/B8- patients. The study suggests that combined HLA and Gm typing can be used to identify SLE patients at high risk for manifesting renal abnormalities.

Heterogeneity by cluster analysis techniques of Graves' patients typed for HLA DR and IgG heavy chain markers

In a previous study we were able to separate, using cluster analysis, 196 patients with Graves' disease evaluated for a large number of clinical and laboratory characteristics, including HLA-A and HLA-B typing into one subset with recurring disease and a high prevalence of ophthalmopathy and another subset with mild disease and little ophthalmopathy. Prevalence of HLA-B8 was much higher in the first as compared to the second group. The present study was undertaken in 117 new patients with Graves' disease, typed for HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C and DR antigens and IgG heavy chain markers, to determine whether these characteristics could be used to segregate patients into clinically relevant subsets. There was a greater proportion of Gm fb homozygotes among patients than among controls (chi2 = 4.71, p less than 0.05) as well as individuals with HLA-B8 and DR3, previously documented for this disease. Two patient clusters were identified. In one (C1), there is a high incidence of exophthalmos, recurrence of hyperthyroidism after drug treatment, high titres of anti-thyroglobulin antibody, and an association with other autoimmune (including thyroid) diseases, a tendency for the disease to be familial and the presence of larger goitres. The incidence of HLA-B8 was greater in C1, while HLA-B12 was more frequent in the mild cluster, C2. HLA-DR3 was found to be associated with patients in the severe cluster and HLA-DR2 with patients in the mild cluster.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The role of HLA antigens in the manifestation and course of Graves' disease

Graves' disease is associated with HLA-DR3 in Caucasoids. We have now demonstrated, on the basis of disease-associated MHC haplotypes (A1, Cw3, B8, DR3 and fragments thereof) from 38 families in which more than one member had Graves' disease compared with MHC haplotypes from 56 healthy families, that the risk was highest with the DR locus (relative risk for A1, B8, DR3 = 2.3, for B8, DR3 = 5.3, and for DR3 = 6.8). We further used the sib-pair method to explore linkage of Graves' disease liability to the MHC in 67 affected sib-pairs. The data were consistent with an MHC-linked recessive gene with a frequency of 0.2 to 0.3 and a penetrance of 7.2%; the data, however, accommodated penetrance of up to 16.3%. A recessive model was also consistent with the HLA-B8 genotype distribution in 286 unrelated patients. As the effect of the marker alleles on the course of the disease had been debated several times, we applied a cluster analysis method using 49 clinical and laboratory characteristics, including the HLA-A and HLA-B antigens of 196 patients. Three groups were identified, corresponding to patients with mild disease, Hashitoxicosis and severe (relapsing) disease. The prevalence of HLA-B8 was 8.9%, 21% and 87%, respectively (compared to 18.8% in 380 controls). This suggests the existence of an underlying continuum of genetic liability, apparently related to that for Graves' disease severity, associated with the MHC and mediated through immunoregulatory disturbances.

The genetics of Graves' disease: HLA and disease susceptibility

To relate genetic variation in Graves' disease (GD) susceptibility to polymorphism at MHC loci, clinical and family studies were undertaken in eastern Hungary. Among 1980 relatives of 534 index patients, 2.9% of siblings, 2.7% of offspring, and 3.0% of parents had GD. HLA haplotype combinations in affected sibling pairs were determined in the present data and combined with data in the literature (12 sibling pairs from Farid 1981, 12 from Chan et al. 1980, and 15 from Sasazuki et al. 1983); 43, 23, and 1 affected sibling pairs shared, respectively, 2, 1, and 0 HLA haplotypes. This distribution is inconsistent with simple dominant inheritance, but is consistent with simple recessive inheritance of HLA-related susceptibility over a range of gene frequencies (0.2-0.4). A frequency of 0.3 gives the best fit and is consistent with penetrance of 7.1% for the recessive susceptibility genotype; the data, however, can accommodate penetrance values up to 16%. The distribution of HLA haplotypes in 33 families related disease susceptibility more strongly to DR than to other loci. The distribution of HLA-B8 genotypes in 256 patients was in close agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium proportions, also favoring recessive inheritance of MHC-related susceptibility. The probability that an individual will be affected with GD can be predicted, based on sex, HLA genotype, and family history. For example, 14.9% of DR3-positive women with an affected first degree relative are likely to be affected. These predictions can be tested as family data accumulate.

[Discordance of ankylosing spondylitis in a monozygotic twin]

In the literature the authors found reports about 18 concordant and 1 undoubtedly discordant case of ankylosing spondylitis. We describe a 34 year old male pair of twins: one of them has suffered from this disease for 12 years, while the other has had no problems. The interesting point of this case is that at present the twins are living together. Genetic problems are also discussed.

Specific suppressor T cell function in a patient with Graves' disease and her healthy identical twin

Immunoregulatory defects have been suggested in autoimmune disorders including Graves' disease. The finding that Concanavalin A-induced suppressor T cell function was sub-optimal in Graves' disease has been disputed; a restricted defect in TSH-receptor antigen-specific suppressor cells has instead been proposed by Okita et al. (1980). To explore this further, we studied both specific and non-specific suppressor cell function in a pair of HLA identical twins, one of whom had Graves' disease. By contrast to the euthyroid healthy twin and 10 healthy controls (612 cpm/10(6) cells) the patient's mononuclear cells (MNCs) incorporated more (3H)-thymidine (7365 cpm/10(6) cells) in response to thyroid membrane antigen (TMA). Removal of glass-adherent cells before addition of antigen increased (3H)-uptake by cells from the healthy twin to 1808 cpm but reduced those from the Graves' twin to 3411 cpm. The influence of MNCs cultured with Con A or TMA for 24 h upon (3H)-thymidine uptake by 2 X 10(6) indicator cells triggered by Con A for 72 h or TMA for 96 h was taken as a measure of non-specific and specific suppressor cell function respectively. Both Con A and TMA induced suppressor cells were reduced, the latter to a more marked degree, in the patient compared to the healthy twin; mixing of MNCs from patient and healthy twin in a 1:1 ratio improved the patient suppressor cell function. When the patient's MNCs triggered for 24 h with Con A were mixed in a 1:1 ratio with her fresh MNCs and TMA, less blast transformation was found compared to an equal number of fresh cells (3H-thymidine uptake 3250 vs 7365 cpm/10(6). Similarly, preincubated cells from the healthy twin had greater suppressive effect (1820 cpm/10(6) cells). We conclude that (1) the HLA identical healthy twin has TMA autoreactive lymphocytes regulated by adherent regulatory cells; (2) the increased ratio of helper/suppressor cells in the adherent cell population in the patient leads to a decrease of (3H) incorporation upon their removal; (3) in the patient, the specific suppressor cell defect is more severe than the non-specific defect; (4) lack of specific TMA induced triggering may be the critical immunoregulatory defect in Graves' disease.

Identification of subsets of patients with Graves' disease by cluster analysis

We have applied cluster analysis methods to forty-nine laboratory and clinical characteristics (including 26 HLA-A, B antigens) observed in 196 Graves' disease patients. Three subgroups could be identified: group I (seventy-nine patients) had small goitres, low indices of autoimmunity and a tendency to remission with medical treatment; group IIa (twenty-nine patients) had clinical and laboratory features of 'Hashitoxicosis'; Group IIb (eighty-four patients) had a high incidence of ophthalmopathy, familial aggregation, marked evidence of autoaggression and a tendency to relapsing hyperthyroidism. The prevalence of HLA-B8 was 8.9% in group I, 20.7% in group IIa and 86.9% in group IIb. This study demonstrates that Graves' disease can be subdivided using cluster analysis into clinically relevant subgroups which are further distinguished by their correlation with HLA-B8. Possible immunological bases for these observed patterns are discussed.

Spectrophotometric method for determining the pigment content of ground paprika

A rapid and reliable method has been developed for determining the red, yellow and total pigment contents of ground paprika.