Effects of anemia and growth retardation on respiratory activity in the piglet

Respiratory activity (RA) was assessed in a piglet model by giving chloralose (Ch), 6 mg/kg i.v. every 2 min, until the appearance of apnea. The total cumulative dose of Ch (mg/kg) which produced permanent apnea (lethal dose, LD) was determined. The slope of the dose-respiratory frequency curve (R = ae-lambda Ch) was also computed. The LD of Ch increased progressively with age, while respiratory frequency (lambda) decreased. However, in piglets with severe spontaneous anemia (hematocrit less than 10%), the LD of Ch was less than half that expected for the age groups, and the rate of reduction of gamma was much greater. The enhanced sensitivity to inhibition of RA may relate in part to anemia with reduced O2-carrying capacity to the CNS, and in part to growth retardation with delayed respiratory center maturation.     

Seasonal modification of ovine pineal function. I. Interaction of gonadal steroids and sympathetic innervation on beta-adrenoceptors

The results of a seasonal study of the regulation by steroids of ovine pineal beta-adrenoceptors are reported. The effects of ovariectomy, steroid implants and superior cervical ganglionectomy were investigated in Merino ewes. The results confirm earlier observations showing a seasonal variation in the sensitivity of the receptors to modification by gonadal steroids. A marked difference in receptor density and affinity between the follicular and luteal phases of the estrous cycle is shown for the first time, a difference which can be modified by appropriate steroid-related treatments. A season-dependent antagonism between the sympathetic innervation of the gland (presumably acting via the neurotransmitter noradrenaline) and gonadal steroids in the regulation of ovine pineal beta-adrenoceptor function is also shown.     

Influence of socio-demographic factors on distances travelled to access HIV services: enhanced surveillance of HIV patients in north west England

Background  

Patient choice and access to health care is compromised by many barriers including travel distance. Individuals with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can seek free specialist care in Britain, without a referral, providing flexible access to care services. Willingness to travel beyond local services for preferred care has funding and service implications. Data from an enhanced HIV surveillance system were used to explore geodemographic and clinical factors associated with accessing treatment services.     

Motives for HIV testing among drug users: an analysis of gender differences.

This article examines gender differences related to why 66 injection and noninjection drug users tested for HIV. Study participants from three northern California counties underwent an open-ended qualitative interview covering: access to HIV testing, the meaning of HIV testing and test results, drug and sexual risk behaviors, and behavior changes associated with HIV testing, as well as a brief quantitative survey. The responses were analyzed using the following categories: (a) financial incentives for testing, (b) concerns related to family members and significant others, and (c) personal anxieties due to lack of knowledge of HIV status. Analyses showed that gender differences exist regarding reasons for HIV testing. The most significant finding was that women were motivated to test with regard to concerns related to family and significant others in their life more so than men, particularly during pregnancy. The impetus to test for many individuals was dependent on a social setting, such as jail, hospital, or drug rehabilitation program. Further research examining the motivational factors why drug users test for HIV can provide valuable information for outreach and marketing of HIV counseling-and-testing services.     

Transforming activities of human CSF-1 receptors with different point mutations at codon 301 in their extracellular domains

Replacement of leucine 301 in the human colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) by serine, threonine, glutamic acid, or proline induced ligand-independent transforming activity in mouse NIH3T3 cells, whereas substitution by phenylalanine, methionine, cysteine, or lysine did not. Serine, glutamic acid, and proline mutations were more potent than threonine in inducing cell transformation. The growth of cells transformed by CSF-1R [S301] and [T301] was further stimulated by human recombinant CSF-1, but cells expressing CSF-1R [E301] responded poorly to the growth factor. The transforming efficiency of mutant receptors was also enhanced by the presence of a phenylalanine for tyrosine mutation at codon 969 near the receptor carboxylterminus. Like the v-fms oncogene product, receptors containing S301 or E301 mutations were partially inhibited in their intracellular transport to the plasma membrane, whereas non-transforming variants were transported normally. However, CSF-1R [T301] was processed as efficiently as the wild-type glycoprotein, indicating that the properties of altered transport and cell transformation could be at least partially dissociated. Expression of CSF-1 receptors bearing activating mutations led to increased phosphorylation of cellular substrates on tyrosine, suggesting that cell transformation resulted from constitutive receptor kinase activity. We conclude that only particular mutations at codon 301 mimic an effect of ligand on CSF-1R so as to constitutively activate its growth promoting activity.     

Improving newborn screening laboratory test ordering and result reporting using health information exchange

Capture, coding and communication of newborn screening (NBS) information represent a challenge for public health laboratories, health departments, hospitals, and ambulatory care practices. An increasing number of conditions targeted for screening and the complexity of interpretation contribute to a growing need for integrated information-management strategies. This makes NBS an important test of tools and architecture for electronic health information exchange (HIE) in this convergence of individual patient care and population health activities. For this reason, the American Health Information Community undertook three tasks described in this paper. First, a newborn screening use case was established to facilitate standards harmonization for common terminology and interoperability specifications guiding HIE. Second, newborn screening coding and terminology were developed for integration into electronic HIE activities. Finally, clarification of privacy, security, and clinical laboratory regulatory requirements governing information exchange was provided, serving as a framework to establish pathways for improving screening program timeliness, effectiveness, and efficiency of quality patient care services.