Ability of rosetting or non-rosetting individual control and inflammatory macrophages to kill Escherichia coli X43 intracellularly

An autoradiographic method combined with a rosette technique was used to assess the bactericidal activity of individual control and inflammatory peritoneal macrophages (PM phi) in the presence or absence of expression of Fc receptor for IgG (FcR). There was a lack of FcR reactivity in a certain percentage of both categories of PM phi exposed to E. coli X43, a bacterium which is readily phagocytosed in the presence of specific antibody. Both rosetting and non-rosetting PM phi were capable of phagocytosing E. coli X43, but inflammatory PM phi showed a marked reduction in their capacity to ingest these bacteria compared with control PM phi. Once ingested the E. coli X43 were killed equally well by non-rosetting and rosetting control and inflammatory PM phi.     

Effects of ospemifene, a novel SERM, on vascular markers and function in healthy, postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE: Ospemifene, a novel selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), shows promise for bone preservation in postmenopausal women. This study examined the effects of ospemifene on different vascular surrogate markers. DESIGN: A double-blinded study was conducted in 160 healthy, postmenopausal women who used, in a randomized order, ospemifene (at daily doses of 30, 60, or 90 mg) or placebo for 3 months. RESULTS: Although ospemifene caused falls from basal levels in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a rise in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the only statistically significant difference between ospemifene and placebo was an increase of triglyceride levels (11.3%) in the 90-mg group. Ospemifene caused no significant effect on endothelial markers or homocysteine. Of the markers reflecting coagulation and fibrinolysis, plasma fibrinogen was significantly reduced in the 60- and 90-mg groups of ospemifene (8.7% and 8.5%, respectively) when compared with the placebo group. No changes were seen in generation of thrombin or degradation of crosslinked fibrin D-dimer. The uterine or carotid arteries and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure were not affected by ospemifene. Ospemifene caused no changes in basal insulin or in a 2-h glucose tolerance test, suggesting unaltered insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Neutral effects of short-term use of ospemifene on vascular surrogate markers imply no effect for ospemifene on the risk for cardiovascular disorders in healthy, postmenopausal women.     

DNA-aneuploidy in 46,XX hydatidiform moles

The DNA content of single villous cell nuclei in 14 normal pregnancies and 21 androgenetic moles with a 46,XX karyotype was measured by flow cytometry. Six molar specimens showed a low mean DNA content close to that of normal villi, whereas, 15 specimens were characterized by a high mean DNA content due to a large fraction of nuclei in the triploid to tetraploid region. The latter group presumably corresponds to the previously described "type II" moles in which the DNA pattern resembled the pattern seen in invasive moles and choriocarcinoma.     

Beta-thioglucose inhibits gold thioglucose lesions in the ventromedial hypothalamus

Gold thioglucose (GTG) has been known to be an obesity causing agent for over 40 years. GTG works by affecting dendrites in the mouse ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) producing a permanent VMH lesion and subsequent hyperphagia and obesity. We have investigated the effect of beta-thioglucose (BTG), a glucose antimetabolite, on GTG-induced lesions in the VMH of mice. Twenty-eight female CF-1 mice were used in this study. Seven micron sections were made of the mouse VMH, mounted on glass slides, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A previous report of BTG action on GTG-induced lesions has not supported a competitive inhibition between these two drugs. Our data demonstrate that at 1/2 hour, 6 hours, and 12 hours post BTG, BTG completely inhibited GTG-induced lesions in the VMH.     

Monitoring of heparin therapy: should heparin assays also reflect the patient's antithrombin concentration?

Chromogenic substrate (CS) assay of heparin may be performed with or without addition of antithrombin (AT) to the test plasma. Both types of assay are used for monitoring of heparin therapy, reflecting either heparin activity (heparin act), or heparin concentration (heparin conc) when AT is added. In plasma samples from 43 patients treated with intravenous heparin for DVT, the ratio between heparin act and heparin conc varied from 0.36 in patients with AT plasma concentration below 0.50 U/ml, to 0.85 in patients with AT above 1.00 U/ml (mean ratio 0.61). A formula expressing heparin act as a function of AT and heparin concentration in the test plasmas of the patients was used to calculate heparin act of the total material comprising 280 patients. Mean heparin act and heparin conc were both significantly correlated to clinical outcomes (bleeding complications, pulmonary embolism and phlebography score). For monitoring heparin therapy, guidelines for plasma heparin activity or concentration ("therapeutic ranges") are requested. When using a heparin act assay, the heparin dose needed in patients with low plasma AT concentration to reach a fixed therapeutic range, may imply undue risk of bleeding. On the other hand, when a heparin conc assay indicate plasma heparin conc within therapeutic range, antithrombotic activity may still be inadequate in patients with low plasma AT concentration.     

Bladder tumour control by abdominal ultrasound and urine cytology

A blind study comparing abdominal ultrasound and cystoscopy was carried out in 186 patients. 20 bladder tumours sized from 2 to 5 mm were overlooked. Combination with urine cytology increased the diagnostic sensitivity. In order to reduce costs and patient inconvenience in the bladder tumour control population abdominal ultrasound and urine cytology is advocated as an alternative to cystoscopy. This control modality seems safe in patients with "low-risk" bladder tumour disease.     

Acculturation,Discrimination and 24-h Activity in Asian American Immigrant Women

Asian American immigrant (AAI) women may have suboptimal 24-h activity patterns due to traditional gender role and caregiving responsibilities. However, little is known about their objectively-measured activity. We measured AAI women’s 24-h activity patterns using accelerometry and examined cultural correlates of time in sedentary behavior (SB), light intensity physical activity (LIPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sleep. Seventy-five AAI women completed surveys on acculturation (years of U.S. residency and English proficiency), discrimination, and sleep quality, and 7 days of wrist- and hip-accelerometer monitoring. Linear regression was conducted controlling for age, BMI, and education. We also compared activity patterns across Asian subgroups (East, Southeast, South Asians). On average, AAI women had 33 min of MVPA, 6.1 h of LIPA, 10 h of SB, and 5.3 h of sleep per day. South Asian women had the longest SB and the shortest sleep and MVPA hours. English proficiency was negatively related to MVPA (p?=?0.03) and LIPA (p?<?0.01). Years of U.S. residency was positively related to SB (p?=?0.07). Discrimination was related to shorter (p?=?0.03) and poorer quality sleep (p?=?0.06). Culturally-tailored programs targeting SB and sleep and integrating coping strategies against discrimination could help optimize AAI women’s 24-h activity patterns.

     

Selected conditions associated with an increased incidence of incisional hernia: A review of molecular biology

BackgroundIncisional hernias (IH) following a laparotomy, on average, occur in 10–20% of patients, however, little is known about its molecular basis. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms could lead to the identification of key target(s) to intervene pre-and post-operatively.MethodsWe examined the current literature describing the molecular mechanisms of IH and overlap these factors with smoking, abdominal aortic aneurysm, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and diverticulitis.ResultsThe expression levels of collagen I and III, matrix metalloproteinases, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases are abnormal in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of IH patients and ECM disorganization has an overlap with these comorbid conditions.ConclusionUnderstanding the pathophysiology of IH development and associated risk factors will allow physicians to identify patients that may be at increased risk for IH and to possibly act preemptively to decrease the incidence of IH.