Immunocytochemical staining of isolated rat sertoli cells for anti-FSHβ

Sertoli cells are a primary target for the action of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the testis. The purpose of this investigation was to verify ultrastructurally that FSH binds to receptors on the plasma membrane of isolated rat Sertoli cells. A reltaively pure aliquot of Sertoli cells was obtained by first dissociating testicular tissue from immature rats with collagenase and then centrifuging the suspension in Percoll density gradients. Pre-embedding staining with the peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP) complex technique using anti-FSHβ as the primary antiserum localized endogenous receptor-bound FSH on the plasma membrane of isolated Sertoli cells. Staining was considered to be specific since membranes of Sertoli cells derived from hypophysectomized rats were not stained when subjected to the same procedure. Cytoplasmic vesicles in Sertoli cells from experimental, control, and hypophysectomized groups also stained with PAP. Staining of these structures appeared to be specific since it was obliterated by preabsorption of anti-FSHβ with FSH. Preabsorption with luteinizing hormone (LH) did not affect the staining of cytoplasmic vesicles. The results of this investigation provide the first evidence for ultrastructural localization of specific binding sites for anti-FSHβ on the cell membrane of isolated Sertoli cells using an unlabeled antibody technique, and they further support the contention that Sertoli cells are a primary target for the action of FSH.     

MK-801 reduced cerebral ischemic injury by inducing hypothermia

The non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, MK-801, has been reported to prevent or attenuate ischemic brain damage in various animal models. In halothane-anesthetized gerbils it was found that an optimal dose of MK-801 (3.0 mg/kg) for providing cerebral protection also produced hypothermia (31.1 +/- 0.62 degrees C) relative to control animals (34.2 +/- 0.77 degrees C, P less than 0.01). This degree of hypothermia alone was sufficient to provide complete histological and functional protection (spatial memory) against 5 min of carotid artery occlusion. In gerbils made ischemic, but maintained at normal body temperature, a dose of 3.0 mg/kg of MK-801 provided no protection against hippocampal cell loss or spatial memory impairment. These data suggest that the protective actions of MK-801 may be due entirely to drug-induced hypothermia.     

Parental Expectations of School Health Services

ABSTRACT: Parents, as consumers of health care for their children, have the opportunity to incorporate available school health services as part of their child's total health care. This study investigated whether parental expectations of school health services supported the role of health services in the school as part of a total health care delivery system. It also sought to establish differences in the level of parental expectations of school health services as they relate to family size, parental structure in the home, method of family medical payment and current mode of health care management. A three-part questionnaire was developed to elicit data about parental expectations of school health, family characteristics and current choice of health care. Data analysis showed that parents do expect and accept school health services to be a part of their child's total health care management. No significant relationship was found between parental expectations and family demographic factors or if the child's current health management was maintenance-oriented or crisis-oriented. The study suggests that opportunities for parental input into school health programming should be provided. Positive perceptions of school health services may be incorporated into program advocacy in the event of political and financial threats.     

Percapsular and percutaneous embolization of renal transplant pseudoaneurysm and AV fistula: Case report

Renal allograft arteriovenous (AV) fistula is a known complication of renal biopsies in patients experiencing renal allograft dysfunction. Treatment may include observation, surgery, or intraarterial embolization. We report a case of postbiopsy renal allograft AV fistula and pseudoaneurysm in which intraarterial embolization was technically impossible. Treatment included percapsular embolization of the pseudoaneurysm using intraoperative ultrasound guidance. The embolization coils served as a guide for subsequent percutaneous embolization of the AV fistula in the angiographic suite. Innovative embolization techniques may be necessary in order to preserve optimal renal function.     

Quantitative Rh Typing of rGrG with Observations on the Nature of G (Rh12) and Anti-G

Abstract. Quantitative blood typing data on Mr. R. B. (r^Gr^G), his wife (R₁r), a daughter (R₁r^G), and a niece (r^Gr) strongly suggest that these Rh phenotypes are directly indicative of actual Rh genotypes. If so, the antigenic products of r^G are weak Rh2 (rh' or C), normal Rh5 (hr or e), an expression of Rh12 (rh^G) equal to that produced by R^-1,2,-3 (r' or dCe) and half of what is produced by R¹ (R or D) genes in either homozygous or heterozygous expression, very weak expression of Rh19 (hr^S), absence of Rh31 (hr^B), and slightly weakened expression of Rh17 (Hr_o or ‘not D’). The LW status of r^Gr^G cells was equivalent to that of other Rh:-1 erythrocytes. Thus r^G resembles mutant r' in which only Rh5 is expressed normally. The weak Rh2 produced by r^G reacted much better with one Rh2 antiserum than with another. Rh21 (C^G) had been used to denote such additional reactivity, but one reagent that acted as anti-Rh2 in manual tests behaved like anti-Rh21 in instrumented tests. Therefore, anti-Rh21 may only indicate a more efficiently agglutinating anti-Rh2. Mr. R. B. showed no evidence of congenital stomatocytic hemolytic anemia characteristic of Rh_null or Rh_mod. Finally, anti-Rh12 eluates, recovered either sequentially from r'r followed by R₂r or singly from r^Gr^G, agglutinated chimpanzee red cells more efficiently than did either anti-Rh1 (D) or anti-Rh4 (c), a result consistent with expectation for serological crossreactivity between Rh1 and Rh21.     

Challenges and accomplishments of the second-generation social health maintenance organization

PURPOSE: This study traces the implementation of the second-generation Social HMO demonstration program within the Health Plan of Nevada among more than 35,000 Las Vegas members. DESIGN AND METHODS: This case study uses health plan reports, claims data, and administrator and clinician interviews covering the years 1999-2001. RESULTS: Care coordination, geriatric services, communications, and support infrastructure development has been extensive. Implementation has occurred at different rates among staff model and network practice physicians. Hospital days and discharges were fewer among clinic than network participants; physician and emergency room visits were more frequent, as were day care, respite care, and home help. IMPLICATIONS: Integrating medical and social care is difficult. Despite great efforts, it took several years before key benefits could be adequately developed and linkages created. Evaluations that target start-up rather than steady-state operation may not capture these accomplishments. Further, federal government efforts to encourage experimentation and innovation in care for aged and disabled individuals may require programs other than time-limited demonstrations.     

Chemokine receptors and neural function

Numerous studies have demonstrated that chemokines play an integral role in diseases marked by inflammation. Recently, it has also been shown that chemokines and their receptors are widely expressed in the central nervous system by all types of cells, including neurons. The functions of neuronal chemokine receptors have yet to be fully defined. However, there are indications that neuronal chemokine receptors play an integral role in the development of the nervous system, in the regulation of neuronal excitability and in the signal transduction pathways that regulate neuronal survival. This review explores these topics and discusses the overall impact that chemokines may have on neuronal function.