Family views of stigma

The views of 487 members of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) concerning stigma were surveyed in 20 different States. Almost all identified stigma as a problem for their mentally ill relatives and for families in general. The most frequently cited effects of stigma on ill relatives were damage to self-esteem, difficulty making and keeping friends, difficulty finding a job, and reluctance to admit mental illness. The most frequently cited effects on families were lowered self-esteem and damaged family relationships. NAMI respondents identified popular movies about mentally ill killers, news coverage of tragedies caused by mentally ill people, casual use of terms like "crazy" and "psycho," and jokes about mental illness as prominent sources of stigma. The things families reportedly found most helpful in dealing with stigma were factual information about mental illness, interaction with other families with mentally ill relatives, support within the family, and research findings that establish a biological basis for mental illness. Mental health professionals received mixed reviews from family members. While not generally viewed as contributing to stigma, mental health professionals were seen as least helpful in dealing with stigma. Overall, survey results indicate that considerable concern about stigma exists among families with mentally ill relatives and that substantial numbers of family members experience the stigma of mental illness in one form or another and perceive that their ill relatives experience it as well.     

The cerebrocortical microcirculatory effect of nitric oxide synthase blockade is dependent upon baseline red blood cell flow in the rat

The effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blockade on the cerebrocortical microcirculation were investigated under physiological conditions in anesthetized ventilated rats using laser-Doppler (LD) flowmetry. LD flow values of the parietal cortex were determined before and after systemic administration of the NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-esther. NOS blockade reduced the LD flow significantly and the magnitude of the reduction was in close correlation with the baseline value. Synchronized sinus-wave-like LD flow oscillations were observed frequently after NOS inhibition and their appearance was also dependent on the high baseline flow values. These results indicate marked, baseline-dependent differences in the cerebrocortical blood flow response to the inhibition of the nitric oxide pathway, and may suggest that areas with high resting red blood cell flow express high NOS activity.     

Der Einfluß von N1-n-Butylbiguanid auf das Verhalten der Unveresterten Fettsäuren (UFS) bei Normalpersonen und bei Diabetikern und am epididymalen Fettgewebe der Ratte

Zusammenfassung Das Verhalten der Unveresterten Fettsäuren an Gesunden und Diabetikern und am epididymalen Fettgewebe der Ratte unter N₁-n-Butylbiguanid wurde untersucht. Normalpersonen mit und ohne Biguanid reagieren bei Blutzuckerabfall mit einem Anstieg der UFS, der unter Biguanid signifikant höher ist. Diabetiker zeigen einen geringfügigen Abfall der UFS nach Biguanid. Unter Biguanidkonzentrationen, die der therapeutischen Serumkonzentration entsprechen (5/ml), werden vom Fettgewebe in Gegenwart von Glucose vermehrt UFS utilisiert. Bei hohen Konzentrationen (100 bis 1000/ml) tritt ein Wirkungsumschlag ein, die Fettsäureutilisation wird gehemmt.Teile dieser Arbeit sind in den Dissertationen vonM. L'age undJ. Stehr enthalten.     

Micropuncture studies on the influence of antidiuretic hormone on tubular fluid reabsorption in rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus

Summary Micropuncture studies were carried out on rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus, in order to measure net sodium and water reabsorption in proximal convolutions and short loops of Henle during water diuresis and ADH-induced antidiuresis. Intravenous infusion of 0.15 mU ADH per minute reduced urine flow from 74.5 l per kidney per minute to 10.8 l, and increased urine osmolality from 117 to 605 mOsm/kg. These changes could be reversed by stopping ADH.ADH did not alter the fractional reabsorption of fluid or the reabsorptive capacity for sodium in the proximal tubules. Nor did it change glomerular filtration rates of single superficial nephrons or of the entire kidney.Fractional reabsorption of the glomerular filtrate up to the early distal convolution was significantly higher (82.0%) in water diuresis than in antidiuresis (74.4%). Since this reabsorption remained unchanged in the proximal convolutions, the decreased reabsorption during antidiuresis must have occurred in the short loops. Fractional reabsorption of sodium up to the early distal tubule was essentially identical during water diuresis and antidiuresis, indicating that ADH does not enhance urinary concentration by increasing the reabsorption of sodium from short loops.On leave of absence from the Department of Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hannover, N. H., from January to June, 1967. Recipient of USPHS Research Career Program Award 5-K3-GM-21, 786.     

Blastogenesis and Lymphokine Synthesis by T and B Lymphocytes from Patients with Periodontal Disease

Thymus-derived (T) and bone marrow-derived (B) lymphocytes were isolated from human peripheral blood and cultured with various mitogens and antigens. Purified protein derivative of tuberculin stimulated both purified T and B cells from patients with positive skin reactivity to purified protein derivative but did not stimulate nonimmune lymphocytes. Similarly, both T and B lymphocytes from patients with periodontal disease were stimulated to proliferate when incubated with dental plaque, whereas cells from normal individuals without gingivitis were unresponsive. In contrast, one component of plaque, bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharide), minimally stimulated B lymphocytes from both normal or gingivitis patients. T lymphocytes from patients with periodontal disease were also stimulated by plaque antigen to produce chemotactic lymphokine activity (CTX) for human monocytes. B cells purified by the EAC rosetting method nonspecifically produced CTX without concomitant blastogenesis; however, after dissociation of adherent EAC these immune B cells did not spontaneously produce CTX. Lymphokine synthesis by B cells was not dependent on concomitant blastogenesis. Dissociated B cells from periodontitis patients also produced CTX activity after stimulation with dental plaque antigen. Therefore, both T and B lymphocytes, after stimulation with nonendotoxin antigenic components of plaque, proliferated and produced lymphokines, which are presumed to contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.     

Interaction of B7RP-1 with ICOS Negatively Regulates Antigen Presentation by B Cells

Stimulation of T cells through the T cell receptor is insufficient for optimal T cell activation. A second activation signal is necessary, being usually provided by the costimulatory molecule CD28. Recently, additional costimulatory pathways have been identified, including inducible costimulator (ICOS) and its ligand B7RP-1. We have examined the role of the B7RP-1/ICOS costimulatory pathway on antigen presentation by B cells, using the I-A^k and I-E^k-positive CH27 B cell line and several different T cell lines. We found that CH27 expressed B7RP-1 and PD-L1 whereas the T cell lines expressed ICOS and PD-1. In the presence of HEL, the T cell hybridomas C10 and 3A9 released IL-2, which is indicative of antigen-specific T cell activation by the CH27 cells. Unexpectedly, blocking antibodies for B7RP-1 and ICOS enhanced the IL-2 response in both T cells. As expected, an increase in the production of IL-2 was seen when blocking antibodies for PD-1 were used. Blocking with antibodies for I-A^k, CD28, B7.1, and B7.2 lead to a decrease in IL-2 production. Additionally we tested a Th1 and a Th2 T cell clone. Blockade of B7RP-1/ICOS lead to an increased IFN- response in Th1 cells (A.E7) and an increased IL-4 response in Th2 cells (D10.G4.1). Intracellular staining also showed an increase in cytokine production when the B7RP-1/ICOS pathway was blocked. In conclusion, the B7RP-1/ICOS pathway is negatively regulating T cell activation by B cells and may play a role similar to that of the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway.