Adherence of Staphylococcus aureus to cultures of human peritoneal mesothelial cells

Strains of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from the effluentof patients with peritonitis on CAPD (continuous ambulatoryperitoneal dialysis), adhered well to both cultured human mesothelialcells and to fibronectin, but not to laminin or gelatin. Mesothelialcells grown in medium M199 exhibited more surface fibronectincompared to cells grown in MEM-Dval and demonstrated higherlevels of S. aureus adherence. Soluble fibronectin concentrations up to lOµg/ml increasedthe adherence of S. aureusto cultured mesothelial cells. Thedose-response curve was consistent with the binding of fibronectinto a saturable receptor of apparent dissociation constant (K_D)= 1.7xlO^–10 M. This corresponds closely to the K_D (2xlO^–10M) of the staphylococcal fibronectin-binding protein. S. aureus adherence was increased following the preincubationof mesothelial cell monolayers with interleukin-1 and was maximalafter 6 h preincubation. Treating mesothelial cells with interferon-gammafor 48–72 h reduced the adherence of S. aureus.     

Altered angiotensin-II receptors in human hepatocellular and hepatic metastatic colon cancers.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize angiotensin-II receptor density and affinity in normal and cirrhotic livers and in hepatocellular and metastatic colorectal cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Several studies have indicated a possible beneficial effect of angiotensin-II as a biologic response modifier in the treatment of hepatic or metastatic colon cancer. This is based on evidence that angiotensin-II will cause a selective increase in arterial vasoconstriction in normal liver compared with tumor. METHODS: Human hepatoma (5), metastatic colon (10), or cirrhotic (3) liver was obtained. Non-tumor-bearing regions served as normal liver. Angiotensin-II receptor binding was determined on membranes with 125I-angiotensin-II and in situ studies were performed using the biotin-avidin detection system. RESULTS: Angiotensin-II receptor density was markedly down-regulated in tumor compared with normal or cirrhotic liver. CONCLUSIONS: A loss of angiotensin-II receptors occurs on the neovasculature of hepatic tumors.     

Development of cranial flexure and Rathke's pouch in the chick embryo

Experiments were done to investigate the cause of the cranial (mesencephalic) flexure of the chick brain during stages 10 to 14. Measurements of the length and thickness of the roof and floor of the mesencephalon gave values similar to the values obtained previously by others. The labeling index was determined in the roof and floor of the prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon as a preliminary measure of cell division. The labeling index was about the same in all regions, and was high enough to suggest that most of the cells were dividing. The labeling indices did not suggest that differential growth was caused by differential rates of cell division in the roof and floor of the mesencephalon. It was found through time lapse photography that the foregut and heart remained stationary along the rostrocaudal axis, whereas the prosencephalon moved rostrally and the mesencephalon underwent flexure. Measurements suggested that the neural tube cranial to the otic primordium grew in volume exponentially at a rate consistent with the labeling index. The rostral tip of the neural tube was observed to be linked to the rostral tip of the foregut by the ectoderm that formed Rathke's pouch at the neural tube and the pharyngeal membrane (prospective stomodeum) at the foregut. As the neural tube grew in length, the link between the neural tube and the foregut did not. We suggest that because of this link, the growing neural tube had to bend around the foregut, forming the cranial flexure, and the ectoderm folded where it attached to the prosencephalon, forming Rathke's pouch. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS ENCEPHALITIS: PROBLEMS IN DIAGNOSIS

Six children aged 13 days to nine years with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) are presented. Institution of appropriate antiviral treatment was later than six days in three cases; original diagnosis in these cases were post-traumatic epilepsy, bacterial meningitis and febrile convulsion. Initially pyrexia was absent in two cases and cranial CT was normal in two cases. Encephalitic changes were observed on the EEGs of five children. Diagnosis was confirmed by paired serological titres, brain biopsy, vesicle culture and CSF titres. The outcome for all six children was poor. HSE should always be considered in children presenting with focal seizures, even when apyrexial and with normal CT findings. In such situations, saving CSF for antibody titres or antigen identification should be routine practice. Treatment with acyclovir is justified before precise virological diagnosis has been established.     

The effects of norepinephrine transporter inactivation on locomotor activity in mice.

BACKGROUND: Acute administration of different classes of antidepressants can enhance or reduce spontaneous locomotor activity in a novel environment, but the effects of chronic antidepressant treatment on spontaneous locomotor activity in novel and familiar environments are less well characterized. Because norepinephrine is an important regulator of spontaneous locomotor activity, we speculated that norepinephrine transporter blockade contributes to the effects of some antidepressants on spontaneous locomotor activity. METHODS: Antidepressant drugs (reboxetine, desipramine, imipramine, venlafaxine, bupropion) were administered acutely (intraperitoneal) or chronically (via osmotic minipump) to control and norepinephrine transporter knockout mice, and spontaneous locomotor activity in novel or familiar environments was recorded. RESULTS: Acute treatment with most norepinephrine transporter-blocking antidepressants decreased spontaneous locomotor activity in a novel environment, whereas chronic treatment decreased spontaneous locomotor activity in both novel and familiar environments. The exception was bupropion, a dual norepinephrine transporter/dopamine transporter blocker, which tended to increase spontaneous locomotor activity. Coadministration of reboxetine and the dopamine transporter blocker GBR 12909 also increased spontaneous locomotor activity. Norepinephrine transporter knockout mice had low basal spontaneous locomotor activity, which was increased by bupropion, whereas reboxetine had no effect in norepinephrine transporter knockout mice. CONCLUSIONS: Acute or chronic inactivation of the norepinephrine transporter decreases spontaneous locomotor activity in novel and familiar environments unless coupled with dopamine transporter blockade.     

Is there an association between self-reported warm-up behaviour and golf related injury in female golfers?

Golfing injuries have been shown to occur frequently, and injury countermeasures have been suggested to help reduce injury risk. Performing an appropriate warm-up is thought to reduce injury risk, however there is a lack of evidence to support this notion. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the relationships between warm-up participation and injury in a cohort of female golfers. A total of 522 golfers participating in the Victorian Women's Pennant Competition completed the study. Over one-third (35.2%) of the golfers reported having sustained a golfing injury within the previous 12 months, with the lower back the most commonly injured region. Most golfers reported not warming-up prior to play or practice. Golfers who reported not warming-up on a regular basis were more likely to have reported a golfing injury in the previous 12 months than those reporting frequent warm-up participation (OR=45.2; 95% CI: 13.5, 151.7). Less skilled golfers were also less likely to report sustaining a golfing injury than more skilled golfers (OR=0.2; 95% CI: 0.1, 0.5). This study is one of the few to establish an association between warm-up participation and injury. Further prospective studies are warranted to determine whether warm-up reduces injury risk for golf participation.     

Early Intervention for Trauma: Current Status and Future Directions

Although psychological debriefing (PD) represents the most common form of early intervention for recently traumatized people, there is little evidence supporting its continued use with individuals who experience severe trauma. This review identifies the core issues in early intervention that need to be addressed in resolving the debate over PD. It critiques the available evidence for PD and the early provision of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Based on available evidence, we propose that psychological first aid is an appropriate initial intervention, but that it does not serve a therapeutic or preventive function. When feasible, initial screening is required so that preventive interventions can be used for those individuals who may have difficulty recovering on their own. Evidence-based CBT approaches are indicated for people who are at risk of developing posttraumatic psychopathology. Guidelines for managing acutely traumatized people are suggested and standards are proposed to direct future research that may advance our understanding of the role of early intervention in facilitating adaptation to trauma.