Midtrimester Amniotic Fluid Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Does Not Predict Small-for-Gestational-Age Infants

PROBLEM: To evaluate the independent ability of midtrimester amniotic fluid tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the prediction of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. METHOD OF STUDY: In this case-control study, patients delivering a SGA infant were matched with controls based on GA at delivery, maternal age, race, and parity. Patients with immune disease, chronic hypertension, diabetes, asthma, congenital hearts disease, multiple gestation, and fetal anomalies were excluded. Amniotic fluid samples were immunoassayed for TNF-α. Potential confounding variables evaluated were maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein level, smoking history, pregnancy induced hypertension, and neonatal gender. Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test and ANOVA after log transformation with P < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Eighteen patients delivered SGA neonates and were matched with 41 controls. No significant differences were identified in the confounding variables between patients with SGA neonates and controls. Amniotic fluid TNF-α levels were not significantly different between patients subsequently delivering SGA neonates and controls [median 7.63 (range 0.25-16.1) pg/mL versus 9.39 (0.25–66.9) pg/mL, P = 0.8]. CONCLUSIONS: Midtrimester amniotic fluid TNF-α levels are not predictive of SGA neonates when compared with controls matched for gestational age at delivery.     

A scale for estimating the health status of opioid users

The health status of injecting drug users has both clinical and research relevance. In order to evaluate the impact of treatments for opiate dependence on drug users' health status we need valid and reliable instruments which are short and easily administered by non-medical personnel. This paper describes the construction of a brief interviewer administered scale for assessing the current health status of injecting drug users. Data evaluating its reliability and validity are presented which indicate that the scale has excellent psychometric properties.     

Implication of Prostaglandin E2 in Soluble Factor-Mediated Immune Suppression by Murine Decidual Cells

ABSTRACT: Cells from the uteri of pregnant mice mediate profound nonantigen-specific and nonmajor histocompatibility complex-restricted immune suppression in vitro. In part, those cells accomplish suppression by releasing soluble suppressor factors. The purpose of the present study was to initiate identification of uterine cell suppressor factors. Immune suppression was assayed by the effect of decidual cells or in vitro generated supernatants of decidual cells on mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR). The following findings support the designation of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) as a primary suppressor molecule originating with decidual cells: (1) Suppression mediated by supernatants of decidual cells was relieved by removal of lipids but not proteins; (2) indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, produced partial relief of suppression mediated by uterine cells and totally inhibited soluble suppressor factor generation by those cells; (3) decidual cells produced high levels of both PGE₂ and PGF_2a; (4) the addition of exogenous PGE₂ at levels comparable to those found in the decidual cell supernatants restored suppression by decidual cells and their supernatants whereas the addition of PGF_2a had no effect; (5) inhibition of the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonate metabolism had no effect on cell or supernatant mediated suppression; (6) nonspecific suppressor mechanisms, such as arginine depletion and peroxide generation, were excluded as possible mediators of MLR suppression by decidual cells and their supernatants. Fractionation of decidual cells revealed at least three indomethacin-sensitive cell types: small, lymphocytelike cells, macrophages, and a third population of large decidual cells that was not identified by specific markers. The data strongly suggest that prostaglandins, primarily PGE₂, are involved in immunosuppression by cells from the uteri of pregnant mice.     

Motivational Factors Associated with the Use of Cannabis (Marihuana)

There is little data to indicate what factors are associated with the continuing use of the mildly toxic drug, cannabis. The present study attempts to delineate some of the reinforcing properties of the drug that supports its habitual use. Physiological responses of subjects, who had used the drug for at least 5 years, were obtained before and after the use of cannabis. The results are consistent with the interpretation of cannabis as an anti-anxiety agent and that the motivational factors associated with habitual use are related to anxiety reduction.     

The Ambient Lens

ABSTRACT While being worn on the eye, hydrogel contact lenses rarely maintain the water levels stated on their vial labels. The effects of dehydration on oxygen passage through a high and intermediate lens material is described and related to the “real world” levels of saturation which the lens maintains on the eye.