Evidence of melanogenesis in porcine retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro

Several weeks after porcine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell cultures attain confluence, macroscopically visible brown foci appear. The cuboidal cells that form the foci contain numerous phase dark granules that do not exhibit the autofluorescence characteristic of lipofuscin. The data described here indicate that the granules are melanosomes. Electron microscopy revealed three types of electron-dense granules in these cells: simple spheres 0.3-0.5 microns in diameter, large spheres 1-2 microns in diameter, and lysosomal aggregations of the smaller spheres. The matrix of both spheres is composed of 40-nm microvesicles that were also found free in the cytoplasm and aggregated within vacuolar structures. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of RPE cells and their media detected melanogens, i.e. intermediates of melanin biosynthesis, including several indole derivatives. The porcine RPE cultures therefore may be a useful system for studying melanogenic regulation.     

Pharmacokinetics, hepatic biotransformation and biliary and urinary excretion of bromosulfophthalein (BSP) in an experimental liver disease mimicking biliary cirrhosis

We studied the hepatic handling of bromosulfophthalein in healthy rabbits with hepatic coccidiosis 28 days after an experimental infection with sporulated oocysts of Eimeria stiedai, an experimental model of liver disease histopathologically resembling primary biliary cirrhosis in man. A pharmacokinetic study of the results was performed following a multicompartmental model with 7 transfer constants to describe the physiological disposition of the dye. The study showed that the plasma disappearance, distribution volume (Vi), hepatic biotransformation and the biliary and urinary elimination of conjugated (BSPc) and unconjugated (BSPu) bromosulfophthalein were markedly altered. Whereas Vi and urinary excretion of the dye were significantly increased, the hepatic clearance, biotransformation and biliary excretion of BSPc and BSPu were drastically reduced in infected rabbits. Satisfactory agreement was obtained between the experimental and estimated data, particularly those relating to biotransformation clearance and biliary and urinary excretion of the dye. These results demonstrate that severe liver disease in rabbits with histopathological liver alterations resembling several hepatic dysfunctions in man markedly reduce hepatic uptake, metabolism and biliary excretion of a xenobiotic such as BSP.     

New Jersey School Nurses' Perceptions of School-Based, Prenatal Nutrition Education

ABSTRACT: This study used formative evaluation to identify channels and barriers to providing ongoing dietary guidance to pregnant teens in New Jersey. In phase one, 14 health and social service professionals participated in a focus group or interview about nutrition services for pregnant teens. Participants identified school nurses as potential providers of early and continuous dietary counseling to pregnant teen-agers, but delineated barriers to establishment and effectiveness of school-based, prenatal nutrition education. In phase two, school nurses were surveyed to assess their interest in, and perceptions of barriers to, providing nutrition education to pregnant adolescents. Two-hundred fifty-three nurses (71%) returned completed questionnaires. Results indicated that a significant proportion perceived a need for, and were interested in providing, nutrition education to pregnant students. Results from this formative research are being used to guide development of a school-based nutrition education program for pregnant teen-agers in New Jersey.     

Multicentre hospital drug utilization study on the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism. The Venous Thromboembolism Study Group of the Spanish Society of Clinical Pharmacology.

1. Thromboembolic disease (TED) is an important cause of in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Although different prophylactic approaches have been shown to be effective and cost-effective, surveys have suggested that they are underused. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of use of TED prophylaxis in our hospitals. 2. All patients admitted on a specified day to the Internal Medicine and General Surgery wards of seven Spanish university hospitals were included in the study. They were identified cross-sectionally and followed up until discharge or for 15 days. Information about the following variables was collected: risk factors for venous thromboembolism, prophylactic measures used (if any), contraindications to the use of each specific drug or other prophylactic measure, and dosage schedule of the drug used, if any. 3. Nine hundred and thirty-nine patients (53% men) were studied. The most common risk factors for venous thromboembolism were: age > or = 40 years (802; 85%), major surgery (298; 32%), immobilization > or = 6 days (285; 30%), obesity (241; 26%), and cancer (202; 22%). 4. Prophylactic measures were used in 320 patients (34%). Of these, 297 (93%) received heparin, mainly as low molecular weight heparins (248, 78%); physical measures were rarely used. 5. Five hundred and eighty-three patients (62%) fulfilled criteria for moderate or high risk of venous thromboembolism; only 275 (47%) of them received any form of prophylaxis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A case of mosaic trisomy 2 diagnosed at amniocentesis in an abnormal fetus and confirmed in multiple fetal tissues

Pseudomosaicism for trisomy 2 is a relatively common finding at amniocentesis. However, genuine trisomy 2 mosaicism is extremely rare. As a result, very few cases have been described and little information is available with which to counsel the parents of an affected fetus. We describe a case of mosaic trisomy 2 diagnosed at amniocentesis in a fetus with multiple anomalies on ultrasound scan. Following termination of pregnancy, the fetus was found to have mild dysmorphic features, together with an absent gall bladder, cystic left kidney, a 13th left rib and mild unilateral talipes. The presence of trisomy 2 cells was confirmed by both standard cytogenetic analysis and fluorescent in-situ hybridisation techniques in multiple fetal tissues, as well as in the cord and placenta.     

Fatty acids in blood and intestine following docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in adults with cystic fibrosis.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on blood and intestinal DHA levels and lung function in mild/moderately affected adult CF patients with the DeltaF508 genotype. BACKGROUND: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients often present with plasma fatty acid levels indicating low levels of linoleic (18:2n-6) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) acids and an increased level of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6). Improved dietary fat intake or reducing fat malabsorption with pancreatic enzymes has failed to normalize this biochemical deficiency of DHA. METHODS: Five CF patients, aged 18-43, received 70 mg of DHA/kg body weight/d for six weeks. At baseline and at six weeks a physical exam, lung function, 3-day dietary intake, duodenal mucosal biopsy and blood sample were assessed. The blood was analyzed for plasma vitamin A, D and E levels, liver function tests, clinical chemistry (CBC, differential and electrolytes). Plasma and red blood cell fatty acid levels were also analyzed. At three weeks, assessment included a physical exam, lung function test and fasting blood sample (vitamin levels, liver function and clinical chemistry only). RESULTS: Pre- and post-measurements were compared for the four subjects who completed the study. An increase in DHA content (% w/w) was observed in all phospholipid fractions of plasma, red blood cell and mucosal samples. No significant differences in vitamin levels, liver function or lung function were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The study proves the concept that an increase in tissue DHA levels in CF patients can be achieved by supplementing for six weeks with 70 mg/kg/d DHA.