Racial trends in syphilis among men with same-sex partners in Atlanta, Georgia.

Early syphilis cases attributable to homosexual transmission declined in DeKalb County, Georgia, from 191 in 1981 to 97 in 1985. This decline occurred only among White men with same sex partners (SSP); early syphilis among Black men with same sex partners has risen. This pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that changes in sexual behavior instituted by White men at risk of acquiring HTLV-III/LAV infection may have resulted in decreased incidence of early syphilis among those men.     

Effects of mercury on larval and adult grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio)

Tolerance to mercury in two populations of the grass shrimpPalaemonetes pugio was examined at different stages of this animal's life cycle. One population came from a mercury-contaminated creek, Piles Creek (PC), near industrialized Linden, New Jersey. The other population came from a relatively clean area, Big Sheepshead Creek (BSC), near non-industrialized Tuckerton, New Jersey. Larval grass shrimp showed no significant difference between populations in terms of mortality in 0.01 mg/L HgCl₂, although treated BSC larvae metamorphosed significantly (P < 0.05) more slowly than their respective control group. While no BSC larvae survived the 0.0125 mg/L methylmercuric chloride (meHg) treatment, PC larvae exposed to 0.0125 mg/L meHg survived as well as their controls, indicating enhanced tolerance to meHg in this population.Adult shrimp were exposed for 14 days to control, 0.025 mg/L meHg, 0.025 mg/L HgCl₂, 0.05 mg/L meHg, or 0.05 mg/L HgCl₂ PC shrimp were significantly (P < 0.05) more tolerant to both 0.025 mg/L meHg, and 0.025 mg/L HgCl₂ than were the BSC adults.Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggests that both populations of shrimp are capable of producing a metallothionein like protein (MT) in response to treatment with HgCl₂; MT is found in higher levels in field-caught PC shrimp than in field-caught BSC shrimp. MT was not present in field-collected, viable eggs from either population.     

Indomethacin increases the effect of isosorbide dinitrate on cerebral hemodynamic in migraine patients: pathogenetic and therapeutic implications

Intracerebral vascular reactivity induced by the nitric oxide (NO) donor isosorbide dinitrate (IDN, 5 mg sublingually) is more major and longer-lasting in migraine patients who develop delayed headache in response to the drug. The headache is purportedly due to neuronally-mediated vascular mechanisms. Indomethacin inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, which is involved in NO generation. Indomethacin also decreases cerebral blood flow by constricting precapillary resistance vessels. In the present study, the hemodynamic effects of indomethacin were evaluated in migraine patients and healthy controls by means of transcranial Doppler monitoring. Indomethacin caused a significant decrease in mean flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery. This was an additional effect to the mean velocity decrease induced by IDN. The interactions between the two drugs suggest that their effects on cerebral hemodynamics (and pain) may be of relevance both in understanding the role of NO in migraine pathogenesis and in evaluating symptomatic treatments for migraine attacks.     

Xp Microdeletion Syndrome Characterized by Pathognomonic Linear Skin Defects on the Head and Neck

Abstract: We describe a new case of a rare syndrome characterized by ocular abnormalities and pathognomonic linear skin defects. This syndrome is the result of an unbalanced translocation resulting in a deletion of the distal end of the short arm of the X chromosome. We report the thirteenth case and review the clinical and cytogenetic aspects of this disorder. In addition we discuss new findings pertaining to the histopathology of the skin lesions.     

The choice of weapons in firearm suicides.

We report on the firearms used in 235 suicides in Sacramento County, California, during 1983-85. Handguns were used in 69 per cent of firearm suicides--65 per cent for males, 88 per cent for females--and in all such deaths among women ages 35 and older. We tested the hypothesis that the choice of firearms by persons committing suicide at home would passively reflect the reported prevalence of firearms by type in households in the region. Handguns were used more frequently (rate ratio 2.00; 95% CI = 1.68, 2.39), and rifles and shotguns less frequently than expected.     

Total Parathyroidectomy With Autotransplantation in Haemodialysed Patients With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism--Should It Be Abandoned?

The development of secondary hyperparathyroidism is almost universalin patients with end-stage renal disease. Medical managementfrequently fails and in such circumstances parathyroidectomybecomes a necessity. Total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantationof parathyroid tissue into the patient's forearm has been advocatedas the surgical procedure of choice. In a previous publicationwe reported our experience with this technique in six haemodialysedpatients. We now extend our follow-up to 19 patients over anobservation period ranging from 6 to 66 months. Five of thesepatients required graft removal because of recurrent secondaryhyperparathyroidism. Despite total graft removal, two patientshad clinical and laboratory evidence of persistent hyperparathyroidism.Histology of the removed graft tissue demonstrated severe hyperplasiaas well as invasion of adjacent muscle, adipose tissue, andvascular channels by parathyroid cells. This raises the possibilityof local and distant metastatic spread of parathyroid tissueresulting in hyperparathyroidism. We suggest that parathyroidautotransplantation is potentially hazardous and should in factbe abandoned.     

Endotracheal suctioning causes right upper lobe collapse in intubated children

Objective: Right upper lobe collapse is a common radiographic finding in intubated children. We hypothesized that deep suctioning and uncontrolled negative pressures during endotracheal tube suctioning were significant contributory factors. Methods : The incidence of right upper lobe (RUL) collapse in intubated, ventilated children on a paediatric cardiac intensive care unit was determined over a 3-month period ( n = 102). Graduated suction catheters and suction vacuums of < 165 cm H₂O were then introduced. Another prospective audit was carried out 3 months later ( n = 60). Results : We found that 24% developed RUL collapse and 4 developed an apical pneumothorax. Following the introduction of graduated catheters and controlled vacuums pressures, a significant reduction in the incidence of RUL collapse, to 7%, was observed ( p < 0.05). Conclusions : We conclude that high negative pressure and deep-suctioning causes RUL collapse in children. Any lobar collapse not only prolongs the child's stay in intensive care, but can be associated with further morbidity which may have a serious implication. By improving suctioning technique this morbidity can be significantly reduced.     

Chaperonin-mediated assembly of wild-type and mutant subunits of human propionyl-CoA carboxylase expressed in Escherichia coli

We developed a bacterial expression system for the human alpha and beta cDNAs of propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC). These cDNAs (less the putative mitochondrial matrix targeting presequences) were co-expressed in Escherichia coli on one plasmid vector with each cDNA having its own IPTG-inducible promoter. Only negligible amounts of active PCC were measured despite the presence of both alpha and beta subunits as indicated by Western blot analysis and the almost complete biotinylation of the alpha subunit. Co-expression of this plasmid with a second plasmid vector over-expressing the E. coli chaperonin proteins, groES and groEL, resulted in a several hundred-fold increase in PCC specific activity, to a level comparable with that found in crude human liver extracts. PCC was partially purified on monomeric avidin affinity resin and the presence of both alpha and beta subunits was demonstrated, thereby confirming the assembly of both subunits into an active enzyme. Deficiency of either alpha PCC or beta PCC results in propionic acidemia, an autosomal recessive disorder. We used this expression system to characterize one missense mutation previously described in five Japanese alleles, namely C1283T (Thr428lle) in beta PCC. This mutation, when expressed in E.coli under the same conditions as that of wild-type PCC, had null activity, despite the presence of assembled alpha PCC and beta PCC subunits. This bacterial expression system can be useful for analysis of either alpha PCC or beta PCC mutations. Our findings indicated that the groES and groEL chaperonin proteins were essential for folding and assembly of the human PCC heteromeric subunits.      

Human recombinant neutralizing antibodies against hantaan virus G2 protein

Old world hantaviruses, causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), still present a public health problem in Asia and Eastern Europe. The majority of cases has been recorded in China. The aim of our study was to generate human recombinant neutralizing antibodies to a hantavirus by phage display technology. To preserve the structural identity of viral protein, the panning procedure was performed on native Hantaan (HTN) (76-118) virus propagated in Vero-E6 cells. In total, five complete human recombinant IgG antibodies were produced in a baculovirus expression system. All of them were able to completely neutralize HTN, and Seoul (SEO) virus in a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Three of these antibodies could also completely neutralize Dobrava (DOB) virus but not Puumala (PUU) virus. All antibodies bind to Hantaan virus G2 protein localized in the virus envelope. The sequence areas within the HTN (76-118)-G2 protein detected by five selected antibodies were mapped using peptide scans. Two partial epitopes, 916-KVMATIDSF-924 and 954-LVTKDIDFD-963, were recognized, which presumably are of paramount importance for docking of the virus to host cell receptors. A consensus motif 916-KVXATIXSF-924 could be identified by mutational analysis. The neutralizing antibodies to the most widely distributed hantaviruses causing HFRS might be promising candidates for the development of an agent for prevention and treatment of HFRS in patients.