ETHANOL AND PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOL REDUCE THE BINDING OF [3H]INOSITOL 1,4,5-TRISPHOSPHATE TO RAT CEREBELLAR MEMBRANES

In this study, we have analysed the effect of ethanol and phosphatidylethanol,a unique phospholipid formed only in the presence of ethanol,on the binding of [³H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate to rat cerebellarmembranes. Rats were intraperitoneally injected daily with 3g of ethanol/kg body weight for different periods of time. Repeatedadministration of ethanol induced a reduction in the bindingcapacity (B_max) without affecting the affinity constant (K_d).A significant 32% reduction was observed after 21 days of exposure(from control B_max values of 25±3 pmol/mg and K_d valuesof 9±2 nM). In an in-vitro assay, phosphatidylethanol(500 µM) and phosphatidic acid (500 µM), but noother phospholipids tested, induced a reduction in B_max (39%and 43%, respectively). The observed effect displayed by phosphatidylethanolwas not due to its degradation to phosphatidic acid or otherphospholipids. The results emphasize the importance of examiningphosphatidylethanol (PEth) as a possible mediator of the effectsof ethanol on cellular processes. However, the role of PEthin the observed effect of long-term ethanol exposure still needsfurther consideration.     

MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY RELATED TO ALCOHOL

To investigate the association between level of alcohol consumptionand mortality and hospital admissions, data from the Swedishtwin registry were utilized. Twins born in 1925 or later respondedto a questionnaire on lifestyle and personality in 1973. A totalof 9057 twins were followed in the national cause of death registerand in hospital discharge registers through 1992. The proportionof deaths attributable to high levels of alcohol consumption,after adjustment for confounding, was 11.3% for men and 9.4%for women. The proportion of hospital admissions attributableto high levels of alcohol consumption was 13.2% for men and1.1% for women. For psychiatric admissions, the correspondingfigures were 28.7% and 7.2% respectively. We conclude that,in this cohort of young and middle aged men and women (ages18–67), a considerable number of productive life yearsare lost due to high alcohol consumption. Furthermore, a considerableproportion of health care consumption is alcohol-related, especiallypsychiatric care.     

Health-state utilities in a general population in relation to age, gender and socioeconomic factors

Background: This study examined health-related quality of lifein a general population in relation to different socioeconomicvariables. Method: The study was cross-sectional and was conductedin Uppsala county, Sweden, which had approximately 290,000 inhabitantsin 1995. The study was based on a self-administered postal questionnairesent to a random sample of 8,000 inhabitants aged 20–84years, with a response rate of 68%. Health-related quality oflife was measured on a 0 (dead) to 1 (full health) cardinalscale by two methods used to measure health-state utilitiesin economic evaluations, i.e. the rating scale method and thetime trade-off method. Results: The mean age was 46 years andapproximately 54% were women. Almost 70% were married or cohabitors.Approxiamtely 33% of the respondents had less than high-schooleducation and 26% had a university degree. The mean income wasSEK 13,000 per month and the proportion unemployed was 4.5%.The proportions of blue-collar workers, white-collar workersand self-employed were 40, 50 and 10% respectively. With therating scale method, the mean health-state utility decreasedfrom 0.86 in the youngest age group (20–29 years) to 0.63(80–years) in the oldest age group and from 0.94 to 0.61with the time trade-off method. Quality of life increased withincome, education and social group and decreased with beingsingle and unemployed. Conclusion: These methods are usefulin assessing health-related quality of life in the general populationand that quality of life varies substantially among differentsodoeconomic groups.     

T and B lymphocytes in contact and atopic dermatitis

Twenty patients with contact dermatitis, eighteen with atopic dermatitis, two with mixed dermatitis, and 20 controls were examined for the number of T and B lymphocytes, and serum concentrations of IgD and IgE. Significantly higher counts of B lymphocytes bearing IgE and high serum IgE values were found in the atopic group. No other significant differences were found. In particular, we found a normal frequency of IgD bearing lymphocytes in contact dermatitis, and normal T lymphocyte counts in both groups of patients.     

The acyl-amino-alkyl benzoic acid residue and the sulfonylurea containing residue of glibenclamide affect different aspects of β-cell function

HB 699 is a non-sulfonylurea acyl-amino-alkyl benzoic acid derivative, corresponding to a major part of the glibenclamide molecule. Basal insulin release (3mmol/1 glucose) as well as glucose-induced release (10 mmol/1 glucose) were stimulated by 25 μmol/1 and 200 μmol/1 HB 699. HB 699 (200 μmol/1) had no effect on the osmotic swelling induced by hypoosmolarity (180 mosm/1). The results indicate that the glibenclamide-induced insulin release can be resolved in a “high-affinity” component, which correlates with increased osmotic resistance in the β-cells and a “low-affinity” component not associated with increased osmotic resistance. It is suggested that the latter component may be due to the part of the glibenclamide molecule that corresponds to HB 699.     

Autonomic Denervation After the Maze Procedure

LÖNNERHOLM, S., et al .: Autonomic Denervation After the Maze Procedure. The Maze III procedure is a surgical operation for curative treatment of AF. The procedure is extensive, however, with multiple incisions in both atria, and its effects on autonomic regulation of the heart rhythm are not known. This study comprises 17 patients, 10 with paroxysmal AF and 7 with chronic AF, who had no concurrent cardiac disease known to affect heart rate variability (HRV). A 24-hour Holter recording was performed preoperatively and 2 months (early) and 7 months (late) after surgery, for analysis of HRV in the time and frequency domains. Early after the Maze procedure all HRV components were markedly reduced compared to baseline (mean ± 1 SD): SDNN   73 ± 13   versus   148 ± 50   (ms), total power   168 ± 126   versus   560 ± 1567   (ms²), low frequency (LF) power   47 ± 67   versus   826 ± 677   (ms²), high frequency (HF) power   47 ± 40   versus   678 ± 666   (ms²), and LF:HF   1.22 ± 0.9   versus   2.55 ± 1.4   . Late after the Maze procedure all variables were still reduced. Only total power increased significantly between early and late follow-up (   168 ± 126   vs   496 ± 435   ms²). Late after Maze surgery, values of the different HRV components did not differ between the patients with paroxysmal AF and chronic AF. Early after the Maze procedure there is a marked decrease of all HRV components, which is maintained 7 months after surgery, a pattern consistent with denervation of the heart. (PACE 2003; 26[Pt. I]:587–592)     

Seminal fluid from men with agenesis of the Wolffian ducts: zinc-binding properties and effects on sperm chromatin stability

Zinc-binding properties were studied in 'prostatic fluid', i.e. in seminal plasma from patients with agenesis of the Wolffian ducts, and in split-ejaculate fractions dominated by seminal vesicular fluid. The effect of seminal fluid, with different zinc-binding properties, on the stability of zinc-dependent sperm chromatin was assessed by exposing sperm to 1% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) for 60 min. Citrate was the only zinc ligand in 'prostatic fluid', as revealed by gel chromatography. Zinc in this fluid enhanced the stability of sperm chromatin. In contrast, the stability of sperm chromatin was decreased in seminal plasma dominated by vesicular fluid. These results are in accordance with the concept that prostatic fluid ensures the appropriate zinc content and stability of sperm chromatin, whereas abundance of vesicular fluid may jeopardize chromatin stability by reducing chromatin zinc content.