Chlamydia Trachomatis Isolation in Women Attending a VD Clinic in Auckland, New Zealand

Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 120 of 504 women (24%) attending a VD clinic at Auckland Hospital. Epidemiological correlates indicated a sexual mode of transmission. The only symptom of significance was lower abdominal pain. Cervicitis was more common in women with chlamydia, especially if they were on hormonal contraceptives. Chlamydia was isolated more commonly in women with gonorrhoea (52%) and genital warts (37%). The high incidence of asymptomatic and unsuspected infection emphasizes the need for routine chlamydial culture in VD clinics.     

Visual experience during cataract surgery: a nation-wide survey on the knowledge of optometry students.

PURPOSE: Many patients experience a variety of visual sensations during cataract surgery under local anaesthesia. Up to 16.2% of patients are frightened by their intraoperative visual experience. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and beliefs of optometry students on this subject. METHODS: A nationwide survey using a standardised, self-administered questionnaire was conducted on all optometry students in Singapore. RESULTS: For cataract surgery under regional anaesthesia, 38.9% of the respondents believed that patients might experience no light perception while 68.5% felt that patients were likely to be able to perceive light. Overall, 70.4% felt that patients might be frightened by their visual experiences and 88.0% believed that preoperative counselling of patients would serve to reduce the fear experienced during the surgery. For cataract surgery under topical anaesthesia, 37.0% of the respondents believed that patients would perceive no light and 74.1% believed that patients would retain light perception. Overall, 67.6% believed that patients may be frightened and 86.1% felt that preoperative counselling would help. CONCLUSION: Many optometry students correctly believed that patients might experience a variety of visual sensations during cataract surgery under local anaesthesia. The majority were also aware that patients might be frightened by this and felt that preoperative counselling would be helpful.     

Effects of protein kinase C activators on phorbol ester-sensitive and - resistant EL4 thymoma cells

Phorbol ester-sensitive EL4 murine thymoma cells respond to phorbol 12- myristate 13-acetate with activation of ERK mitogen-activated protein kinases, synthesis of interleukin-2, and death, whereas phorbol ester- resistant variants of this cell line do not exhibit these responses. Additional aspects of the resistant phenotype were examined, using a newly-established resistant cell line. Phorbol ester induced morphological changes, ERK activation, calcium-dependent activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), interleukin-2 synthesis, and growth inhibition in sensitive but not resistant cells. A series of protein kinase C activators caused membrane translocation of protein kinase C's (PKCs) alpha, eta, and theta in both cell lines. While PKC eta was expressed at higher levels in sensitive than in resistant cells, overexpression of PKC eta did not restore phorbol ester-induced ERK activation to resistant cells. In sensitive cells, PKC activators had similar effects on cell viability and ERK activation, but differed in their abilities to induce JNK activation and interleukin-2 synthesis. PD 098059, an inhibitor of the mitogen activated protein (MAP)/ERK kinase kinase MEK, partially inhibited ERK activation and completely blocked phorbol ester-induced cell death in sensitive cells. Thus MEK and/or ERK activation, but not JNK activation or interleukin-2 synthesis, appears to be required for phorbol ester-induced toxicity. Alterations in phorbol ester response pathways, rather than altered expression of PKC isoforms, appear to confer phorbol ester resistance to EL4 cells.      

Perinatal stimulation and adaptation of the neonate

The present report describes psychobiological studies of behavior around the time of birth. An adaptive, ecological perspective is presented in which stimulation of the fetus and newborn is purported to instigate adaptive postpartum behavior. Studies describing the perinatal sensory environment are reviewed, with a consideration of emergent sensory function of the fetus. It is asserted that afferent input associated with parturition perturbs the fetus and neonate, producing a general arousal state that facilitates breathing, suckling, and early learning. The view developed herein is that perinatal sensory input induces and canalizes the newborn's behavior, thereby regulating adaptive postpartum function. Deviations in afferent input may alter ontogenetic trajectories and compromise developmental outcome by reducing availability of conditions necessary for adequate postpartum adaptation.