Androgen levels and androgenization in sex-reversed (XXSxr pseudomale) mouse: absence of initial segment of epididymis is independent of androgens

The XXSxr pseudomale ("sex-reversed") mouse has an apparently normal male phenotype. This is in accordance with Jost's Principle that, in an animal with androgen-producing testes, phenotype will be fully masculinized, irrespective of chromosomal sex. However, the epididymis of this mutant lacks the Initial Segment. Several alternative explanations were proposed. In the present study we examined the primary of these, viz, androgen insufficiency. We studied androgen levels in serum and tissues of the mutant, and we investigated whether injection of exogenous androgens could induce normal development. The XXSxr pseudomale is not deficient in androgens, nor do exogenous additional androgens induce development of the Initial Segment. It would appear that the abnormal genotype acts on the organ phenotype without intervention of androgens.     

Food intake of institutionalized women over 80 years of age

Food intake of 30 women over 80 years of age and residing in a long-term care facility was determined for a five-day period using the weighed intake method. Purposes of the study were to examine the contribution to nutrient intake of foods from eight major food groups; to characterize intake by time of day; and to examine the effect of age on nutrient intake. The results indicated that intakes of calcium, thiamin, vitamin A, zinc, and protein were below recommended levels. Analysis of intake by food group revealed that the grain group was the primary source of energy and many nutrients. Percentage consumption of foods in this group was significantly higher than that of vegetables or meat and alternates. Analysis of intake by time of day indicated that more energy was consumed at breakfast than at dinner. Advanced age was negatively correlated with overall dietary adequacy, although the distribution of energy intake from the eight food groups did not change with age. Implications of the results, for these subjects and similar groups of elderly, are discussed.     

Interventions to Increase Multivitamin Use Among Women in the Interconception Period: An IMPLICIT Network Study

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Each year, 3% of infants in the Unites States (US) are born with congenital anomalies, including 3000 with neural tube defects. Multivitamins (MVIs) including...     

Structure and expression of the gene for Pv200, a major blood-stage surface antigen of Plasmodium vivax.

Molecular cloning and structure analysis of the gene encoding the Pv200 protein of the Sal-1 strain of Plasmodium vivax revealed an overall identity of 34–37% when the deduced amino acid sequence was compared with the sequences of various major merozoite surface antigens of Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium yoelii and Plasmodium chabaudi. When the Sal-1 Pv200 sequence was compared with the corresponding sequence from the Belèm strain of P. vivax, it was found that the two merozoite surface antigens were relatively well conserved with an overall amino acid sequence identity of 81%. A region of 23 repeated glutamine residues, found in the sequence of the Belèm isolate was not found, however, in the Sal-1 sequence. Amino-and carboxy-terminal domains of the Pv200 protein were expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Each recombinant protein was shown to react with antibodies in sera from splenectomized Bolivian Saimiri monkeys that had been infected previously with P. vivax, and in human sera from individuals with a history of exposure to vivax malaria. The availability of recombinant DNA-derived Pv200 proteins will now allow a full assessment of their utility in the diagnosis and immunoprophylaxis of the benign tertian malaria associated with P. vivax infection.     

Beckman EL-ISE电解质分析仪准确性及故障的分析判断

0 引言为了克服离子选择电极（ISE）法的微量电位信号极易受环境温度变化及电子噪声的干扰问题,该仪器采用了参考电极,把参考电极与其测定电极装在同一测量室内,保持其相同的物理环境,使干扰源对所有电极的影响相同. 以内参液作为参考电极的测量对象,测得一个参考电极电位值,再测样品的电极电位值,二者相抵就消除了所叠加的干扰信号.     

Re‐evaluation of normative electronystagmography data in healthy ageing

Previous work by our group questions the validity of existing electronystagmography ( eng ) reference ranges in the elderly. We aim to establish valid reference ranges for eng in people over 65 on the Nicolet Nystar Plus system. Ninety‐six healthy asymptomatic subjects over 65 underwent eng , including spontaneous and positional nystagmus, saccades, smooth pursuit, optokinetic nystagmus and bithermal calorics; 95% reference ranges with confidence intervals were calculated. The newly determined reference ranges were far wider than those provided by the eng equipment manufacturer for eight out of 11 parameters (all P < 0.001). Vestibular function is known to deteriorate and become more variable with age. The failure to reflect this change in currently used reference ranges may have contributed to the high rates of vestibular disease reported in some series of dizzy elderly patients. Clinical interpretation of eng depends on valid reference ranges.     

心脏直视手术围术期自体血回输335例的监护

0　引言　自体输血是采集患者体内血或回收自体失血,再输回同一患者,献血者与受血者为同一个体,既可以节约临床用血,减少患者费用,更重要是可以避免或减少同种输血传播感染性疾病.我科对335例体外循环心内直视手术患者实行自体血回输,收到较好的社会效益和经济效益.1　临床资料　1998-09/1999-02,我科心脏直视手术共445例,围术期采用自体输血335例,其中先心病226例,瓣膜手术59例,复杂心内畸形37例,冠心病、大血管13例,占同期体外循环心内直视手术75%.患者主要适应证:心脏及大血管外科手术,术前一般情况尚好,无肝、肾、呼吸功能障碍;术前检查…     

Aversive properties of theκ opioid agonist U50,488 in the week-old rat pup

Opioids have been shown to produce analgesia and to be reinforcing during the first week of life in the rat. Opioids also have analgesic actions in both the infant and adult, but can be aversive in the mature animal. We examined the aversive effects of the opioid agonist U50,488 during the first postnatal week in the rat pup in three ways. In the first experiment, U50,488, injected peripherally (1.0–30.0 mg/kg), was paired with an odor and pups were tested 8 h later for positional preference for avoidance of that odor. This task is similar to conditioned preference/aversion tests used with adult animals. Both 3- and 7-day-old pups learned to avoid the odor adulterated side at the two higher doses. When exposed to odors previously associated with U50,488, pups at both ages decreased locomotor activity. In a second experiment, acute treatment with U50,488 increased ultrasonic distress vocalizations (USV) equally at 3 and 7 days of age, increased locomotor activity, and decreased rectal temperature. Neither of the latter two effects was correlated with the increase in USV production. The third experiment showed that conditioned odor cues increased USV 8 h later in 3- and 7-day-old pups at 1.0–10.0 mg/kg without changes in activity or rectal temperature. The results from these studies suggest that U50,488 can produce aversions in the neonatal rat pup as it does in the adult.Supported by U.S.P.H.S. grant DA-06600