Testicular self-examination (TSE) among Dutch young men aged 15-19: determinants of the intention to practice TSE

The present study analyzed what determinants are important to describe and explain the intention of testicular self-examination (TSE) for young men aged 15-19 attending senior high school (response rate 80%, n = 274). The questionnaire assessed determinants, including knowledge, attitude (positive and negative consequences, anticipated regret, and moral obligation), social influence (social norm, social support and modeling) and self-efficacy. Knowledge of testicular cancer and TSE was very low. Only 2% of the subjects reported regularly performing TSE. After hearing of TSE (through the questionnaire), 41% of all young men had a positive intention to start performing TSE regularly. The various intention groups (positive, neutral and negative) differed significantly on almost all of the determinants. Multiple regression analysis showed that young men who where anxious about TSE and those who were not anxious had different determinants explaining the variance in the intention to perform TSE regularly (R2 = 41-57%). Differences in determinants of intention between young men who are anxious about TSE and young men who are not can be used to design health education interventions that may therefore be more effective for these different subgroups.     

Corneal astigmatism as a special complication after lid-loading in patients with lagophthalmos

Lid-loading with precious metals, described by Illig in 1958, has become increasingly important. because of its good functional and cosmetic results this method is superior to tarsorrhaphy. Furthermore, lid-loading can be combined with additional surgical techniques to achieve more dynamic lid-closure. In a prospective study we examined the results after lid-loading and discuss postoperative changes of the cornea. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 1994 and June 1998, 36 patients with peripheral facial paresis and lagophthalmos were treated with a pretarsally fixed upper-lid implant. We used 99.99% gold for the implants with a weight of 1.5 g on average. RESULTS: In all cases we obtained sufficient postoperative lid closure which resulted in a statistically significant reduction in lagophthalmos and improved keratopathy. Postoperative complications were: pseudoptosis, remaining lagophthalmos, bulge, extrusion, migration and corneal astigmatism. Depending on the implant pressure, an astigmatism of 1-2 D developed in the vertical meridian. In all cases the initial visual acuity was reached by an ordination of cylindrical glasses. CONCLUSIONS: So far, corneal astigmatism as a complication after lid-loading has not received much attention in the literature. In our opinion, the development of astigmatism is caused by implants that are too heavy, an incorrect implant radius and individual cofactors (consistency of lid and cornea). There has been no need for an explantation in any case.     

A histopathological study on alterations in DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats with 50 Hz, 100 {micro}T magnetic field exposure

Several epidemiological studies have indicated that residentialor occupational exposure to 50 or 60 Hz magnetic fields (MF)may increase the risk of breast cancer, possibly by suppressionof pineal production of the oncostatic hormone melatonin. Inview of the methodo logical problems of epidemiological studieson MIF exposure and cancer risk, laboratory studies are neededto determine whether 50/60 Hi exposure can initiate, promoteor co promote mammary cancer. In the present study, 216 femaleSprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Two of thegroups (with 99 animals each) received oral applica tions of7,12-dimethylbenz (DMBA) and were either sham-exposed or exposedin a 50 Hz, 100 µT ME for 24 h/day 7 days/week for a periodof 91 days. The other two groups (nine animals each) were eithershamexposed or MF-exposed without DMBA treatment. The exposurechambers and all other environmental factors were identicalfor ME-exposed and sham-exposed animals. At the end of the 3month period of ME exposure, all rats were used for histopathologicaldiagnosis of lesions. At the time of necropsy, significantlymore MF-exposed DMBA-treated rats exhibited macroscopicallyvisible mammary tumours than DMBA-treated controls. Furthermore,the size of mammary tumours was significantly larger in MF-exposedrats. Histopathological examination of the mammary gland showedthat the number of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions didnot significantly differ between groups, indicating that MEexposure had not altered the incidence of mammary lesions buthad only accelerated tumour growth, consistent with a co-promotingeffect. In the MF-exposed group, significantly more rats exhibitedmalignant mammary tumours than in controls, indicating thatME exposure had affected the progression of DMBA Induced lesions.The number of metastases of mammary tumours or of primary lesionsin other organs in response to DMBA was not affected by ME exposure.In rats without DMBA application, no non-neoplastic or neoplasticlesions were determined. The data demonstrate that long-termexposure of DMBA-treated female rats promotes the growth andprogression of mammary tumours, while tumour incidence is notaffected, at least under the experimental conditions of thepresent study. The data thus add to the accumulating evidencethat MF exposure exerts tumour co-promoting effects.     

Effects of chronic application of propranolol on β-adrenergic signal transduction in heart ventricles from myopathic BIO TO2 and control hamsters

1. In human congestive heart failure β-adrenoceptor antagonists improve exercise tolerance and cardiac contractility. These beneficial effects are thought to reflect an up-regulation of cardiac β-adrenoceptors, involving mainly the β₁-subtype. In the present study we evaluated the functional contribution of β-adrenoceptor subtypes to stimulation of adenylyl cyclase in an animal model of dilated cardiomyopathy, and compared the effects of treatment with propranolol on cardiac β-adrenergic signal transduction in myopathic and control hamsters.
2. Cardiomyopathic BIO TO2 hamsters and BIO F1B controls aged 270 days were used. In the treatment study, hamsters received drinking water with or without propranolol 40 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ for 4 weeks prior to sacrifice. Density and subtype distribution of β-adrenoceptors were determined in radioligand binding studies. Functional contributions of β-adrenoceptors were evaluated by subtype-selective stimulation of adenylyl cyclase. Cardiac G-protein content was determined by immunoblotting.
3. Compared to BIO F1B controls, myopathic hamsters showed increases in cardiac total β- and β₂-adrenoceptor density, G_sα and G_iα content. In BIO TO2 ventricles, β₁-adrenoceptors were almost completely uncoupled from adenylyl cyclase stimulation despite an unchanged density. Treatment of hamsters with propranolol resulted in increased density of β₁-adrenoceptors in both strains, but had no effect on their functional efficacy. Moreover, β₂-adrenergic stimulation of adenylyl cyclase was even reduced in propranolol-treated animals, which could not be explained by changes in cardiac G-protein content.
4. Cardiomyopathic BIO TO2 hamsters showed functional uncoupling of cardiac β₁-adrenoceptors, which could not be normalized by propranolol and, therefore, is unlikely to be solely due to agonist-dependent desensitization. The paradoxical reduction in β₂-adrenergic efficiency in propranolol-treated myopathic and control hamsters deserves further investigation.

     

Monitorbeurteilung digitalisierter und nachbearbeiteter Feldkontrollaufnahmen im Vergleich zu konventionellen Feldkontrollaufnahmen am Röntgenschaukasten

Purpose

Judgement of image quality and detail recognition of digitized and post-processed portal films presented on a computer monitor compared to the present standard, conventional portal films presented on a light-box.

Material and Methods

Conventional portal films of 3 different tumor sites (10 pelvis, 10 cranium, 10 vertebral column) were presented to a panel of 8 observers in 3 different manners: conventional film presented on a light-box (Conv), digitized non-post-processed images (Dig-1) and digitized post-processed images (Dig-2) presented on a high-resolution computer monitor. Subjective judgement of image quality, detail recognition and time requirement of conventional films compared to monitor presentation were evaluated using a 5-scaled questionnaire (from 1=much better to 5=much worse). Furthermore the observers had to point out predefined anatomical bony structures on the conventional films (Conv) as well as on the digitized post-processed images (Dig-2). Standard deviations of the landmarks outlined by 10 different observers were used as a criterion of objective detail recognition (Figure 1).

Results

Image quality of digitized post-processed images presented on the computer monitor was judged statistical significant better than of conventional films (pelvis 78%, vertebral column 62%, cranium 45% better) (Figure 3). Similar results were found for comparison of detail recognition: digitized post-processed images were scored better for pelvis in 81%, for vertebral column in 57%, for cranium in 40% (Figure 4, Table 1). Most benefit from portal film enhancement was found for pelvic images, where portal films are known to be of poor image quality (Figure 2). In contrast image quality of non-processed digital images compared to conventional films was graded worse (pelvis 69%, vertebral column 53%, cranium 71% worse) (Figure 4). Digital post-processed images were especially for the pelvis judged to require less time (pelvis 68%, vertebral column 26%, cranium 8% less time requirement) (Figure 5). For the pelvis a statistical significant decrease of standard deviations was found for Dig-2 compared to conventional films, indicating an objective increase of image quality and detail recognition (Table 2). In case of vertebral column and cranium no significant differences were evaluated (Table 3).

Conclusions

Digitized enhanced portal films presented on a computer monitor resulted in a quicker assessment and equal to better image quality as well as detail recognition compared to conventional films. Non-processed digitized images were judged to be of less image quality.     

Biochemical studies on structural and nonstructural proteins of the African green monkey B-lymphotropic papovavirus (LPV)

African green monkey (AGM) B-lymphotropic papovavirus (LPV) particles were separated from infected B-lymphoma BJA-B cells by neuraminidase and deoxycholate treatment and were further purified twice by CsCl density centrifugation. The SDS-PAGE analysis of virus particles banding at a density of 1.3510 g/ml and radioactively labeled by 125I revealed a major polypeptide of 40,000 and two minor polypeptides of 42,000 and 29,000. In addition, in infected BJA-B cells, all three viral structural polypeptides could be identified by immunoprecipitation. A nonstructural phosphopolypeptide of approximately 90,000 MW could be detected when sera against SDS-denatured SV40 T antigen or an AGM serum pool were used for immunoprecipitation. It is suggested that the 90K polypeptide of LPV represents an equivalent to T antigens of other papovaviruses.     

Saccharide Polymers, 5

Summary: New “saccharide polymers” were synthesized via free radical polymerization. The saccharide compounds in copolymerisation reactions were 2,4,6‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐3‐deoxy‐D ‐erythro‐hex‐2‐enono‐1,5‐lactone ( 1 ), (Ac‐GEL 1 ) and 2,4,6‐tri‐O‐benzoyl‐3‐deoxy‐D ‐erythro‐hex‐2‐enono‐1,5‐lactone ( 2 ), (Bz‐GEL 2 ). These sugar monomers are easily obtained with high yield in a one step reaction from glucono‐δ‐lactone. They have a pyranoid structure containing an endocyclic double bond and they are electron acceptor compounds. Copolymerization reactions were carried out in solution and in substance. Copolymers with different sugar contents and low as well as high molecular weights were obtained. The structures and the compositions of the soluble saccharide polymers were established by elemental analysis, polarimetry, FTIR spectroscopy, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Some characteristic properties, e.g., molecular weight, optical rotation and copolymerization parameters are reported.

Schematic conversion of glucono‐δ‐lactone to saccharide monomers.     

Effects of long-term changes in medullary osmolality on heat shock proteins HSp25, hsp60, HSP72 and HSP73 in the rat kidney

 The influence of diuresis and antidiuresis on the expression of heat shock proteins (HSP) 25, 60, 72 and 73 in the renal cortex and outer and inner medulla of Wistar rats was analysed. Medullary osmolality was reduced by long-term diuresis (3% sucrose in the drinking water for 3 weeks) and subsequently enhanced by transition to a concentrating state by giving normal drinking water again in combination with deamino-D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP) for 5 days. Western blot analyses revealed that neither HSP73 nor HSP60 was influenced by any treatment. The HSP72 level in the medulla was markedly reduced (50%) when osmolality was lowered and increased when tonicity was high. RNAse protection assays showed that the effects on HSP72 are parallelled in general by changes in HSP72 mRNA. While levels of HSP25 were not influenced, isoelectric focusing revealed that the degree of phosphorylation of outer and inner medullary HSP25 increased following both treatments. It thus seems that HSP73 and HSP60 are not directly involved in the long-term adaptation to varying medullary osmolalities. The correlation between changes in osmolality and amounts of the major stress-inducible HSP72 in the medulla implies that medullary hypertonicity is stressful for kidney cells. Furthermore, adaptation to pronounced changes in the osmolality of the environment most likely involves phosphorylation of HSP25. Received: 16 September 1997 / Received after revision and accepted: 9 December 1997     

Cloned mitochondrial DNA from the zygomycete Absidia glauca promotes autonomous replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary We have cloned fragments from mitochondrial and chromosomal DNA of the zygomycete Absidia glauca in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using the ARS selection vector YIp5. Though it has not been possible to select ARS elements from chromosomal DNA, we succeeded in isolating two clones of mitochondrial origin that support autonomous replication in bakers' yeast. DNA from these plasmids has been shown to hybridize with mitochondrial DNA from both mating types. Generation times of the transformed yeast strain in selective medium are around 20 h. In liquid minimal medium only 6% of the cells contain the plasmid; in complete medium a mitotic stability of 50% has been determined.