The short-term impact of Army smoking policies

A cross-sectional study was performed among soldiers of an infantry battalion to determine smoking prevalence and to assess the short-term impact of Army smoking policies instituted within the preceding 6 months. Data were collected using a structured pretested questionnaire. The response was 91.5%. Smoking prevalence was 45%. This study yielded conflicting data on the effectiveness of the new policies. The importance of educating the smoker on health risks was corroborated. Army health care providers had questioned the majority of the soldiers regarding their smoking status, but failed to suggest they quit or provide suggestions on how to quit.     

Seasonal modification of ovine pineal function. I. Interaction of gonadal steroids and sympathetic innervation on beta-adrenoceptors

The results of a seasonal study of the regulation by steroids of ovine pineal beta-adrenoceptors are reported. The effects of ovariectomy, steroid implants and superior cervical ganglionectomy were investigated in Merino ewes. The results confirm earlier observations showing a seasonal variation in the sensitivity of the receptors to modification by gonadal steroids. A marked difference in receptor density and affinity between the follicular and luteal phases of the estrous cycle is shown for the first time, a difference which can be modified by appropriate steroid-related treatments. A season-dependent antagonism between the sympathetic innervation of the gland (presumably acting via the neurotransmitter noradrenaline) and gonadal steroids in the regulation of ovine pineal beta-adrenoceptor function is also shown.     

The anti-melanoma activity of inulin in mice

Finely divided, insoluble inulin (gamma polymorph), given intraperitoneally (i.p.) to C57BL mice 1-3 days after i.p. B16 melanoma cells, very significantly increased their mean survival time (MST) in low doses (less than or equal to 40 and less than or equal to 100 micrograms/mouse in 50 and 80% of tests, respectively). The gamma inulin was pure and free of endotoxin and soluble inulin, and was developed as a potent reagent specific for activating the alternative pathway of complement (APC). Its antitumour action paralleled its in vitro APC activation, namely, both activities were sharply dose-dependent up to a threshold dose above which they were dose-independent; dissolved inulin was inactive in vitro and in vivo, decreased the MST of the mice and in a mixture antagonized the in vitro and in vivo activities of gamma inulin; the more soluble (alpha) polymorphs were active in proportion to their gamma content but the effects were blocked at higher doses presumably by dissolved inulin. In addition, depletion of host APC with cobra venom factor or inulin before giving B16 cells increased their malignancy and abrogated the subsequent antitumour action of gamma inulin. The minimum i.p. dose of gamma inulin found to activate serum APC in vivo was 50 micrograms (2.5 mg/kg), i.e. close to the minimum antitumour dose. These close correlations and the specificity of the reagent indicate that activation in vivo of the APC (cellular or humoral) is an important first contact in stimulating host antitumour defences in this mouse model.     

Feline calicivirus protein synthesis investigated by Western blotting

Summary We have used Western blotting to examine the accumulation of feline calicivirus proteins within the infected cell. Experiments using elevated growth temperature to block post-translational cleavage have demonstrated two additional high molecular weight protein bands 125 kd and 123 kd respectively which may be precursor polyproteins. Inhibition of proteolytic processing withp-fluorophenylalanine led to the accumulation of several additional protein species which may represent intermediates in the protein processing pathway. None of these proteins were related to the 62 kd major capsid protein (cP 62) of the virus as judged by reaction with monoclonal antibodies. The production of a 76 kd capsid precursor protein (cpP 76) was demonstrated for the first time in FCV-infected cells. The pathway by which calicivirus polypeptides are made thus appears highly complex and may involve temporal regulation of protein synthesis as well as protein processing. Tentative identification of primary, intermediate and mature forms of virus proteins is discussed.     

Acute sternal opening after cardiac surgery in children: effect on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide.

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was measured immediately before and 15 minutes after re-opening of the sternotomy and delayed sternal closure were performed to alleviate possible myocardial compression in 3 children. As acute re-opening of the sternotomy is a rare occurrence our sample size was necessarily small. ANP increased following the procedure in all 3 patients, and this was significant (p less than 0.02) when compared to plasma levels obtained from 9 children who underwent sternotomy prior to elective cardiac surgery. Following acute re-opening of the sternotomy there was an increase in median urine output and a decrease in median central venous pressure. Our results illustrate that it is atrial wall stress rather than intra-atrial pressure that determines release of ANP, and in addition suggest ANP may be a factor in the rapid clinical improvement following delayed sternal closure for atypical tamponade in children.