Helicobacter pylori Infection Does not Increase Gastric Antrum Mucosal Cell Proliferation

Objectives : Gastric carcinoma is the world's second most common cancer. Recent studies suggest an association between Helicobacter pylori and gastric carcinoma. The aim of this study was to address the effects of H. pylori infection on gastric antrum mucosal cell proliferation. Methods : Forty patients undergoing upper endoscopy for standard indications were included in the study. A rapid urease test was used to determine the presence of H. pylori . Epithelial cell proliferation was determined by immunohistochemical techniques utilizing monoclonal antibody to bromodeoxyuridine. Results : There were no significant differences in the number of labeled cells and in the proliferation fraction ( p > 0.1) when patients with H. pylori were compared with those without, and when those over the age of 50 were compared to those under 50. The presence of ulcers similarly had no effect ( p > 0.1). Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori infection does not increase gastric antrum mucosal cell proliferation.     

The response of optic tract glia during regeneration of the goldfish visual system. II. Tectal factors stimulate optic tract glia

After transection, retinal ganglion cell axons of the goldfish will regenerate by growing into a primary target tissue, the optic tectum. To determine what role the target tissue may play in regulating glial cell growth, we measured biosynthetic activity of optic tract glia following excision of the optic tectum and compared it to activity of glia found in the regenerating visual system. Ablation of the tectum reduced glial incorporation of both [³H]thymidine and [³⁵S]methionine. Tectal ablation also led to nearly 80% reduction of amino acids incorporated by oligodendroglia as well as a decrease in the amount of newly synthetized protein found within multipotential glia and within cytoplasmic projections of astroglia. Since the tectal influence upon optic tract glia was detected at a time when tract and tectum are physically separated, we sought to determine if the optic tectum contained soluble glia-promoting factors. A soluble fraction recovered from tecta of the regenerating visual system increased amino acid incorporation within optic tract glia at 2–3-fold above preparations incubated with fractions from control, intact tecta. Comparisons of radiolabeled proteins separated by sodium dodecyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from regenerating and factor-stimulated optic tract were similar and indicated that a soluble tectal fraction promoted biosynthesis of specific glial proteins. Our findings suggest that during regeneration of the goldfish visual system glia are influenced by humoral factor(s) released from the synaptic target site.     

Characterization of benzodiazepine receptors in primary cultures of fetal mouse brain and spinal cord neurons

Primary cultures of fetal mouse brain and spinal cord were examined for the presence of binding sites for [³H]diazepam. Both brain and spinal cord cultures contain high affinity binding sites which resemble benzodiazepine receptors found in mammalian CNS with respect to both pharmacologic profile and response to exogenously applied GABA. These observations, coupled with the electrophysiologic properties of these cells suggest that primary cultures of fetal mouse brain and spinal cord may be valid models for studying the role and regulation of the benzodiazepine receptor.     

Effects of altitude and two decongestant-antihistamine preparations on physiological functions and performance.

Fourteen men were studied to determine the combined effects of two altitudes--388 and 3,810 m or 1,274 and 12,500 ft--and three preparations--lactose placebo, Compound A (Actified, and Compound B (Dristan). Subjects reported least attentiveness with A and greatest with placebo. Fatigue increased significantly with time while energy, interest, and attentiveness decreased. The Multiple Task Performance Battery (MTPB) showed no effects of altitude, drugs, or time on overall performance; however, performance declined with time in several tasks, while problem solving improved. Subjects enjoyed the problem-solving tasks and may have given them preference as levels of interest declined. Though the MTPB overall composite scores did not change significantly, physiological parameters and subjective evaluations indicate that type of compound and time after ingestion are important. Declines in energy and attentiveness 2.5 h after ingestion could result in neglect of important--although routine--tasks. Hypoxia might enhance this effect and consequences might be worse in subjects whose medical conditions require these drugs.     

Management of grief in the hypochondriac.

This paper illustrates the presentation and management of a grief reaction in a chronic hypochondriacal patient seen in a family medicine office. The manifestations of grief in the hypochondriacal patient are influenced by the unique characteristics of the chronic, somatic complainer in whom the grief reaction appeared as an intensification of the chronic complaints. The treatment of the grief reaction in these patients should take into account the techniques for managing the hypochondriacal patient.     

Plasma noradrenaline kinetics in humans

Recently developed radiotracer methods for measuring the overall rate of release of noradrenaline to plasma, for the body as a whole, can be used to estimate 'total sympathetic nervous system activity' in humans. These techniques find application in clinical studies of sympathetic nervous physiology and pharmacology. The inherent weakness of any biochemical test of global sympathetic tone such as this lies in the fact that sympathetic nervous system responses typically show regional differentiation. Biochemical indices of overall sympathetic activity are insufficiently discriminating to delineate patterns of sympathetic nervous response, representing instead an algebraic sum of all regional increases or decreases in sympathetic tone. Modification of the whole-body radiotracer methodology enables organ-specific sympathetic nervous system activity to be estimated, from measurements of regional release of noradrenaline to plasma. This should facilitate investigation of possible sympathetic pathophysiology in disease states. Illustrative of potential application of the method are preliminary findings of increased renal sympathetic nervous tone in young patients with essential hypertension, and of selective activation of sympathetic nerves to the kidney by diuretics.     

Histological Study of Fibrogenesis in Experimental Inflammation with Special Reference to Elastic Tissue Formation

Fibrogenesis—collagen and elastic—has been studied in experimental inflammation produced by croton oil in rats. In the first 5 days no new-formed collagen or elastic fibres were found. By the 8th day the quantity of the local glucosaminoglycanes and the glycoproteins was decreased and newly developed collagen fibres could be seen in association with fibroblasts. In the later phases of the inflammation the maturity of the collagen fibres increased progressively. On the 14th day a new-formed elastic-like fibre, similar to the so-called oxytalan fibre-stained by elastic stains after oxidation, was found. The quantity of the elastic fibres progressively increased in the 28 and 42 day experiment. The behaviour of the fibres which required oxidation before being stained and elastic fibres in relation to each other suggest that the former may be regarded as pre-elastic fibres. Their relationship to the oxytalan fibre of the periodontal membrane remains unresolved.     

A study of acute respiratory disease in the community of Port Chalmers. I. Illnesses within a group of selected families and the relative incidence of respiratory pathogens in the whole community.

A study of respiratory diseases in the semi-isolated community of Port Chamlers, New Zealand, began in April 1973. The intensive surveillance of a selected group fo 26 families involved the weekly reporting of illness, the collection of specimens for virus, Group A streptococci and Mycoplasma pneumoniae isolation and the collection of sera at 6-month intervals. A total of 956 illnesses were reported during 32 months. The median number of illnesses per year were: infants 4.4, children 2.5, female adults 2.4 and male adults 2.0. Of all these illnesses, 57% were upper respiratory, 31% were lower respiratory and 9% were enteric. The severity of these illnesses was not greater than would be expected in open communities. Surveillance by pathogen isolation only of the whole community through the patients in the general practice was carried out concurrently. A total of 640 nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected from which 161 viruses, 47 Group A streptococci and 2 M. pneumoniae were isolated. The overall isolation rate was 33%. The similarities between the epidemiological patterns of respiratory disease in the open community and the isolated community are discussed.