Communicating with tribals on health and nutrition

Health and nutrition education involves not only conveying new information and concepts, but also persuading the target population to engage in innovative action and direct participation. This process can be thwarted if cultural factors are ignored, particularly in dealing with a tribal population. In a country like India, communication with tribals is influenced by ethnic and cultural diversities, different types of ecological settings, a low literacy level, geographic isolation, the lack of development infrastructure, language barriers, health taboos and problems, a lack of access to modern media forms, and food availability and use. Most suitable for working with tribal populations appear to be the media of the spoken work, song and drama, games, exhibitions at the weekly market and yearly festivals, and pictorial aids. Since communication is a 2-way process, there must be a shared frame of reference among scientists, communicators, and receivers. Moreover, even when health education messages are delivered through culture-specific entertainment programs, they must be part of a comprehensive health and development package in which extension workers are backed up by health professionals and integrated programs.     

Deamination of adenosine by extracts of Penicillium politans NRC-510

Cell-free extracts of nitrate-grown Penicillium politans NRC-510 could catalyze the hydrolytic deamination of adenosine to inosine maximally at pH 6.0 and 45 degrees C. However the same extracts could not catalyze the N-glycosidic bond cleavage of adenosine at pH 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0. Incubation of the extracts at 55 degrees C for 30 minutes caused about 31% loss in activity whereas incubation of the extracts at 60 degrees C for 15 minutes caused a complete loss of enzyme activity. Results indicated the absence of the involvement of sulfhydryl groups in the catalytic site of adenosine deaminase. The enzyme is inhibited by ethylene diamine tetraacetate indicating that adenosine deaminase is a metalloenzyme. MnCl2 and MgCl2 had a remarkable activating effect, whereas HgCl2, CaCl2 and ZnSO4 showed an inhibitory effect on enzyme activity. Dialyzing the extracts for 24 hours significantly increase deaminase activity by about 33%. The apparent K(m) value was calculated for adenosine and found to be 3.63 x 10(-3) M, which indicates high affinity of adenosine deaminase for its substrate adenosine.     

Morphological study of some hypothalamic centers in rats after deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus

The volume of the nuclei and nucleoli of certain hypothalamic centers (SON, PVN, SCN, AN, VMN) was determined in control rats and in rats after deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus. Sex differences were found in the parvocellular formations of the control animals: The volumes of nuclei and nucleoli of neurons of AN and VMN, and also of the nucleolus of SCN neurons were larger in females than in males. After deafferentation of the mediobasal hypothalamus the volume of the cell nuclei was increased, especially in hypothalamic formations located outside the isolated zone. This increase was more clearly defined in rats constantly in a state of estrus after the operation. Statistically significant differences between volumes of both nuclei and nucleoli of the cells in subgroups of rats with permanent estrus and with permanent diestrus were found only in the case of SCN. No such differences were found for AN, despite the considerable difference in the constant of luteinizing hormone in the pituitary of the same rats. It is suggested that gonadotropin releasing factors are not produced by the cells of AN and that control over the succession of phases of the sex cycle may be exerted by SCN.Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, I. M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Leningrad. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. N. Chernigovskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 89, No. 3, pp. 352–354, March, 1980.     

Identification of 16 novel mutations in the argininosuccinate synthetase gene and genotype-phenotype correlation in 38 classical citrullinemia patients

Classical citrullinemia (CTLN1), a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is caused by mutations of the argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) gene, localized on chromosome 9q34.1. ASS functions as a rate-limiting enzyme in the urea cycle. Previously, we identified 32 mutations in the ASS gene of CTLN1 patients mainly in Japan and the United States, and to date 34 different mutations have been described in 50 families worldwide. In the present study, we report ASS mutations detected in 35 additional CTLN1 families from 11 countries. By analyzing the entire coding sequence and the intron-exon boundaries of the ASS gene using RT-PCR and/or genomic DNA-PCR, we have identified 16 novel mutations (two different 1-bp deletions, a 67-bp insertion, and 13 missense) and have detected 12 known mutations. Altogether, 50 different mutations (seven deletion, three splice site, one duplication, two nonsense, and 37 missense) in 85 CTLN1 families were identified. On the basis of primary sequence comparisons with the crystal structure of E. coli ASS protein, it may be concluded that any of the 37 missense mutations found at 30 different positions led to structural and functional impairments of the human ASS protein. It has been found that three mutations are particularly frequent: IVS6-2A>G in 23 families (Japan: 20 and Korea: three), G390R in 18 families (Turkey: six, U.S.: five, Spain: three, Israel: one, Austria: one, Canada: one, and Bolivia: one), and R304W in 10 families (Japan: nine and Turkey: one). Most mutations of the ASS gene are "private" and are distributed throughout the gene, except for exons 5 and 12-14. It seems that the clinical course of the patients with truncated mutations or the G390R mutation is early-onset/severe. The phenotype of the patients with certain missense mutations (G362V or W179R) is more late-onset/mild. Eight patients with R86H, A118T, R265H, or K310R mutations were adult/late-onset and four of them showed severe symptoms during pregnancy or postpartum. However, it is still difficult to prove the genotype-phenotype correlation, because many patients were compound heterozygotes (with two different mutations), lived in different environments at the time of diagnosis, and/or had several treatment regimes or various knowledge of the disease.     

用于杀虫剂评价的水池中无脊椎动物的群落结构及其种群动态

实验水池是评价杀虫剂效应和安全生的重要场所，水池中无脊椎动物群落结构和种群动态是评价杀虫剂的基础资料和考核指标，本文报告１９９２年至１９９３年在美国佛罗里达中部地区对应用于杀虫剂评价的实验水池中昆虫与其它无脊椎动物群落结构及其优势种的种群动态研究结果，用羽化诱捕、勺舀、网拉及挖取底物法，从实验水池中共采到昆虫与其它无脊椎动物５０余类，其中，羽化诱捕到的昆虫中摇蚊占９３．９％，蜉蝣目昆虫占４．６％，     

Emotional abuse, self-blame, and self-silencing in women with irritable bowel syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of emotional abuse and two psychosocial constructs (self-blame and self-silencing) in a sample of women diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) relative to a comparison sample of women diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: Women diagnosed with IBS (N = 25) were compared with women diagnosed with IBD (N = 25) on measures of history of abuse, self-blame, and self-silencing. RESULTS: It was found that women in the IBS sample scored significantly higher on emotional abuse, self-blame, and self-silencing than did women in the IBD sample. These three variables were also found to be significantly intercorrelated in both the IBS and IBD samples. Finally, emotional abuse was significantly higher in IBS patients than in IBD patients beyond the differences accounted for by physical and/or sexual abuse history. CONCLUSIONS: These findings empirically demonstrate an association between IBS and emotional abuse, as well as a possible connection with psychosocial variables, that may mediate the connection between emotional abuse and functional bowel symptoms. We suggest that these variables be further evaluated in the context of clinically relevant research on IBS.     

The effect of prostaglandin synthesis inhibition on motility of the sheep ureter

To determine the effect of prostaglandin-synthesis inhibition on ureteral motility, isolated rings of sheep ureters were suspended for recording isometric tension in organ baths filled with Krebs-Henseleit solution. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) indomethacin and diclofenac sodium (10(-5) M) inhibited rhythmic ureteral motility by reducing frequency, amplitude and finally stopping contractions. Prostaglandin F2 alpha, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 were determined by radioimmunoassay in the bathing solution before and after addition of NSAIDs. Peak contractile activity at 100 min of suspension was associated with increased concentration of all three prostanoids and 50 min after addition of indomethacin and diclofenac sodium when rhythmic contractions stopped, concentration dropped to low levels. The concentration of prostaglandins released into the organ bath were not quantitatively related to the frequency of contractions and therefore do not seem to affect pacemaker activity within ureteral smooth muscle but rather intercellular recruitment of myo-genically active fibres. These findings indicate that prostaglandins play a role in the motor control of the ureter, and that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exert an inhibitory action.     

Effect of once-daily fluticasone furoate nasal spray on nasal symptoms in adults and adolescents with perennial allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Intranasal corticosteroids are recommended as first-line therapy for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Fluticasone furoate is a novel enhanced-affinity glucocorticoid for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of intranasal fluticasone furoate with those of vehicle placebo nasal spray in adult and adolescent patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). METHODS: After screening (7-14 days), patients 12 years and older with confirmed PAR were randomized to receive fluticasone furoate, 110 microg once daily, or placebo once daily intranasally for 4 weeks in this double-blind, multicenter study. The primary end point was mean change from baseline during the entire treatment period in daily reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS), recorded on diary cards by patients, using a 4-point categorical scale. RESULTS: The mean reduction from baseline during the treatment period in daily rTNSS was significantly greater in fluticasone furoate recipients than in placebo recipients (P = .005). This finding was supported by significantly greater mean reductions in morning rTNSS and evening rTNSS (P = .004 and P = .011, respectively). A significantly greater mean reduction in instantaneous morning predose TNSS with fluticasone furoate compared with placebo (P = .006) confirmed the efficacy of once-daily administration. Fluticasone furoate was also significantly more effective than placebo in overall response to therapy (P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Fluticasone furoate nasal spray, 110 microg once daily, effectively relieved nasal symptoms of PAR in adults and adolescents 12 years and older.     

Eucaryotic Expression of the Nucleocapsid Protein Gene of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 and Use of the Protein in an Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay for Serological Diagnosis of Postweaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome in Pigs

The purpose of this study was to develop a sensitive, rapid, and inexpensive immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using a recombinant porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) nucleocapsid protein for the serological detection of PCV2-specific antibodies in pig sera. The viral nucleocapsid protein encoded by the PCV2 ORF2 gene has recently been identified as the most immunoreactive viral protein that carries type-specific antigenic determinants. The ORF2 sequence of the IAF-2897 strain of PCV2 has been cloned into a pCEP5 eucaryotic expression vector under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter, downstream of a polyhistidine sequence tag. The recombinant plasmid was used in transfection experiments with human epithelial kidney 293 cells that were further tested, and positive expression of the viral nucleocapsid protein was confirmed by IFA and Western blotting. Strong, specific fluorescence was observed in the nuclei of transfected cells. Test specificity to PCV2 was verified with several related infectious agents. Sensitivity was compared to that of standard IFA using PCV2-infected cells by evaluating the reactivities of 44 field serum samples from pigs on farms with a porcine population suffering from postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. The recombinant nucleocapsid-based test was able to detect 15 more positive-testing pigs than the PCV2-based IFA. Therefore, the relative sensitivity of the latter test was estimated at only 57.1% compared to that of the recombinant nucleocapsid-based test. The recombinant fusion protein has been purified by affinity chromatography and is being used to develop further sensitive serological tests.