Effect of black tea intake on the excretion of mutagens in the urine of volunteers taking a beef meal.

The objective of this study was to investigate in a crossover study conducted in human volunteers whether black tea intake modulates the metabolism of heterocyclic amines, consumed in the form of well-cooked beefburgers, as exemplified by the excretion of mutagens in the urine. Mutagens were extracted from urine with blue rayon, and mutagenic activity was determined in the Ames test, in the presence of an activation system derived from Aroclor 1254-induced rats, and employing the Salmonella typhimurium O-acetylase over-expressing YG1024 bacterial strain. Volunteers consumed three well-cooked beefburgers, whereas a concurrently cooked fourth burger was analyzed for mutagenic activity. Following intake of the burgers, an increase in urinary mutagenic activity was observed, and mutagenic activity was completely excreted within 24 hours. A good correlation was obtained between the intake and excretion of mutagenic activity. The volunteers consumed the same burger meal on two different occasions, once following intake of 10 cups of strong black tea, and the second following intake of a corresponding volume of water. Urine was collected by each volunteer for 24 hours after the meal, and compliance was ascertained utilizing the excretion of p-aminobenzoic acid. The mutagenic ratio, defined as the ratio of urinary mutagenicity over the intake of mutagenicity, was not altered by the black tea, being 0.142 and 0.135 during the water and tea intake, respectively. It is inferred that short-term intake of high levels of black tea, as part of an otherwise normal diet, does not modulate the human metabolism of heterocyclic amines.     

Complement factor 9 deficiency in serum of human neonates.

The serum concentration of complement factor C9 (C9) was 260 +/- 47 micrograms/ml (+/- SE) in 14 mothers and less than 42 micrograms/ml in each of their 14 neonates. During incubation for 60 min, 11 of 14 maternal sera and 3 of 14 neonatal sera reduced the survival of Escherichia coli O7w:K1:NM to less than 20% of the original inoculum (P less than .03). Eleven neonatal sera did not kill the bacteria. Supplemental C9 (60 micrograms/ml) enhanced the bactericidal capacity of 10 neonatal sera. 125I-labeled C9 was deposited onto E. coli by neonatal sera, but less efficiently than by pooled adult sera. Supplemental IgG enhanced 125I-labeled C9 deposition and potentiated the bactericidal activity of exogenous C9. Therefore, neonatal sera contained diminished concentrations of C9 and killed E. coli inefficiently. In neonatal sera, supplemental C9 was deposited onto E. coli and enhanced bactericidal activity. These effects of C9 were potentiated by supplemental IgG.     

Quality of Life, Gender and Schizophrenia: A Cross-National Survey in Canada, Cuba, and U.S.A.

Although gender differences in schizophrenicsymptom expression have been widely established, nosystematic studies have documented if these differencesextend to the perception of quality of life. This survey gathered international data on theperception of quality of life among 102 outpatient menand women with schizophrenia from Canada, Cuba, and theUnited States. Using portions of Lehman's Quality of Life Interview, quality of life was assessedon the domains of social relationships, health, livingsituation, leisure, finances and general quality oflife. Gender differences were tested with ANOVA where site was treated as a nested variable andseparate t-tests comparing men and women within eachcountry. Although no differences were found for thecombined sample, differences were observed between men and women in Canada and Cuba on the socialrelationship domain. In Canada, women with schizophreniareported a higher quality of life for socialrelationships. In contrast, Cuban men with schizophrenia reported higher quality of life for socialrelationships than Cuban women. Findings from the threesites show no differences for the other domains. Withthe possible exception of social relationships, these findings suggest no discernable differences inthe perception of quality of life for men and women withschizophrenia. Overall, men and women with schizophreniawere only somewhat satisfied with some aspects oflife.     

Injury to the lateral ligaments of the ankle

Ankle sprains are common and often are treated inadequately. Unstable lateral ankle ligaments cause abnormal ankle motion and can lead to degenerative changes. Arthrography is the superior radiographic study in acutely injured ankles. Stress tests are useful if positive; however, because false-negative tests are common, general anesthesia should be considered. Chronic injuries may be evaluated well with stress testing. Conservative treatment (that is, mobilization) with aggressive rehabilitation is probably the best treatment for all lateral ligament injuries, unless certain mechanical stability is of paramount importance. Finally, the results of late reconstruction equal those of early repair.     

Estimation of immunoglobulin protease activity by quantitative rocket immunoelectrophoresis

Previous methods for estimating immunoglobulin protease activity have involved the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) or sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography or Western blotting techniques. An alternative method has been developed to estimate proteolytic activity on human IgA1 and IgG using quantitative rocket immunoelectrophoresis. The method uses agarose containing anti-human IgA or anti-human IgG heavy chain-specific reagent to which protease-digested human immunoglobulin samples are applied to wells and electrophoresed overnight. Because proteolytic activity of immunoglobulins results in many smaller fragments, the optimal antigen-antibody ratio for precipitation changes and migration in an electric field results in a larger rocket. Consequently, the area of the rocket will be larger in a protease-treated immunoglobulin sample than a saline-treated immunoglobulin control. These increased rocket areas are correlated with our ELISA protease results (r greater than or equal to 0.90), as well as with our immunoblot results. The method is sensitive to increasing exposure to proteolysis, as well as to increasing amounts of protease. This technique can be used to quickly estimate the ability of a sample to cleave immunoglobulins.