Molecular analysis of HLA-DRB1 polymorphism in north-east Spain.

The DRB1* polymorphism in 941 randomly selected individuals from the Umbilical Cord Blood Bank of Barcelona (92.75% of Spanish origin) was determined by sequence-based typing. The HLA profile was similar to that of other Mediterranean populations, with DRB1*0701 and *0301 being the most frequent alleles. This may be a consequence of the mixture of alleles as a result of migration from contiguous geographical areas.     

Copper deficiency during parenteral nutrition: a report of four pediatric cases.

The standard of care for patients with cholestasis (direct bilirubin >or=2 mg/dL) while receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions is to reduce or discontinue the copper and manganese. The repercussions of this action have not been studied. Two adult case reports document low serum copper levels associated with clinical symptoms of copper deficiency after the removal of copper from their PN solutions. We now describe the first known series of pediatric patients to develop copper deficiency after copper was removed from their PN solutions.     

Central opioid receptors differentially regulate the nalmefene-induced suppression of ethanol- and saccharin-reinforced behaviors in alcohol-preferring (P) rats.

The exact opioid-sensitive receptors participating in EtOH-seeking behaviors remains unclear. Previous studies have reported higher densities of micro-opioid receptor binding in the nucleus accumbens (NACC) of P relative to NP rats; however, no differences were seen in delta-receptor binding. In contrast to the NACC, substantially lower levels of micro-receptor binding have been observed in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of both P and NP rats, albeit no line differences have been observed. In the present study, opioid receptors in the NACC, VTA, and hippocampus were evaluated for their capacity to regulate both EtOH- and saccharin-motivated behaviors in the genetically selected alcohol-preferring (P) rat. To accomplish this, nalmefene, an opiate antagonist with preferential binding affinity for the micro-opioid receptor was unilaterally or bilaterally infused during concurrent availability of 1 h daily EtOH (10% v/v) and saccharin (0.025 or 0.050% w/v) solutions. Rats performed under a two-lever fixed ratio (FR) schedule in which four responses on one lever produced the EtOH solution, and four on a second lever produced the saccharin solution. The results demonstrated that when responding maintained by both EtOH and saccharin are matched at basal levels, unilateral (1-60 microg) or bilateral (0.5-10 microg) microinjections of nalmefene into the NACC produced selective dose-dependent reductions on responding maintained by EtOH. Unilateral (40, 60 microg) and bilateral (10 microg) VTA infusions were also observed to selectively reduced EtOH responding; however, greater nalmefene doses were required and the magnitude of suppression on EtOH responding was markedly less compared with the NACC. The greater sensitivity of nalmefene to suppress EtOH responding in the NACC is likely due to the greater number of opioid receptors in the NACC relative to the VTA. Only bilateral infusion of the 40 microg dose in the NACC and VTA suppressed responding maintained by both EtOH and saccharin. In contrast, intrahippocampal infusions dose dependently suppressed EtOH- and saccharin-maintained responding over a range of doses (1-20 microg). The present study provides evidence that nalmefene suppresses EtOH-motivated behaviors via blockade of opioid receptors within the NACC and VTA, and under various dose conditions both reinforcer and neuroanatomical specificity can be observed.     

Views of problem drinking among Native American,Hispanic, and Anglo children

Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo sixth graders reacting to an example of teenage problem drinking expressed similar beliefs and attitudes in many respects. However, Native American children viewed the problem as less serious, subscribed more to a disease theory of alcoholism, attributed less causal responsibility to the individual, and adopted a less aggressive approach toward treatment than did Hispanic, and especially Anglo, children. Their less conventional value orientations accounted for all these differences except their stronger endorsement of a disease theory of problem drinking.     

IgA nephropathy and polycystic kidney disease

We report a patient with polycystic kidney disease, advanced renal failure, and nephrotic-range proteinuria. Kidney biopsy revealed IgA nephropathy with lesions of focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis. This association had not been previously described and is probably coincidental. This case supports the assumption that the nephrotic-range proteinuria observed in some polycystic patients could be the consequence of another superimposed glomerular disease. This glomerulopathy can worsen the course of azotemia in these patients.     

Identification of a parathyroid hormone in the fish Fugu rubripes.

A PTH gene has been isolated from the fish Fugu rubripes. The encoded protein of 80 amino acid has the lowest homology with any of the PTH family members. Fugu PTH(1-34) had 5-fold lower potency than human PTH(1-34) in a mammalian cell system. INTRODUCTION: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the major hypercalcemic hormone in higher vertebrates. Fish lack parathyroid glands, but there have numerous attempts to identify and isolate PTH from fish. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with primers based on preliminary data from the Joint Genome Institute database. PCR amplification was performed on genomic DNA isolated from Fugu rubripes. PCR products were purified and DNA was sequenced. All sequence was confirmed from more than one independently amplified PCR product. Multiple sequence alignments were carried out, and the percentage of identities and similarities were calculated. An unrooted phylogenetic tree, using all the known PTH and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) amino acid sequences, was determined. Synthetic peptides were tested in a biological assay that measured cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate formation in UMR106.1 cells. Rabbit polyclonal antisera specific for N-terminal human PTHrP and one rabbit polyclonal antiserum specific for N terminus hPTH were used to test the cross-reactivity with fPTH(1-34) in immunoblots.     

Histologic evaluation of radiofrequency ablation in renal cancer.

AIM: To report on the histologic evaluation of renal tumors after intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) performed immediately before surgical nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with renal tumors were studied. All tumors were confirmed to be renal cell carcinoma before radio frequency ablation treatment. All specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). RESULTS: Mean tumor size was 29 mm (range 14 to 48 mm). Of the 10 tumors 5 were completely devitalized with a treatment margin ranged from 1 to 20mm. One tumor needed two treatment sessions. No complication related to radiofrequency treatment was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that RFA can completely destroy renal tumors. However, in our study, complete tumor cell death was obtained only in 50% of cases. More studies are needed to ensure that is technique is an effective and reproducible treatment.