The effects of phorbol esters with different biological activities on protein kinase C

The sapintoxins are a series of naturally occurring fluorescent phorbol esters with a range of selective biological activities (e.g. pro-inflammatory but non-tumour promoting). Their ability to activate protein kinase C (PKC) in vitro has been studied. Both tumour promoting and non-promoting phorbol derivatives activate the enzyme in vitro at low concentrations. 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate-20 acetate (DOPPA) acts as a partial agonist in the activation of protein kinase C. Structurally distinct phorbol esters may therefore preferentially activate different forms of protein kinase C. α-sapinine, a biologically inactive compound, binds to protein kinase C without stimulating the enzyme and prevents subsequent activation by phorbol esters such as 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA).     

What Factors in Early Pregnancy Indicate that the Mother Will Be Hit by Her Partner during the Year after Childbirth?A Nationwide Swedish Survey

Abstract: Background : To be hit by one's intimate partner during the first year after childbirth may affect a woman's health and ability to take care of her newborn. The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence and indicators in early pregnancy of a woman being hit by her partner during the year after childbirth. Method : Information was collected by a postal questionnaire in early pregnancy and 12 months after childbirth from the approximately 5,550 women in Sweden who visited an antenatal care clinic for the first time during one of three chosen weeks in 1999 and 2000. Results : Of the 3,266 recruited women, 2,563 returned the follow‐up questionnaire. Being hit during the first year after childbirth was reported by 52 of the 2,563 (2%) women: 32 (61%) had been hit by their partner once, 12 (23%) twice, and 8 (15%) three or more times. Risk increased in women who were age 24 years or younger (3.9% had been hit), unmarried (7.1%), born in countries outside Europe (6.8%), with a partner born outside Europe (5.4%), had a low level of education (8.9%), and were unemployed (5.0%). In early pregnancy, women with back pain (4.0%), a chronic illness (4.1%), coital pain (6.1%), frequent depression‐related symptoms (8.1%), stomach pain (3.8%), or a urinary tract problem (6.3%) were hit more often than others after childbirth. Conclusions : At least 2 percent of Swedish women giving birth in 2000 were hit by their partner during the year after childbirth. Using identified predictors during antenatal care may increase the likelihood of finding women at risk, thereby enhancing the possibility of interventions to prevent this crime and health hazard.     

Quantification of in-plane motion of the coronary arteries during the cardiac cycle: Implications for acquisition window duration for MR flow quantification

Motion of the coronary arteries during the heart cycle can result in image blurring and inaccurate flow quantification by MR. This condition applies particularly for longer acquisition windows that are typical of breath-hold coronary flow measurements. To determine the sensitivity of the technique to in-plane motion of different coronary arteries, the temporal variation in coronary position was measured in a plane perpendicular to the proximal portion of the vessel. The results indicated the presence of substantial displacement of the coronary arteries within the cardiac cycle, with a magnitude of motion approximately twice as large for the right as for the left coronary arteries. An estimation of the resulting vessel blurring was calculated, showing that the duration of the acquisition window for high spatial resolution coronary flow acquisitions should be less than 25 to 120 msec, depending on the specific coronary artery studied. In addition, these data specify optimal acquisition window placement for high resolution coronary angiography.     

Direct evidence for the link between monoaminergic descending pathways and motor activity:: II. A study with microdialysis probes implanted in the ventral horn of the spinal cord

In order to define precisely the relation between descending monoaminergic systems and the motor system, we measured in the ventral horn of spinal cord of adult rats the variations of extracellular concentrations of 5-HT, 5-HIAA, DA and MHPG. Measurements were performed during rest, endurance running on a treadmill, and a post-exercise period, with microdialysis probes implanted permanently for 45 days. We found a slight decrease in both 5-HT and 5-HIAA during locomotion with a more marked decrease during the post-exercise period compared to the mean of rest values. In contrast, the concentration of DA and MHPG increased slightly during the exercise and decreased thereafter. These results, when compared with those of a previous study, which measured monoamines in the spinal cord white matter [C. Gerin, D. Bécquet, A. Privat, Direct evidence for the link between monoaminergic descending pathways and motor activity: I. A study with microdialysis probes implanted in the ventral funiculus of the spinal cord, Brain Res. 704 (1995) 191–201], highlight the complex regulation of the release of monoamines that occurs in the ventral horn.     

1995 National Clinical Pharmacy Services Study

To determine the extent of hospital-based clinical pharmacy services in 1995, we surveyed 1109 United States acute care, general, medical-surgical, and pediatric hospitals with 50 or more licensed beds. Fifteen clinical pharmacy services were assessed to determine pharmacists' specific patient care responsibilities. The percentage of hospitals offering services grew between 1992 and 1995: pharmacokinetic consultations (16% increase), drug therapy protocol management (15%), drug therapy monitoring (8%), drug counseling (13%), and parenteral-enteral nutrition team (6%). All other services increased 0–5%. Pharmacists conducted clinical research in 14% of hospitals, averaging 6.3 ± 22.1 protocols/department annually; total budget $96,219 ± $262,026. Patient-focused care predominated in 20% of hospitals, although most pharmacists reported to directors of pharmacy through traditional pharmacy department channels. Clinical pharmacy services continue to expand, with pharmacists providing higher-level direct patient care activities related to drug therapy management and monitoring.     

Microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Adriamycin,epirubicin, daunorubicin and mitoxantrone: a comparative study

Summary Rat-liver microsomes and NADPH could reduce Adriamycin, epirubicin and daunorubicin to their free radical forms, which enhanced peroxidation of microsomal lipids less than 2-fold in air but 3- to 5-fold at a pO₂ of 4 mm Hg. Mitoxantrone was not reduced by microsomes and had no effect on microsomal peroxidation. Daunorubicin caused more lipid peroxidation than similar concentrations of either Adriamycin or epirubicin, which were equally efficient. In each case peroxidation was iron-dependent and could be catalysed by ferritin. The antioxidants -carotene and -tocopherol inhibited lipid peroxidation at low or high pO₂. The dose-for-dose difference in the cardiotoxicity of epirubicin compared with Adriamycin is not explained by its effect on microsomal lipid peroxidation. However, the lower incidence of cardiotoxicity with mitoxantrone may be a consequence of its inability to form free radical species and promote lipid peroxidation.