Mouse homologues of the human AZF candidate gene RBM are expressed in spermatogonia and spermatids, and map to a Y chromosome deletion interval associated with a high incidence of sperm abnormalities

An RNA-binding motif (RBM) gene family has been identified on the human Y chromosome that maps to the same deletion interval as the 'azoospermia factor' (AZF). We have identified the homologous gene family (Rbm) on the mouse Y with a view to investigating the proposal that this gene family plays a role in spermatogenesis. At least 25 and probably >50 copies of Rbm are present on the mouse Y chromosome short arm located between Sry and the centromere. As in the human, a role in spermatogenesis is indicated by a germ cell-specific pattern of expression in the testis, but there are distinct differences in the pattern of expression between the two species. Mice carrying the deletion Yd1, that maps to the proximal Y short arm, are female due to a position effect resulting in non-expression of Sry ; sex-reversing such mice with an Sry transgene produces males with a high incidence of abnormal sperm, making this the third deletion interval on the mouse Y that affects some aspect of spermatogenesis. Most of the copies of Rbm map to this deletion interval, and the Yd1males have markedly reduced Rbm expression, suggesting that RBM deficiency may be responsible for, or contribute to, the abnormal sperm development. In man, deletion of the functional copies of RBM is associated with meiotic arrest rather than sperm anomalies; however, the different effects of deletion are consistent with the differences in expression between the two species.      

Heart rate reactivity and heart period variability throughout the first year after heart transplantation

Heart rate reactivity to mental stress is substantially blunted early after heart transplantation, suggesting that the loss of neural modulation limits the cardiovascular response to mental stress. We tested whether reactivity to mental stress recovers during the first year after heart transplantation. Hemodynamic and respiratory responses to mental arithmetic challenge were studied in 20 heart transplant recipients 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. A normal comparison group was studied at equivalent intervals. Heart rate reactivity to mental arithmetic was significantly reduced in the cardiac transplant group compared to the normal subjects. This effect persisted up to 1 year after transplantation. Heart period variability in the heart transplant recipients was minimal in all three-test sessions. The findings suggest that no functional reinnervation or other compensatory adaptation occurs up to 1 year after heart transplantation.     

Studies of Antibody to Herpes Simplex Virus Fcγ-Binding Protein gE in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and Normal Controls

IgG antibody to gE, the Fc gamma-binding herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) viral glycoprotein, was studied in 49 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 43 normal controls. Antibody to gD, another important HSV-1 antigen, was assayed in parallel. No difference between RA patients and normal controls was found in levels of anti-gE antibody measured by reactivity of IgG F(ab')2 fragments reacting with gE coated to ELISA plates. No difference in anti-gD antibody was recorded between normals and patients with RA. Levels of IgG anti-IgE antibody did not correlate with quantitative elevations of serum rheumatoid factor (RF) in RA patients. When IgG anti-gE and anti-gD were assayed in 20 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and 22 children controls, no significant differences were noted. However, when individual RFs from patients with RA were tested for reactivity against a panel of affinity-isolated F(ab')2 antibodies to gE, some evidence for individual autospecificity was obtained. Four of 20 monoclonal IgM RFs produced from RA patients' B cells showed marked elevations of reactivity with some RA patients' F(ab')2 antibodies to gE. All four of the monoclonal RFs showing this specificity were derived from RA synovial tissue B cells. These findings may provide support for the concept that some RFs in patients with RA show individual specificity for internal image determinants of IgG antibodies to viral Fc gamma-binding proteins.     

Coping with unfair treatment at work--what is the relationship between coping and hypertension in middle-aged men and Women? An epidemiological study of working men and women in Stockholm (the WOLF study)

BACKGROUND: An important hypothesis in psychosomatic medicine is that exposure to psychosocial factors that arouse anger may accelerate the onset of hypertension, particularly if the subject is not allowed to show anger or to deal constructively with the factor that evoked it. For working men and women, being treated in an unfair way at work may be crucial. The present study was designed to answer the question whether the pattern of coping - primarily directed towards the aggressor (open) or directed inwards or towards others (covert) - is associated with hypertension among working men and women. STUDY GROUP: Five thousand seven hundred and twenty working men and women aged 15-64 participated in the study. The participation rate was 76%. METHODS: The coping pattern was studied by means of a Swedish version of a self-administered questionnaire that was originally introduced by Harburg et al. RESULTS: Significant results were confined to the age group 45-54. All analyses were adjusted for age and body mass index. Smoking habits and social class had no effect on the relationships. Low scores (lowest quartile) for open coping tended to be associated with an elevated prevalence ratio (PR) of hypertension both among men (PR 1.3, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.9-1.7) and women (PR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.0). High scores for covert coping (highest quartile) were associated with an elevated PR of hypertension among men (PR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.2) but not in women. If the analysis was confined to cases without medication, the relationship between a high level of covert coping and high blood pressure was still significant for men. For women, however, no significant findings were made after this operation. Accordingly, the relationship between a low level of open coping and hypertension in women was confined to women with medication. Coping patterns were correlated with psychosocial work environment factors, in particular decision latitude. CONCLUSION: In men, covert coping was associated with prevalence of hypertension. In women, there tended to be a relationship between low scores for open coping and hypertension.     

EFFECT OF NITROGLYCERNE-INDUCED HYPOTENSION ON CANINE SPINAL CORD BLOOD FLOW

Twenty-four mongrel dogs were anaesthetized with pentobarbitoneand morphine sulphate. Neuromuscular blockade was achieved usingpancuronium. Spinal cord blood flow was measured using the radionuclidemicrosphere and hydrogen washout methods before, during, andfollowing nitroglycerine-induced hypotension. Heart rate, meanarterial pressure, cardiac output, pulmonary capillary wedgepressure, and acid-base balance were determined with each measurement.Mean arterial pressure was reduced by 50%. Spinal cord bloodflow, as measured by the microsphere method, increased duringthe period of hypotension, whereas values obtained using thehydrogen washout method were not significantly different fromthose at normotension. No significant change in spinal cordblood flow was detected by either method after the applicationof spinal distraction. Nitroglycerine acts predominantly onvenous capacitance vessels and it is postulated that perfusionpressure, and therefore flow, is maintained despite a reductionin arterial pressure. Presented in part at the Anual Meeting of the American Societyof Anesthesiologists, October 1985, San Francisco, California. ^*Shackleton Department of Anaesthetics, Southampton GeneralHospital, Shirley, Southampton, Hants SO9 4XY. Section of Orthopedic Surgery, Madison, Wisconsin.     

The Effects of Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Implantable Pulse Generators

The effects of magnetic resonance imaging were assessed on four dual chamber and two single chamber pulse generators. The tests were performed with a resistive, water-cooled magnet operating at 0.15 T. The 6.4-MHz radiofrequency (RF) field was operated at a maximum power of 1,000 watts with a period adjusted from 130 to 500 ms. Reed switch closure occurred in all six pulse generators tested when placed near the entrance of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner, and the generators reverted to asynchronous operation unless programmed to the "magnet off" mode. None of the pulse generators exhibited any alterations in programmed parameters or in the ability to be reprogrammed after RF pulsing. When the RF field was turned on, there was no change in the asynchronous paced cycle length in four pulse generators; however, during RF scanning there was rapid cardiac stimulation at the RF pulse period in one single chamber and one dual chamber pulse generator.     

Einfach und praktisch: rechtliche Grundlagen und Verhalten an Einsatzorten mit Verstorbenen

Notfall + Rettungsmedizin -     

Neurotoxicity Evaluation of N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) in Rats

The neurotoxic potential of N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) wasevaluated following acute oral administration or following multigenerationplus chronic dietary administration to the rat. For the acutestudy, rats were administered undiluted DEET at dose levelsof 50, 200, or 500 mg/kg by gavage. A dose level of 500 mg/kgwas considered to be the highest practical dose that could beevaluated in this study based upon observations of overt toxicityat 500 mg/kg and mortality at 1000 mg/ kg in a dose range-findingstudy. The two measures of neurotoxicity evaluated in the acutestudy were functional observational battery (FOB) and motoractivity measurements. An apparent treatment-related effectin thermal response time (increased) was noted for both sexes1 hr after dosing at the 500 mg/kg dose level. A questionableeffect on rearing activity (decreased) also was noted at thesame dose level. For the multigeneration plus chronic dietaryadministration study, rats were administered DEET at dietaryconcentrations of 0, 500, 2000, or 5000 ppm continuously overtwo generations and then chronically for 9 months. A dietaryconcentration of 5000 ppm meets the criteria for a maximum tolerateddose (MTD) based on traditional chronic toxicology assessments.Evaluations included FOB, motor activity, discriminative acquisitionand reversal in an Mmaze, acoustic startle habituation, passiveavoidance acquisition and retention, and microscopic examinationof central and peripheral nervous tissue. The only effect thatwas considered to be possibly treatment-related was a slightincrease in exploratory locomotor activity at the 5000 ppm doselevel. Based on the results of these studies, the nervous systemdoes not appear to be a selective target when DEET is administeredto rats either as a single oral dose at high dose levels orchronically at the MTD.