Effects of transforming growth factor-β and platelet-derived growth factor on human gingival fibroblasts grown in serum-containing and serum-free medium

Abstract. Both transforming growth factor-β (TGF-ß) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) have been shown to affect cell proliferation in vitro. The hypothesis being tested was that the effects of the 2 cytokines would be modulated by the presence of serum in the medium. Gingival fibroblasts, obtained from periodontally healthy patients, were maintained in primary culture. Dose response experiments were performed for each growth factor in serum-free medium and in medium containing natural or heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (10% FBS). Changes in cell numbers were quantified by crystal violet staining. The optimal concentrations of the individual factors (10 ng/ml TGF-ßI, 20 ng/ml PDGF-BB) were then used when the 2 factors were tested in various sequences. In serum-free medium or in medium with 10% natural serum, the response to PDGF-BB was dose-dependent up to 40 ng/ml; however, with 10% heat-inactivated serum, the maximal response was seen at 20 ng/ml. The largest increase in cell numbers was produced by the simultaneous exposure to the two cytokines, rather than a sequential presentation. The findings suggest that the 48-h growth response of human gingival fibroblasts to 10 ng/ml TGF-ß1 or 20 ng/ml PDGF-BB in serum-free medium was equivalent to growth obtained in medium containing heat-inactivated 10% FBS without added growth factors.     

Psychosocial Adjustment of Children With Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency

Fifty-six children with isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) and their families completed self-report instruments about behavioral, social, and emotional adjustment of the children. Results show that children with IGHD may experience significant behavioral and social adjustment problems. Social and emotional adjustment was best predicted by the relative height discrepancy between an individual and their normal-sized peers. Adjustment varied depending on the type of adjustment under consideration, the relative height discrepancy of the individual, the age and gender of the child, and the amount of time in treatment. Discussion addresses the need for an interdisciplinary approach to effective patient management of children with IGHD.     

Primary Health Care through a community based smoking-cessation program

The International Conference on Primary Health Care, meeting in Alma-Ata, in the Soviet Union, September 12, 1978, expressed the need for urgent action by all governments, all health and development workers and the world community, to protect and promote the health of all people of the world. The world was caught by the phrase which emerged from this conference, Health For All by the Year 2000 and many have examined the articles of the Alma-Ata declaration and tried to implement them in their corner of the world. This paper describes a community-based smoking-cessation program which was implemented in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, during the years 1980–1984. Primary to this project was the belief that people have the right and the duty to participate individually and collectively in planning and implementing their health care. This paper describes one community's effort in putting this belief into practice.Carol Smillie, B.N. BE.d. M.S.c. is an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3J5, Katherine Coffin, BA, MEd is the Program Officer, Nova Scotia Office, Health Promotion Directorate Health and Welfare Canada, 5251 Duke Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Canada B3J 1P3. Kathryn Porter, B.A. (Gen)., is the Information and Education Coordinator, Nova Scotia Division Canadian Cancer Society. Brenda Ryan, B.A., M.B.A. is Program Evaluation Analysist, Nova Scotia Department of Health, 6088 Hollis Street, Halifax. Nova Scotia, Canada. This Project was funded by Health and Welfare Canada, Nova Scotia Department of Health, Nova Scotia Division Canadian Cancer Society, Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Professor Carol Smillie.     

Genetic basis of tobacco smoking: strong association of a specific major histocompatibility complex haplotype on chromosome 6 with smoking behavior

The genetic basis for addiction to tobacco smoking--particularly that of the perception of olfactory stimuli that may be important in reinforcing smoking addiction--is largely unknown. A cluster of genes for olfactory receptors is in close proximity to the MHC region on chromosome 6. Polymorphisms of MHC class III genes (RCCX modules, TNFA promoter polymorphisms) were determined in 101 healthy subjects and 232 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients from Hungary with defined tobacco smoking habits. A highly significant association between ever smoking (past + current smokers) and a specific MHC haplotype was observed (odds ratios = 2.14-4.13; P-values = 0.012 to <0.001). This haplotype is characterized by the presence of C4A null alleles and a solitary short C4B gene linked to the TNF2 allele of the promoter for TNFA gene. This haplotype occurred more frequently in the ever smokers than in the never smokers [odds ratio: 4.97 (1.96-12.62); P = 0.001], and such associations were stronger in women (odds ratio = 13.6) than in men (odds ratio = 2.79). An independent study of complement C4 protein polymorphism and smoking habits in Icelandic subjects (n = 351) yielded similar and confirmative results. Considering the documented link between olfactory stimuli and smoking in females, and the presence of a cluster of odorant receptor genes close to the MHC class I region, our findings implicate a potential role of the MHC-linked olfactory receptor genes in the initiation of smoking.     

Characterization of chimpanzee-hamster hybrids by chromosome painting

A panel of chimpanzee-human somatic cell hybrids was characterized by dual Alu-PCR of the chimpanzee DNA in the hybrid and subsequent hybridization of the labeled PCR products to human and chimpanzee chromosomes. In addition to the identification of the intact chimpanzee chromosomes retained in each hybrid, chromosome fragments were identified that will be useful in regional mapping. This technique also revealed the presence of centric inversions.     

Genetic differences influencing behavioral temperature regulation in small mammals. I. Nesting byMus musculus

Nesting behavior was found to differ for animals of five different inbred strains ofMus musculus reared in the same environment, indicating heritable differences in level of nesting byMus. For two separate crosses, hybrid animals built larger nests than did animals of the inbred parental strains. In addition, from data of one of the crosses and derived generations, a very low heritability of nesting but substantial dominance variance were found. This pattern of results is expected of characters which have been the target of natural selection. MaleMus were found to build larger nests than females of all groups tested. These findings suggest that nesting byMus musculus represents required thermoregulatory behavior.This research was supported by NSF grant GU 2591 and HEW grant NS 09536.     

Sterilitätsbehandlung mit donogener Insemination

Donor inseminations (DI) have been performed for decades. Most of the publications on this topic deal only with problems of tolerance and acceptance of this treatment for sterility. We already reported on them in parts I and II. In the present third and last part, we discuss the indications for DI: male infertility, genetic disorders, and unsuccessful assisted reproduction therapy. Which conditions do affect the success of therapy? Which methods are recommended? Our treatment results verify realistically that in effect DI only produces the desired child in about 50 % of the couples. As a complementary therapy, in vitro fertilization (IVF) with donor spermatozoa offers a real chance for pregnancy even for women whose husbands are infertile and who themselves suffer from impaired fertility such as pathological conditions of the fallopian tube or when simple inseminations have not resulted in pregnancy. After receiving consent from the State Physicians’ Chamber, we treated 19 women by donor IVF in our group practice and fulfilled their desire to bear their own child.     

Zonal distribution of glomerular collapse in renal allografts: possible role of vascular changes

Collapsing glomerulopathy (CG), an aggressive variant of focal segmental glomerular sclerosis, is a renal disease with severe proteinuria and rapidly progressive renal failure. The pathogenesis of CG is unknown. It strongly resembles human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated nephropathy, but the patients are HIV negative. The characteristic glomerular lesion is capillary loop collapse with prominent podocytes filling Bowman's space. Interestingly, these glomerular changes are usually associated with severe tubulointerstitial injury, including tubular epithelial degenerative changes, microcystic dilation of several tubules, and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltrate. Recently, it became evident that the morphologic pattern of CG may appear not only in native kidneys, but also de novo in renal allografts, and that the pattern of CG in renal transplants is not always associated with severe proteinuria. Studies describing CG in renal allografts are all based on biopsies. We report 3 allograft nephrectomy specimens that showed a zonal distribution of the characteristic collapsing glomerular changes with associated tubulointerstitial injury. All 3 kidneys had obliterative vascular changes. One nephrectomy specimen had chronic obliterative transplant arteriopathy, 1 had acute vascular rejection, and 1 had thrombotic microangiopathy. None of the patients had severe proteinuria. Our cases suggest that the morphologic pattern of CG in renal allografts may not represent the same disease process as CG in native kidneys and provide further evidence that collapsing glomerular changes do not define the disease entity of CG, but rather represent a pattern of renal injury. Among other factors, hemodynamic disturbance may play a role in the development of the pattern of CG in renal allografts.     

Diarrhea Associated with Vibrio fluvialis in the United States

We report the isolation in the United States of Vibrio fluvialis from the stools of a patient who had severe watery diarrhea without fever and who subsequently died. V. fluvialis, a known enteric pathogen in other parts of the world, should be suspected in patients with watery diarrhea, especially in coastal areas.