Anti-S-100 Serum blocks long-term potentiation in the hippocampal slice

S-100 is a calcium-binding, glial protein which has been shown to be involved in behavioral learning and memory tasks. Long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus is a long-lasting enhancement of synaptic efficacy evoked by repetitive afferent stimulation. When anti-S-100 serum is applied by pressure ejection onto the stratum radiatum of area CA1 of the hippocampal slice, the amplitude of the extracellularly recorded population spike is not affected. However, repetitive stimulation of the afferents during S-100 application failed to produce LTP. At a distant site in the same slice, LTP occurs normally. Preimmune normal rabbit serum had no effect on the development of LTP. It appears that S-100 protein is involved in the establishment of LTP.     

Influences on Food Selection of Women on High- and Low-Fat Diets

There is evidence that long-term maintenance of a low-fat diet reduces preference for high-fat foods. Sensory evaluation of the taste of fat, and preference for high and low-fat foods were studied in a group of former participants in a randomized dietary intervention trial aimed at lowering fat consumption. Intervention subjects consuming less than 25% of daily calories as fat and control subjects consuming more than 35% of daily calories as fat agreed to be in a "taste perception" study. In Study 1, subjects tasted 20 dairy solutions containing different levels of fat and sugar. Subjects rated the perceived intensity of fat taste, and of liking, for each of the solutions. In Study 2, subjects were asked to taste and rate 4 high-fat and 4 low-fat snack foods, and were then allowed to freely consume these foods in a preference test. Intervention and control subjects were similar in their sensory evaluation of the taste of fat in Study 1. In Study 2, intervention subjects reported a reduced hedonic rating of the taste of high-fat snack foods compared to control subjects, yet intervention subjects consumed the same amount of high-fat snack foods as control subjects. We conclude that a successful outcome in a dietary intervention may be due to social and cognitive factors, in addition to potential changes in hedonic response to fat.     

FACTORS RELATED TO PERINEAL TRAUMA IN CHILDBIRTH

We conducted an observational cohort study in three nurse-midwifery services to identify patient characteristics and clinical care measures related to perineal trauma at birth. Data were collected on all women who began care with a nurse-midwife in labor, using an adaptation of the Nurse-Midwifery Clinical Data Set (n = 3,049). Study variables included demographics, perineal management techniques and position for birth, and other intrapartum care and events. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that episiotomy was strongly related to fetal bradycardia, prolonged second stage, ethnic status, and maternal education level. Warm compresses and flexion/counterpressure to slow delivery were protective. Spontaneous lacerations were influenced by these factors as well. The lateral position for birth was protective, and use of oils or lubricants and the lithotomy position increased lacerations. Multisite studies in nurse-midwifery practices may provide an ideal means of determining effective care measures in healthy populations.     

The effect of placental removal method on the incidence of postcesarean infections

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether the incidence of postoperative endometritis and wound infection is associated with the method of placental removal at the time of cesarean section.STUDY DESIGN: Parturients undergoing cesarean delivery were prospectively randomized to have the placenta removed manually or spontaneously. Patients were excluded from participation if they had received intrapartum prophylactic antibiotics or had been determined to have chorioamnionitis. After delivery of the infant women in the manual group had the placenta extracted by the primary surgeon, whereas women in the spontaneous group had the placenta delivered by gentle traction on the umbilical cord. All study subjects received perioperative prophylactic antibiotics. The primary outcome variable was a postcesarean infection, defined as postcesarean endometritis or wound cellulitis requiring drainage and antibiotic therapy.RESULTS: A total of 333 women were enrolled in the investigation, with 165 assigned to the manual removal group and 168 allocated to have spontaneous removal. There were no statistically significant differences in mean gestational age, frequency or duration of ruptured membranes, frequency or duration of labor, or mean number of vaginal examinations between the two study groups. Postoperative infections occurred in 25 of 168 (15%) women in the spontaneous delivery group compared with 44 of 165 (27%) women in which the placenta was manually extracted (relative risk 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.4 to 0.9, p = 0.01). Subset analysis of patients delivered with ruptured membranes similarly demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of postoperative infections with spontaneous placental removal compared with manual extraction (20% vs. 38%, relative risk 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.3 to 0.9, p = 0.02). There was a similar trend toward a reduction in postdelivery infections associated with spontaneous placental removal in women with intact membranes; however, this difference did not attain statistical significance.CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous delivery of the placenta after cesarean delivery is associated with a decrease in the incidence of postcesarean infections. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;176:1250-4.)     

Interaction of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope protein with liposomes containing galactosylceramide

Summary The glycosphingolipid galactosylceramide (GalCer) has been identified as an alternate receptor for the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Here we review a liposome flotation assay used to study the interaction of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (env) with artificial membrane vesicles containing GalCer. The properties of binding, the nature of the env binding site for GalCer, and the implications of this interaction for HIV-1 infection are discussed.     

Mentoring in inservice training for child care workers

A model for training the trainers of child care providers that employs Vygotsky's framework of the Zone of Proximal Development is described. This efficient training mechanism proposes mentoring relationships as a means to meet the developmental needs of experienced child care professionals and improve the quality of existing child care programs.The authors would like to thank Dr. Bille Thomas and the satellite resource center directors and staff members for their work on the project.     

Ampicillin-Sulbactam versus Cefoxitin for Prophylaxis in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

This double-blind study compared ampicillin-sulbactam 3 g versus cefoxitin 2 g in 136 adult patients at risk for developing an infection after abdominal surgery. Separate randomization schedules were used for colorectal, upper gastrointestinal/biliary, and other abdominal procedures. Study antibiotics were administered within 30 minutes before incision and repeated 6 hours later. Patients having colorectal surgery received a third dose of antibiotic 6 hours after the second. Efficacy evaluations were made on 123 patients, 62 in the ampicillin-sulbactam group and 61 in the cefoxitin group. The overall postoperative infection rates were 12.9% for ampicillin-sulbactam and 9.8% for cefoxitin (p>0.05); one wound infection occurred in each group. Adverse events were experienced by 13.2% of the ampicillin-sulbactam and 19.1% of the cefoxitin recipients (p>0.05). Cost-minimization analysis revealed that ampicillin-sulbactam was a cost-effective alternative to cefoxitin for the prevention of infection after abdominal surgery.     

Assessing quality of life in primary biliary cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is not routinely reported in the literature on chronic liver disease (CLD). Few studies have examined quality of life (QOL) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) despite its significant functional impact. One of the reasons for the lack of HRQOL measurement in patients with PBC may be the absence of a well-recognized and widely used measure that clinicians can use in ordinary clinical practice. The aim of this study is to evaluate HRQOL measures used in patients with PBC and examine the suitability of the measures for these patients. METHODS: A literature search identified reports that focused on any aspect of QOL in patients with PBC. Key texts were identified containing generic, domain-specific, and condition-specific measures. The identified measures were systematically evaluated for appropriateness, acceptability, reliability, validity, precision, and responsiveness. RESULTS: Twenty measures were identified from 9 key texts. Six of the measures were previously validated generic measures; 10 were domain-specific measures previously used to measure fatigue, depression, and psychological distress in general and psychiatric populations; and 4 measures had been developed in patients with CLD. Reporting of reliability and validity generally was consistent for all measures used. However, reporting of the remaining criteria was variable, particularly in relation to responsiveness over time and acceptability of the measures to patients with PBC. CONCLUSIONS: A clearer and more rigorous approach is needed in reporting the properties of HRQOL measures used in patients with PBC to help clinicians decide which measures are most suitable for these patients.