Prolactin and known modulators of rat splenocytes activate nuclear protein kinase C

Prolactin (PRL) and other trophic factors rapidly activate a nuclear pool(s) of protein kinase C (nPKC) in purified splenocyte nuclei. The PRL also enhanced [2-3H]glycerol incorporation into nuclear mono- and triacylglycerol. An assay was devised which not only probed the ability of the hormone to activate protein kinase C (PKC) but also demonstrated the presence of nuclear substrates. Using this methodology, a biphasic concentration-response curve to PRL was observed. Heterologous species of PRL and various growth factors also activated nPKC. The PRL-induced nPKC stimulation was antagonized by various immunomodulators, G protein-coupling inhibitors, PKC inhibitors, a calmodulin inhibitor, and a peripheral benzodiazepine agonist and antagonist. A monoclonal antibody to PKC, anti-rat PRL antiserum and a monoclonal anti-rat PRL receptor antibody antagonized PRL-induced PKC-dependent nuclear phosphorylation, further implicating nPKC and a PRL receptor-mediated activation process. Nuclear PKC may be a major target for trophic regulation in response to both positive and negative growth signals.     

Isolating the color vision loss in primary open-angle glaucoma

We evaluated the results of Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue tests in age- and lens density-matched eyes of normal subjects, glaucoma suspects, and patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. With these controls in place, no significant correlation between the test results and age or between the test results and lens density was found. However, a significant difference in the total error scores on the 100-Hue test remained. This difference could not be explained by pupil size or medications taken. We concluded that color vision loss in glaucoma is in part attributable to the disease process and cannot be explained solely on the basis of changes in age and lens density.     

Lectin-cytochemical study on epithelial mucus glycoprotein of conjunctiva and pterygium

The epithelium of pterygium and conjunctiva was studied with reference to cytochemical reactivity to six fluorescein-labeled lectins that recognize a certain carbohydrate residue(s) of cellular membrane-bound or secretory glycoprotein: Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1, specific for fucose); Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA, specific for N-acetylgalactosamine); peanut agglutinin (PNA, specific for galactose-beta 1-3N-acetylgalactosamine): wheat germ agglutinin (WGA, specific for N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid); Concanavalia ensiformis (Con A, specific for mannose); Ricinus communis agglutinin-1 (RCA-1, specific for galactose). Non-goblet epithelial cells of pterygium were labeled with UEA-1, DBA and PNA, while those of conjunctiva were not. Distribution density of goblet cells was larger in pterygium than in conjunctiva, but there was no distinct difference in lectin reactivity between the two tissues, with marked label with WGA, PNA and RCA-1. Con A did not bind to either pterygium or conjunctiva. The observations suggest the presence of anomalous mucus glycoproteins secreted from pterygium.     

Cavernous haemangioma presenting as an orbital mass after enucleation for a choroidal melanoma: case report.

A patient presented with an ipsilateral orbital mass four years after enucleation for a choroidal malignant melanoma. Clinical examination revealed a darkly coloured mass suggestive of recurrent melanoma. CT scanning indicated a locally extensive tumour. Management was by excision without resort to orbital exenteration. Pathological examination revealed a cavernous haemangioma. The natural history of this tumour is discussed.     

Evaluation of two hot water washer disinfectors for medical instruments

Two models of hot water washer disinfectors (Decomat 128 and Hospital A, Euroclean Canada Inc; Ontario, Canada) were evaluated by two methods for their efficacy in disinfecting anesthesia equipment. In the first method, three different microbial suspensions were each sealed into 30 capillary tubes. In the second method, corrugated anesthesia tubes were rinsed with suspensions of each of two bacterial strains. The tubes then underwent a standard cycle in the hot water washer disinfectors and were subsequently tested for growth of microorganisms. All experiments were repeated three times, and the temperature was registered in all cases. In the capillary test, growth was rarely detected (13/540 tubes) and the inactivation factor for both apparatus was greater than 5 log10. In the rinse test, no growth was detected. The mean temperature for 15 disinfection cycles was 84.2 +/- 0.8 degrees C for Decomat 128 and 88.9 +/- 0.5 degrees C for Hospital A. However, for Decomat 128 we observed a variation of 3 degrees C from one disinfection cycle to another and a progressive reduction of 2.2 degrees C over a series of five consecutive complete cycles. Both methods gave reproducible results. Under our experimental conditions, both hot water washer disinfectors proved to be efficacious for the disinfection of reusable anesthesia equipment.     

Metabolic response to beet fibre test meals

Test meals with 10.9 g dietary fibre from sugar beet and corresponding control meals were given to eight healthy subjects, aged 67 ± 9 years. The postprandial glucose, triglyceride, hormone and glycerol responses were monitored during 3 hours. After the beet fibre meal the insulin and C-peptide areas were reduced by 28 ( P < 0.01) and 22% ( P > 0.025), respectively, and the somatostatin levels increased by approximately 30% ( P > 0.05). Further, the maximum relative postprandial reduction of plasma glycerol levels was less evident after the fibre-rich meal than after the control meal (36 ± 4% v. 46 ± 4%, P < 0.05). There was no apparent difference in the overall glycaemic response between the meals. The triglyceride levels were similar after both test meals.
Suspension of beet fibre bread given to rats by oro-gastric intubation induced lower blood glucose response than a control bread at 15 and 30 min ( P < 0.001), respectively, but a similar insulin response.
The results suggest an effect of beet fibre on the rate of carbohydrate absorption, expressed as a lower insulin response in the healthy volunteers and a reduced glucose response in the rat.
The mechanism behind this effect in healthy subjects could possibly be mediated by an increased somatostatin response.     

Back pain, back abnormalities, and competing medical, psychological, and social factors as predictors of sick leave, early retirement, unemployment, labour turnover and mortality: a 22 year follow up of male employees in a Swedish pulp and paper company.

A total of 391 male employees in a Swedish pulp and paper company were followed up for 22 years. As a part of a health examination in 1961 back pain reported by the subjects and abnormalities of the back as judged by the physicians were investigated with respect to predictive power regarding sick leave, early retirement, unemployment, labour turnover, and mortality during the follow up period. Univariate analysis showed that abnormalities of the back were better than back pain for predicting early retirement. Neither back pain nor back abnormalities had any predictive power with respect to long term sick leave, labour turnover, or mortality. Multivariate analyses of 26 variables were performed. Both self assessment of general health and back abnormalities were predictive for early retirement with a diagnosis of back disorder on the retirement certificate but self assessed health was a stronger predictor. Age, smoking, and neuroticism were predictors regarding early retirement for all diagnoses. Education had a negative association; neuroticism did not predict early retirement with a diagnosis of back disorder.