Biochemical markers of atherogenesis in a nephrotic form of glomerulonephritis in children]

A study was made of the regularities and changes in the fatty acid spectrum of total lipids of the blood serum, in interaction of carbohydrate lipid metabolism, and in the hypophyseal and thyroid system in 92 patients with the nephrotic form of acute and chronic glomerulonephritis. It has been discovered that the nephrotic form of glomerulonephritis is marked by a complex of changes in the fatty acid spectrum of the blood serum, in carbohydrate lipid metabolism at the sites of their conjunction, and in the hypophyseal and thyroid system which can be regarded as metabolic potentialities of atherosclerosis formation.     

Role of hemoglobin in regulation of membrane electrical properties and erythrocyte volume

Erytyrocyte volume in neonates is 25.8% greater than in women. Electrophoretic erythrocyte mobility was the same in neonates and in parturient women. The results obtained indicate that the more heterogeneous the hemoglobin system, the more heterogenous are erythrocyte membrane electrical characteristics. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 7, pp. 49–51, July, 1998     

Dimebon and Tacrine Inhibit Neurotoxic Action of β-Amyloid in Culture and Block L-type Ca2+ Channels

Dimebon, a Russian-made drug, inhibited toxic effects of beta -amyloid on cultured neurons. Excessive accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain is characteristic of Alzheimer dementias. Antialzheimer preparations tacrine and dimebon improve survival of cerebellar granule cells during long-term incubation with Ab25-35, the neurotoxic fragment of beta-amyloid. Both preparations can block potential-dependent Ca²⁺ entry into neurons by about 20%, which is explained by their selective action on L-type Ca²⁺ channels. It was assumed that the neuroprotective effect of dimebon and tacrine against Ab25-35 partially depends on inhibition of potential-dependent Ca²⁺ entry.     

Cancer of the colon in an egg donor: policy repercussions for donor recruitment

This paper describes the tragic case of a young woman who died of cancer of the colon after successfully donating eggs to her younger sister. Although there is no direct link between her operation and the subsequent development of bowel carcinoma, this case imparts a feeling of unease when seen in conjunction with other cases reported during the last few years. It is a reminder that little is known of the long-term consequences of some aspects of assisted conception. Women undergoing ovarian stimulation for themselves or a matched recipient have the right to be advised, in an agreed format, that there is some concern about unproven potential risks from the stimulatory drugs. The safety of egg donors must assume priority over all other considerations, including lack of donors or any moral position. The recent decision by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to withdraw any form of payment or recompense to egg donors does not seem to us to be based on a balance of scientific advances, patient needs and the ethics of gamete supply. They state that the intention to withdraw payments was implicit in the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act. However the Act was based on the Warnock report made 6 years earlier. Even in 1990 ovum donation was uncommon and fertility drugs had not yet caused any unease. The Act provided the HFEA with discretionary powers to issue directions so that the future policies would be consistent with any emerging new medical evidence. It is imperative that the HFEA provide convincing evidence on how the current policy of payment to donors harms society, donors or recipients, and how in the UK the new policy will improve medical practice in assisted conception. Successful pilot studies must precede the implementation of any new policy. Failure to do this could cause irreversible harm to the practice of assisted conception using donor gametes, which will ultimately be against the basic aims of the 1990 HFE Act.      

Effect of beta-amyloid peptide fragment 25-35 on nonselective permeability of mitochondria

Beta-Amyloid peptide fragment 25-35 potentiated phosphate- and calcium-induced opening of mitochondrial channels and caused swelling of mitochondria (even without exogenous calcium and phosphate). These changes were accompanied by accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in mitochondria. Specific inhibitors of mitochondrial channels ADP and cyclosporine A prevented beta-amyloid peptide-induced swelling of mitochondria. Our findings suggest that potentiation of mitochondrial channel opening is an important component of the neurodegenerative effect of beta-amyloid.     

Investigation of three new mouse mammary tumor cell lines as models for transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and Neu pathway signaling studies: identification of a novel model for TGF-β-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Introduction  

This report describes the isolation and characterization of three new murine mammary epithelial cell lines derived from mammary tumors from MMTV (mouse mammary tumor virus)/activated Neu + TβRII-AS (transforming growth factor [TGF]-β type II receptor antisense RNA) bigenic mice (BRI-JM01 and BRI-JM05 cell lines) and MMTV/activated Neu transgenic mice (BRI-JM04 cell line).     

Response to influenza virus vaccination in vertical HIV infection

OBJECTIVE: To assess the antibody response to influenza vaccine of children vertically infected with HIV. DESIGN: Prospective study in HIV infected children vaccinated during the winter of 1994-5. SETTING: Family HIV clinic at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. SUBJECTS: 25 children, aged 1-11 years, vertically infected with HIV. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Responses to influenza antigens (H1N1-A/Taiwan/1/86, H3N2-A/Shandong/9/93, B/Panama/45/ 90) were tested by haemagglutination inhibition. Antibody responses were assessed according to clinical symptoms and immune function, stratified according to the 1994 revised classification for HIV infection in children. RESULTS: 23 children (92%) had either very low or no detectable antibody before vaccination. New protective antibody responses were made by 10 children (40%): in seven to a single antigen, in two to two antigens, and in one to all three antigens. For each antigen there was an overall small increase in the mean geometric titre of antibody produced, but this only reached a protective level for antigen H1N1 and for children with minimal symptoms. Less symptomatic children were significantly more likely to produce a protective antibody response to influenza vaccination. No association was found between immune function, as measured by CD4 count, and vaccine response. CONCLUSIONS: Only vaccination of the least symptomatic HIV infected children against influenza is likely to be effective. This will not only protect them against influenza, but will also protect other more immunosuppressed and vulnerable members of their families.