Blood donation behavior of Hispanics in the lower Rio Grande Valley

This study was designed to determine the blood donation behavior and attitudes of Hispanic residents of the Lower Rio Grande Valley for the purpose of developing promotional and educational approaches to enhance levels of donor participation. Personal interviews of 545 respondents were conducted in English and Spanish using quota sampling and standard intercept techniques at lower- and middle-income supermarkets in five cities during a payday weekend. A number of research hypotheses were established to test for demographic, behavioral, and attitudinal differences that were observed in donors and nondonors using chi-square analysis and multiple discriminant analysis. After analyzing the difference between Hispanics and non-Hispanics for blood donation rates, all non-Hispanics were eliminated from analysis, and the remaining 419 Hispanics were evaluated on the basis of their donor behavior. Donation among Hispanics was most likely to be by better- educated, English-speaking, higher-job-status individuals who had participated in a blood donation drive. Donors tend to have parent(s) who were donors, and they were also more likely to carry an organ donor card. Donors were found to vary in their behaviors as well as their attitudes and beliefs. Perceptions of a lack of safety in donating, the risk of contracting acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and the financial motivation of donors were most pronounced among Hispanics, which indicated a need for improved education on these issues.     

Human leukocyte antigen matching and fetal loss: results of a 10 year prospective study

The role that maternal and fetal human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes play in pregnancy is unknown, but it has been suggested that fetuses whose HLA alleles do not differ from maternal alleles (i.e. histocompatible fetuses) are more likely to be aborted than fetuses with HLA alleles that differ from maternal alleles (i.e. histoincompatible fetuses). To elucidate the role of HLA compatibility in pregnancy, we tested the hypothesis that couples who match for HLA alleles or haplotypes would have reduced fertility because only these couples could produce histocompatible fetuses. We conducted a 10 year prospective study of HLA matching and pregnancy outcome in 111 Hutterite couples, providing information on 251 pregnancies. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of HLA matching at HLA regions and loci on pregnancy outcome (fetal loss versus delivery). Significantly increased fetal loss rates were observed among couples matching for the entire 16-locus haplotype (P = 0.002). Among the individual loci, loss rates were increased among couples matching for HLA-B (P = 0.019), HLA-C (P = 0.033) and the complement component, C4 (P = 0.043). We interpret these results as evidence that matching for the entire 16-locus haplotype and/or alleles at an HLA-B-linked locus confers significant risk for fetal loss.      

Apolipoprotein B gene DNA polymorphisms are associated with macro- and microangiopathy in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Ukkola O, Savolainen MJ, Salmela PI, von Dickhoff K, Kesäniemi YA. Apolipoprotein B gene DNA polymorphisms are associated with macro-and microangiopathy in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Clin Genet 1993: 44: 177–184. © Munksgaard, 1993 The relationship between diabetic macroangiopathy or microangiopathy and apolipoprotein B (apoB) polymorphism was studied in 139 male and 129 female patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) mellitus, comprising consecutive patients with poor diabetic control (HBA1 13.2%\pm2.7 (SD)) referred to our hospital. Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were higher in the patients who were homozygous for the X2 allele (presence of Xba I cleavage site). Patients with the X1 allele (absence of Xba I cleavage site) tended to have a higher frequency of macroangiopathy, although the differences were not statistically significant. There was no difference in the prevalence of microangiopathy between the groups. In subjects with only an R1 allele (= R +; homozygous for the presence of EcoR I cleavage site) the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) was observed to be high (61.9%) as compared to the subjects possessing an R2 allele (= R —; homozygous or heterozygous for the absence of the EcoR I cleavage site) (46.7%; p<0.02). When the polymorphisms Xba I (subjects homozygous for the absence of the cutting site = X +; subjects homozygous or heterozygous for the presence of the cutting site = X —) and EcoR I were combined, the prevalence of macroangiopathy was observed to be high in X + R + (80.0%) as compared with X + R- (44.2%), X-R+ (56.8%) and X-R- (50.0%) (p<0.03). The prevalence of macroangiopathy tended to be particularly high in patients with the apoprotein E4 allele (phenotype E4\4 or E4/3), combined with either X+ or R +. Our findings suggest that variation at the apoB locus is one of the factors involved in predisposing diabetic patients to the development of arterial disease. As in previous studies the effect of the variation at the apoB gene on circulating lipid levels was observed. The data also support a role for the e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene as an important determinant of macroangiopathy in NIDDM.     

Marrow regeneration after mechanical depletion

The origin of marrow regeneration after mechanical depletion was reinvestigated in mouse chimeras. The results were compatible with the local origin of stem cells from remnants of incompletely removed marrow, but not with their origin from a common precursor of both bone and hemopoietic cell lines. In transplanted femurs depleted by a modified technique of in vivo evacuation of marrow, hemopoietic regeneration failed to occur. The presence of hemopoietic stem cells in the Haversian canals was thus excluded. The demonstration of ample hemopoiesis with minimal bone formation in nondepleted controls in which bone marrow initially became necrotic provided new evidence that osteogenesis was not a prerequisite of hemopoietic regeneration.     

The interaction between carrier rugosity and carrier payload, and its effect on drug particle redispersion from adhesive mixtures during inhalation.

The effectiveness of press-on forces (defined as the adhesive forces between drug and carrier particles) in relation to carrier payload as the result of collisions between carrier particles during the mixing process of an adhesive mixture, has been investigated. Three different carriers of the same size fraction (250-355 microm), but with completely different surface rugosity were studied. It could be shown that this effectiveness depends on the carrier rugosity. The fraction of drug detached from the carrier particles during inhalation appeared to decrease faster with increasing carrier payload for crystalline carriers than for granular carriers. Apparently, increasing the volume of the carrier surface cavities increases the drug mass that can find shelter from the press-on forces during mixing. By measuring the size distribution in the aerosol, it could also be shown that the press-on forces may increase the size of the particles that are detached. This seems to be the result of drug particle re-agglomeration on the carrier surface during mixing. On the other hand, when press-on forces are highly ineffective, an increase in the size of detached particles may also be the result of incomplete break-up of natural drug agglomerates. Finally, it could be shown that when the press-on forces are highly effective, the effect of mixing time is small.     

First-time anterior shoulder dislocations: should they be arthroscopically stabilised?

The glenohumeral joint is inherently unstable because the large humeral head articulates with the small shadow glenoid fossa. Traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder is a relatively common athletic injury, and the high frequency of recurrent instability in young athletes after shoulder dislocation is discouraging to both the patient and the treating physician. Management of primary traumatic shoulder dislocation remains controversial. Traditionally, treatment involves initial immobilisation for 4–6 weeks, followed by functional rehabilitation. However, in view of the high recurrence rates associated with this traditional approach, there has been an escalating interest in determining whether immediate surgical intervention can lower the rate of recurrent shoulder dislocation, improving the patient’s quality of life. This review article aims to provide an overview of the nature and pathogenesis of first-time primary anterior shoulder dislocations, the widely accepted management modalities, and the efficacy of primary surgical intervention in first-time primary anterior shoulder dislocations.     

A quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay for salmon IGF-I mRNA, and its application in the study of GH regulation of IGF-I gene expression in primary culture of salmon hepatocytes

The hormone insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) regulates vertebrate growth. The liver produces most circulating IGF-I, under the control of pituitary growth hormone (GH) and nutritional status. To study the regulation of liver IGF-I production in salmon, we established a primary hepatocyte culture system and developed a TaqMan quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay for salmon IGF-I gene expression. A portion of the coho salmon acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 (ARP) cDNA was sequenced for use as a reference gene. A systematic bias across the 96 well PCR plate was discovered in an initial IGF-I assay, which was corrected when the assay was redesigned. IGF-I mRNA levels measured with the validated assay correlated well with levels measured with an RNase protection assay, and were highest in liver compared with other tissues. We examined the time course of hepatocyte IGF-I gene expression over 48 h in culture, the response to a range of GH concentrations in hepatocytes from fed and fasted fish, and potential effects of variation in IGF-I in the medium. IGF-I gene expression decreased over time in culture in hepatocytes in plain medium, and in cells treated with 5 nM GH with or without a combination of metabolic hormones (1 microM insulin, 100 nM triiodothyronine, and 0.1 nM dexamethasone). GH stimulated IGF-I gene expression at all time points. In cells treated with GH plus metabolic hormones, IGF-I gene expression was intermediate between the controls and GH alone. Increasing concentrations of GH resulted in biphasic IGF-I gene expression response curves in cells from fed and fasted fish, with the threshold for stimulation from 0.5 to 2.5 nM GH, maximal response from 5 to 50 nM, and a reduced response at 500 nM. Medium IGF-I (5 nM) did not affect basal or GH stimulated IGF-I gene expression. This study shows that primary hepatocyte culture and the TaqMan IGF-I assay can be used to study the regulation of hepatic IGF-I gene expression in salmon, and provides the first evidence of a biphasic response to GH concentration in fish hepatocyte culture.     

鸟氨酸脱羧酶的生理病理特点及其药物研究概况

鸟氨酸脱羧酶(ornithinedecarboxylase,ODC)是多胺代谢中的关键酶,广泛存在于人体和动物各组织细胞内,其中对肠细胞的增生、移行和分化起重要作用.机体调节因素比较复杂.在黏膜损伤性疾病及某些癌前病变等细胞大量增生的病理情况下ODC的表达发生改变,可以作为这些疾病分期、预后及药物作用靶点或疗效的指标.寻找对ODC有作用的药物对于治疗其相关疾病是非常有意义的.     

High frequency oscillation in newborn infants with respiratory failure

Objective: To report ventilation strategies, survival and complications in 39 outborn infants treated with high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV).
Methodology Data were collected prospectively between 1 May 1992 and 31 December 1993 on all infants treated with HFOV who had severe respiratory failure despite optimal conventional ventilation.
Results Twenty-eight out of 39 (72%) survived. Of the 15 infants with birthweights <1500g, eight survived. Best survival rates were for infants with pulmonary interstitial emphysema with air leak (4/5) and for infants of birthweight >1500g with hyaline membrane disease (8/8), and meconium aspiration syndrome (7/7). Three infants deteriorated while on HFOV and required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Complications were: (i) development of pulmonary interstitial emphysema (1); (ii) recurrence of pneumothorax (3); (iii) hypotension (2); and (iv) bronchopulmonary dysplasia (9). One of the eight infants weighing <1500g who received HFOV in the first week of life developed periventricular haemorrhage.
Conclusion The initial results of HFOV for severe respiratory failure were encouraging although a learning curve was encountered with its introduction.