The Manner Born: Birth Rites in Cross‐Cultural Perspective

Edited by Lauren Dundes. Walnut Creek (CA): Altamira Press, 2003. 239 pages. $27.95, paperback, $75.00, hardback.     

HP 818: A centrally acting analgesic with neuroleptic properties

HP 818 (1-benzoyl-6-fluoro-3-(1-methyl-4-piperidinyl)-1H-indazole) exhibits the profile of a potent nonnarcotic analgesic with neuroleptic properties. HP 818 blocks the effects of chemical (phenylquinone), pressure (tail clip), and radiant heat (tail flick) painful stimuli in mice (ED₅₀ values of 0.3, 1.2, and 4.1 mg/kg s.c., respectively). This compound displays antinociceptive activity by the subcutaneous, oral, and intravenous routes of administration. It is also effective in the shock titration assay in squirrel monkeys and in a model of surgically induced pain. The rank order of potency of HP 818 and several other standard compounds in these tests for analgesia was Innovar > fentanyl > HP 818 > codeine > droperidol. In addition to its antinociceptive effects, HP 818 possesses neuroleptic properties. It is active in the climbing mouse, pole climb avoidance, and intracranial self-stimulation assays (ED₅₀ values of 1.8, 1.7, and 2.5 mg/kg i.p., respectively). Moreover, HP 818 inhibits amphetamine- and apomorphine-induced stereotypy, indicative of D₂-dopaminergic blocking properties. HP 818, unlike typical neuroleptic agents, does not induce supersensitivity to the effects of apomorphine when administered chronically in mice. In contrast to the clinical standard neuroleptanalgesic Innovar, HP 818 (1.0–3.0 mg/kg i.v.) produces no significant cardiovascular or respiratory changes in the anesthetized dog. Thus, HP 818 is potentially an effective presurgical medication due to its nonnarcotic analgesic activity and sedative neuroleptic effects, along with its lack of limiting cardiorespiratory side effects.     

Distribution of circulation-derived endothelial progenitors following systemic delivery.

Cells with an endothelial phenotype can be cultured from peripheral blood. These cells include cells of a monocytic origin with endothelial features (culture-modified mononuclear cells, CMMCs) and, at later time points, blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs). Both are promising candidates for systemic cell-based cardiovascular therapies and each may have unique capabilities. Indeed, the combined use of both cell types has been shown to have synergistic therapeutic features requiring simultaneous delivery. However, the majority of preclinical studies of cell delivery have used splenectomized animals to increase systemic distribution. The goal of this study was to directly compare the distribution of these two cell types following systemic delivery in an intact animal model. A similar pattern of delivery was seen following delivery of both cell types with detection in the lung, liver, bone marrow, and spleen. Taken together, the data suggest that strategies using systemic delivery of circulation-derived cells must consider the distribution and efficiency of delivery in intact animals.     

Threshold effect of urinary glycosaminoglycans and the walk test as indicators of disease progression in a survey of subjects with Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome)

A cross-sectional survey in individuals affected with the lysosomal storage disease Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI) was conducted to establish demographics, urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) levels, and clinical progression of the disease. The survey evaluated 121 bona fide MPS VI-affected individuals over the age of 4 years from 15 countries across the Americas, Europe, and Australasia representing greater than 10% of the estimated world prevalence of the disease. A medical history, complete physical exam, urinary GAG determination, and assessment of several clinical measures related to physical endurance, pulmonary function, joint range of motion, strength, and quality of life were completed for each participant. Although a wide variation in clinical presentation was observed, several general findings were obtained reflecting progression of the disease. Impaired physical endurance, as measured by the distance achieved in a 6-min walk, could be demonstrated across all age groups of MPS VI-affected individuals. High urinary GAG values (>200 mug/mg creatinine) were associated with an accelerated clinical course comprised of age-adjusted short stature and low body weight, impaired endurance, compromised pulmonary function, and reduced joint range of motion. An unexpected result was the predominance of urinary GAG values <100 mug/mg creatinine for those participants over the age of 20 years. Pending the collection of longitudinal data, these results suggest that urinary GAG levels predict clinical morbidity, and longer-term survival is associated with urinary GAG levels below a threshold of 100 mug/mg creatinine.     

Effects of protein supplementation during prolonged exercise at moderate altitude on performance and plasma amino acid pattern

Summary The effects of two levels of protein intake on muscle performance and energy metabolism were studied in humans submitted to repeated daily sessions of prolonged exercise at moderate altitude. For this purpose, 29 healthy males, were exposed to seven successive stages of ski-mountaineering at altitudes between 2500 and 3 800 m, and to an isocaloric diet (4000 kcal·day^–1, 16760 kJ·day^–1) with either 1.5g·kg^–1·day^–1 (C group,n =14), or 2.5 g·kg^–1·day^–1 (PR group,n =15) protein intake. Measurements made after the ski-mountaineering programme did not show any change in body mass. The peak torque during maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) of the quadriceps muscle was unaffected by the repeated exercises, whereas the endurance time at 50% MVC was decreased in PR subjects (–26.8%,P<0.001). Increased levels of both free fatty acids (+147%,P<0.001) and glycerol (+170%,P<0.001) observed in C subjects would suggest that lipolysis was enhanced after the repeated exercise. The plasma amino acid pattern was altered after completion of the ski-mountaineering programme; the plasma concentration of the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) was significantly decreased in C subjects, whereas the higher level of protein intake (PR group) greatly minimized the exercise-induced decrease in serum BCAA.     

Quadriceps-hamstring EMG activity during functional, closed kinetic chain exercise to fatigue

It has been hypothesized that the ability of the neuromuscular system to co-contract muscles for joint stabilization may be impaired during the development of fatigue. The purpose of this study was to examine muscle activation of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles during a prolonged closed kinetic chain exercise, the forward lunge. Eight males and two females [mean (SD) age 26.0 (2.3) years, height 177.2 (13.6) cm, body mass 82.8 (17.1) kg] with no prior knee pathology volunteered for this study. Subjects performed repeated forward lunges onto their dominant leg at the cadence of one full lunge cycle every 2 s, until the point of volitional failure. Digital switches were positioned to record foot-strike and knee-strike of the lunge leg at the midpoint of the lunge, as well as heel-strike upon return to stance. During the lunge performance, surface electromyographic (EMG) signals of the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST) muscles of the supporting leg were measured. Heart rate was also monitored every 30 s during the performance. All EMG data were full-wave rectified, partitioned into up and down phases, and integrated over the entire exercise period. The results demonstrated a significant increase in activation of the VL, VM, and BF during performance of the forward lunge to volitional failure (P < 0.05). No significant increase was shown for the ST. Heart rate increased significantly over the course of the lunge. These findings suggest that activation of the VL, VM, and BF muscles occurs as a unit during performance of the forward lunge during both concentric and eccentric lunge phases. Accepted: 25 October 1999     

Human papillomavirus type 18 variant lineages in United States populations characterized by sequence analysis of LCR-E6, E2, and L1 regions

While HPV 16 variant lineages have been well characterized, the knowledge about HPV 18 variants is limited. In this study, HPV 18 nucleotide variations in the E2 hinge region were characterized by sequence analysis in 47 control and 51 tumor specimens. Fifty of these specimens were randomly selected for sequencing of an LCR-E6 segment and 20 samples representative of LCR-E6 and E2 sequence variants were examined across the L1 region. A total of 2770 nucleotides per HPV 18 variant genome were considered in this study. HPV 18 variant nucleotides were linked among all gene segments analyzed and grouped into three main branches: Asian-American (AA), European (E), and African (Af). These three branches were equally distributed among controls and cases and when stratified by Hispanic and non-Hispanic ethnicities. Among invasive cervical cancer cases, no significant differences in the three HPV variant branches were observed among ethnic groups or when stratified by histopathology (squamous vs. adenocarcinoma). The Af branch showed the greatest nucleotide variability when compared to the HPV 18 reference sequence and was more closely related to HPV 45 than either AA or E branches. Our data also characterize nucleotide and amino acid variations in the L1 capsid gene among HPV 18 variants, which may be relevant to vaccine strategies and subsequent studies of naturally occurring HPV 18 variants. Several novel HPV 18 nucleotide variations were identified in this study.     

To a day care surgical hospital (III). Influence of two anesthetic techniques on some appraisal criteria of the Newman test

Fourty four young male patients, anesthetised to undergo common peripheral surgery, performed the Newman test during pre-anesthetic consultation, then again 2 h. 30 and 3 h. 30 after induction of anesthesia and, if possible, 3 days later. Five different criteria of analysis were selected to rate the drawing. These criteria were compared either on an individual basis or altogether with the Student "t" test. The anesthetic and surgical modes were comparable, except for the anesthetic drug used, either a combination of fentanyl-Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) for 22 patients or a combination of fentanyl-diazepam for the remaining 22. There was no significant difference between any of the criteria used except for the time duration to perform the test which was less in the GHB group 2 h. 30 min. after induction. This result supports a comparative study of the Newman test after other anesthetic inductions.