Genetic polymorphisms in dopamine-related genes and smoking cessation in women: a prospective cohort study

Background  

Genes involved in dopaminergic neurotransmission have been suggested as candidates for involvement in smoking behavior. We hypothesized that alleles associated with reduced dopaminergic neurotransmission would be more common in continuing smokers than among women who quit smoking.     

Advanced primary breast cancer: assessment at mammography of response to induction chemotherapy

The response to induction chemotherapy is an important prognostic factor in patients with nonmetastatic, locally advanced breast carcinomas. Assessment at mammography of the response of 60 breast cancers in 59 women was performed between 1974 and 1986. Responses were excellent in 13 tumors, moderate in 34, and poor in 13 (excellent moderate = 78%). Assessment of response of discrete masses in a fatty breast was easiest; assessment of response of tumor areas that were poorly defined-such as a focal area of architectural distortion or mass in dense breast parenchyma-was more difficult. Of 17 patients with excellent pathologic responses-that is, minimal or no residual tumor-15 (88%) had complete responses (no residual tumor) as determined with mammography, physical examination, or both. Mammography provides information complementary to physical examination and is essential in the accurate assessment of the response to chemotherapy of locally advanced breast cancer.     

Physiology of continuous blood flow in recipients of rotary cardiac assist devices.

The beating heart and the resultant pulse wave have been a symbol of life for centuries. The development history of roller pumps for cardiopulmonary bypass shows that the human body tolerates non-pulsatile blood flow, at least for short-term support. Over the last few years, many types of rotary blood pumps have been developed for clinical use in patients requiring mid- to long-term support. Although early clinical experiences in patients with long-term support have been promising, the matter of whether pulsatile flow is needed or not remains controversial. Therefore, this review summarizes the observed clinical consequences of continuous blood flow in patients supported by rotary blood pumps and relates these consequences to underlying experimental studies.     

Melatonin and other serotonin derivatives in the guinea pig membranous cochlea

In mammals, the indolealkylamine melatonin is synthesized mainly in the pineal gland and to a lesser degree in a number of extrapineal sites. To obtain more information on its distribution, melatonin was measured in the membranous cochlea of the guinea pig. Moreover, melatonin and other serotonin derivatives were determined in organ cultures after incubation with 14C-labelled serotonin. The results show that melatonin is detectable in the organ of Corti and the basilar membrane, and to a lesser degree also in the cochlear nerve and stria vascularis, including the spiral ligament. In vitro studies reveal the occurrence of a number of radiolabelled serotonin derivatives indicating that two of the melatonin-forming enzymes, serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) are present in membranous cochlea. It is concluded that melatonin is synthesized in the guinea pig cochlea. Its role as modulator of hair cell function is dissolved.     

Artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization using donor spermatozoa: a report on 15 years of experience

Donor insemination (DI) using cryopreserved semen commenced at The Royal Women's Hospital in 1976. Over the next 15 years we performed 5953 treatment cycles to achieve 816 pregnancies (13.7% per cycle) and 706 live births. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) using donor spermatozoa commenced in 1986. Over the next 5 years we performed 303 treatment cycles for 185 couples. Including subsequent transfer of cryopreserved embryos, a total of 33% of couples achieved a successful pregnancy by IVF. Statistical analysis indicated that, for DI pregnancies, the most important semen variable was the percentage post-thaw motility, whilst for normal fertilization in IVF it was the pre-freeze motility. These results may be explained by the compensatory effects of post-thaw processing of spermatozoa for IVF, but not for DI in our clinic.      

Characterization of the interleukin 5-reactive splenic B cell population

The characteristics of the interleukin (IL) 5-reactive splenic B cell population of C57BL/6 nu/nu mice, with respect to IL 5/IL2 reactivity, cell surface phenotype, VH gene family usage, autoreactivity and the structure of the IL5 receptor (IL5R), were analyzed. It was found that 2%-4% of splenic B cells express relatively high levels of IL 5R as determined by the binding of the anti-IL 5R monoclonal antibody R52.120. Over 90% of the splenic B cells that mature to IgM secretion upon activation with IL5 are comprised in this small subpopulation of B cells. Moreover, the vast majority of splenic B cells that mature to IgM-secreting cells when activated by IL2 also reside in this IL5R+B cell population. The cell surface phenotype of the IL5R+ splenic B cells is IgM+, B220+, Ly-1- and IL2R p55-. Upon activation with IL5 this cell surface phenotype changes, in that a vast majority of the B cells then express the p55 chain of the IL2R, whereas the level of IL5R decreases. VH gene family usage in the IL5-activated splenic B cells was analyzed by in situ hybridization. VH gene family usage was found to be random and not different from the VH genes expressed in LPS-activated B cells. Hybridoma collections from IL5-activated splenic B cells and LPS-activated B cells were screened and compared for the production of autoantibodies and antibodies directed against the haptens (4-hydroxy-3-iodo-5-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NIP) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP). In both collections high, but not significantly different frequencies of autoantibody-(32% IL5, 31.4% LPS) and of anti-hapten antibody (27.8% IL5, 18.6% LPS)-producing hybridomas were found. The structure of the IL5R on IL5-activated B cells was analyzed by 125I-labeled IL5 binding and cross-linking. About 100 high-affinity (10(-11) M) and 1000 low-affinity (10(-9) M) IL5-binding sites are present on IL5-activated splenic B cells, and both high- and low-affinity IL5R are similar to those expressed on the IL5-dependent B13 cell line. Cross-linking of 125I-labeled IL5 to the receptors on IL5-activated B cells revealed one major IL5-binding protein of 45-50 kDa molecular mass and another minor binding protein of 130-140 kDa. The same IL5-binding proteins are present on the IL5-dependent B13 cell line.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Regulation of cyclic AMP level by progesterone in ovariectomized rat neocortex

Exposure of neocortical slices to progesterone, without prior treatment with estrogen, augmented forskolin-induced cyclic AMP within 15 min. 30 nM progesterone produced approximately 1/2 the maximal effect but as little as 10 nM progesterone produced a detectable increase in cyclic AMP. When forskolin was replaced by dideoxyforskolin, an analog that does not directly stimulate adenylyl cyclase but shares many of its other actions, progesterone did not augment cyclic AMP. Progesterone also failed to affect increased cyclic AMP that followed exposure to norepinephrine or isoproterenol. The effect of progesterone upon cyclic AMP was also evident when tetrodotoxin was added to block voltage-dependent sodium channels, suggesting that intercellular communication that is dependent upon action potentials was not necessary. The effect of progesterone was at least partially blocked by antagonists of GABAA receptor action, suggesting the involvement of GABAA or GABAA-like receptors. The effect of progesterone was also not homogeneous over the neo cortex. While forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP was augmented by progesterone in the parietal and occipital regions, it was suppressed in the frontal region. These results are envisioned as a progesterone action upon a small and perhaps compartmentalized component of the cellular cyclic AMP system, an effect that is made detectable in our whole-tissue assay by the well known ability of forskolin to potentiate many hormonal effects upon cyclic AMP.