Proposal for a composite index of alcohol problems.

This study proposes constructing a composite index to measure the severity of alcohol problems in Canada. Composite summary indicators are used in many areas, particularly in economics where the Consumer Price Index is well known. The composite indexes developed for this analysis were constructed using the index number method.

In vitro decapsidation of turnip yellow mosaic virus investigated by cryo-electron microscopy: a model for the decapsidation of a small isometric virus.

The in vitro decapsidation of a small isometric plant virus, turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV), was investigated by cryo-electron microscopy. Cryo-electron micrographs of TYMV and empty shells show that rapidly frozen virions still contain their RNA. Images of vitrified virions resemble closely those previously obtained by negative staining.

Scanning force microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy of tobacco mosaic virus as a test specimen.

In this study, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) provides a resolution criterion for specimen preparation methods as well as for imaging parameters of the scanning force microscope (SFM). We present scanning force microscopic images of the virus embedded in 0.5% buffered phosphotungstic acid solution adsorbed on a freshly cleaved mica surface, and imaged under atmospheric conditions.

The apical localization of transcribing RNA polymerases on supercoiled DNA prevents their rotation around the template.

The interaction of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase with supercoiled DNA was visualized by cryo-electron microscopy of vitrified samples and by classical electron microscopy methods. We observed that when E. coli RNA polymerase binds to a promoter on supercoiled DNA, this promoter becomes located at an apical loop of the interwound DNA molecule.

Imaging of DNA by scanning force microscopy.

The scanning probe microscopies applied to the sequencing of DNA is a challenging goal attempted by several groups. But one limitant parameter has been the sample preparation of DNA molecules. Here we report how to hold DNA molecules fixed on mica substrate and we show the three-dimensional configuration of double-stranded DNA obtained with our scanning force microscope.

Multicenter double-blind trial of gabexate mesylate (FOY) in unselected patients with acute pancreatitis.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of gabexate mesylate (FOY) in acute pancreatitis. One hundred unselected patients were randomly allocated into two groups: 51 were assigned to receive FOY (12 mg/kg/day as continuous intravenous infusion for a minimum of 4 days and a maximum of 12 days), and 49 were allocated to placebo. The groups were comparable in demographic, clinical and biochemical parameters, etiology of pancreatitis, and disease severity, which was generally mild.

The three-dimensional structure of reovirus obtained by cryo-electron microscopy.

The structures of reovirus serotypes T2J (Jones), T3D (Dearing) and the T3D core particle have been determined by cryo-electron microscopy and image processing. At a resolution of 30 A the two serotypes have similar features. The core is visible within the virus structure.

Secreted acid phosphatase of Leishmania mexicana: a filamentous phosphoglycoprotein polymer.

In the promastigote, or insect stage, most species of the parasitic protozoan Leishmania secrete an acid phosphatase. The enzyme purified from the culture medium of Leishmania mexicana is shown to be a complex [13.3% (wt/wt) protein, 74.

Long-term trends in male drunkenness arrests in metropolitan Toronto: effects of social-setting detoxication centers.

Drunkenness arrest rates for adult males in Toronto decreased substantially during the period 1966 to 1987. In 1971 there was a change in legislation permitting police to take public inebriates to detoxication centers. Drunkenness rates continued to decline at a rate similar to that for the previous 3 years.

Direct visualization of supercoiled DNA molecules in solution.

The shape of supercoiled DNA molecules in solution is directly visualized by cryo-electron microscopy of vitrified samples. We observe that: (i) supercoiled DNA molecules in solution adopt an interwound rather than a toroidal form, (ii) the diameter of the interwound superhelix changes from about 12 nm to 4 nm upon addition of magnesium salt to the solution and (iii) the partition of the linking deficit between twist and writhe can be quantitatively determined for individual molecules.

Evaporation during preparation of unsupported thin vitrified aqueous layers for cryo-electron microscopy.

Evaporation of water cannot be fully avoided when an unsupported thin vitrified film of an aqueous suspension is prepared for cryo-electron microscopy. This results in increasing concentration of solute which could affect the observed material. We have quantitatively studied this effect by measuring the contrast of polystyrene spheres in a metrizamide solution.

Structure of adenovirus fibre. I. Analysis of crystals of fibre from adenovirus serotypes 2 and 5 by electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography.

An analysis by electron microscopy in amorphous ice and X-ray diffraction of four types of three-dimensional crystals of adenovirus fibre is presented. Fibre from adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) crystallizes in two forms depending on whether it is native or cleaved near the N terminus at Tyr17. Fibre from Ad5 also crystallizes in two forms, both of which contained fibre cleaved at Tyr17.

Influence of carnitine acyltransferase inhibitors on the performance and metabolism of rat cardiac muscle.

The effects of carnitine palmitoyl transferase I inhibitors were studied in isolated perfused rat heart and in in vivo studies with normal and diabetic rats. In isolated perfused rat hearts of acutely diabetic and Zucker rats, clomoxir (sodium 2[5(4-chlorophenyl)pentyl]oxirane-2-carboxylate) inhibited the oxidation rate of endogenous fatty acids and increased the oxidation rate of glucose. Etomoxir, an analogue of clomoxir, was used in the in vivo studies with normal and chronic diabetic rats.

Estimating the effect of native Indian population on county alcohol consumption: the example of Ontario.

Multiple regression analysis of cross-sectional 1985-1986 Ontario county data indicated that the presence of Native Indians on reserves is a significant factor in explaining differences in county alcohol consumption levels. Consumption in counties with reserves was higher than in those without reserves by roughly 1.48 liters of absolute alcohol per adult; consumption increased as the Native reserve population increased (p less than 0.

Benzodiazepine use and abuse in Canada.

Benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed, yet the extent of their use in Canada has not been described. Such data would be valuable in assessing patient exposure to benzodiazepines and would provide a context to estimate the risk-benefit ratio of these drugs. Analysis of benzodiazepine sales in 1978-87 in Canada, expressed as the defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day, showed that the use of these drugs was stable during the first half of the decade, at 33 DDD/1000 inhabitants per day, then steadily increased from 1983 to 1987, reaching 48 DDD/1000 inhabitants per day in 1987.

Effect of heel lifts on ground reaction force patterns in subjects with structural leg-length discrepancies.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of heel lifts on ground reaction force patterns in subjects with structural leg-length discrepancies (LLDs). Eighteen subjects with LLDs ranging from 4.8 to 22.

Effects of foot orthoses on center-of-pressure patterns in women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of foot orthoses on the pattern of center of pressure in women with forefoot deformities during walking. Nine subjects with a forefoot varus and nine subjects with a forefoot valgus walked across a force platform three times for each of the following five treatment conditions: 1) barefoot, 2) shoes only, 3) rigid orthoses with shoes, 4) semi-rigid orthoses with shoes, and 5) soft orthoses with shoes. Force data were analyzed to determine the area under the center-of-pressure curve.

Length and shape variants of the bacteriophage T4 head: mutations in the scaffolding core genes 68 and 22.

The shape and size of the bacteriophage T4 head are dependent on genes that determine the scaffolding core and the shell of the prohead. Mutants of the shell proteins affect mainly the head length. Two recently identified genes (genes 67 and 68) and one already known gene (gene 22), whose products are scaffold constituents, have been investigated.

Value of the P3 amylase fraction as an indicator of the long-term prognosis of acute pancreatitis.

The value of the serum P3 amylase fraction in the prediction of the course of acute pancreatitis (AP) after the initial episode was studied prospectively. Eighty-eight patients with AP were included. Amylase, lipase, trypsin and the P3 amylase fraction were measured in serum obtained at the time of discharge.