1-Desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) in patients with congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

In healthy subjects, intravenous infusion of the selective V2-vasopressin receptor agonist 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP, 400 ng/kg in 10 min) causes a marked increase in heart rate with a slight decrease in diastolic blood pressure. These haemodynamic responses are associated with increments in the plasma levels of renin, noradrenaline (NA), clotting factor VIII (FVIII:C), von Willebrand factor (vWF:ag), and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), and a fall in the plasma level of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI). None of these changes was observed in 3 patients with congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), who had a genetic defect of the V2-receptor.

Chemotactic peptide-induced cytoplasmic pH changes in incubated human monocytes.

Stimulation of phagocytic leukocytes with chemotactic factors results in transient acidification, followed by alkalinization of the cytosol. Human monocytes are known to alter their functional responses to the chemotactic peptide N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) in a complex fashion as they mature in vitro to macrophages. To examine the evolution of the cytoplasmic pH (pHi) response of monocytes to fMLP as they mature into macrophages, we incubated cells for 0, 24, 48, and 96 h (Medium-199 + 10% fetal bovine serum; 37 degrees C) and examined pHi using the fluorescent probe 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF; 1 microM) and a Perkin-Elmer 650/10 spectrofluorimeter (lambda em = 530 nm, lambda ex = 500, 450 nm) as previously described.

Adjuvant oestrogen treatment increases bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: The beneficial effect of oestrogens on bone mineral density in women with osteoporosis is well known. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at risk for osteoporosis. A study was therefore set up to investigate the effects of adjuvant oestrogen treatment on bone metabolism and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with RA.

Evaluation of the Thompson articular index.

Three articular indices for measuring disease activity are compared. In a cross sectional study the Thompson articular index (a modified Lansbury index) correlated better with laboratory variables than the Ritchie articular index or a swollen joint score (Thompson 0.74-0.

In vivo study of phytanic acid alpha-oxidation in classic Refsum's disease and chondrodysplasia punctata.

A series of in vivo experiments is described in which [1-13C]phytanic acid was given as an oral substrate to a healthy subject and two patients showing an impairment in phytanic acid degradation, one with Refsum's disease and one with chondrodysplasia punctata. After intake of the substrate by the control in a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, the production of 13CO2 was measured in exhaled breath air and the concomitant formation of labeled 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and of pristanic acid was demonstrated by plasma analysis. After application of a substrate dose of 1 mg/kg body weight to the control, no substantial amounts of 13CO2 were measured, whereas time-dependent analysis of labeled 2-hydroxyphytanic acid in plasma yielded a concentration curve superimposed upon the baseline value (0.

Influence of steroid hormones on proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Sex steroids are believed to modulate the immune system in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since receptors for sex steroids are present on T-lymphocytes, which are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of RA, it is suggested that gonadal steroids can mediate their immunomodulating effect directly on T-lymphocytes. Recently a specific method for activating T-lymphocytes with immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies was described.

Phytanic acid alpha-oxidation: accumulation of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and absence of 2-oxophytanic acid in plasma from patients with peroxisomal disorders.

A stable isotope dilution method was developed for the measurement of 2-hydroxyphytanic acid and 2-oxophytanic acid in plasma. In plasma from healthy individuals and from patients with Refsum's disease, 2-hydroxyphytanic acid was found at levels less than 0.2 mumol/l, whereas the acid accumulated in plasma from patients with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, generalized peroxisomal dysfunction, and a single peroxisomal beta-oxidation enzyme deficiency.

Estrogens and rheumatoid arthritis.

Epidemiological and immunological evidence has suggested that female sex hormones may play a role in the etiology and course of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this review the present clinical data with regard to estrogens and RA are discussed, with emphasis on the possible preventive effect of oral contraceptives on the incidence of RA and on the possibility of using estrogens as adjuvant therapy in RA. It is concluded that oral contraceptives may mitigate or postpone the onset of RA slightly, but that estrogens are not able to alleviate the symptoms of RA.

The science of nursing: current issues and dilemmas.

The question regarding the nature and direction of nursing science, how it is derived or why and whether nursing is a science is a much debated one. This article focuses on an examination of the literature with regard to conceptualizations of science in general and nursing in particular with special emphasis on the nature, purpose, methods and domain of science and nursing science. It looks at the various positions taken, examines the consequences of holding any special position and makes suggestions for achieving excellence in Nursing Science.

Characteristics and subcellular localization of pristanoyl-CoA synthetase in rat liver.

We have investigated the activation of pristanic acid to its CoA-ester in rat liver. The results show that peroxisomes, mitochondria as well as microsomes contain pristanoyl-CoA synthetase activity. On the basis of competition experiments and immunoprecipitation studies using antibodies raised against rat liver microsomal long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.

Antibodies to a 15 kD nuclear antigen in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis and uveitis.

Young girls with a pauciarticular onset of juvenile chronic arthritis and circulating antinuclear antibodies are at risk for chronic uveitis. The actual nuclear antigen for these antinuclear antibodies has not been defined. Conventional laboratory techniques, such as counter immunoelectrophoresis, have shown that antibodies to well defined "extractable nuclear antigens" (eg, RNP, Sm, SS-A, and SS-B) are not present in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis.

Identification of pristanoyl-CoA oxidase as a distinct, clofibrate non-inducible enzyme in rat liver peroxisomes.

In this paper we describe the identification of pristanoyl-CoA oxidase activity in rat liver peroxisomes. This activity was not stimulated by clofibrate feeding. Furthermore, the activity was found in multiple tissues.

Pristanic acid and phytanic acid in plasma from patients with peroxisomal disorders: stable isotope dilution analysis with electron capture negative ion mass fragmentography.

A sensitive and selective stable isotope dilution method was developed for the accurate quantitation of pristanic acid and phytanic acid using electron capture negative ion mass fragmentography on pentafluorobenzyl derivatives. This technique allows detection of 1 pg of each compound and was applied to plasma from healthy controls and patients suffering from various peroxisomal disorders. The age-dependency of phytanic and pristanic acid levels in plasma from healthy controls was demonstrated.

Eosinophilic fasciitis presenting with a reactive hepatitis.

We report a patient with eosinophilic fasciitis, reactive hepatitis and splenomegaly. Administration of prednisone resulted in normalization of liver enzymes and spleen-size and an improvement of his clinical condition. These uncommon manifestations are only part of the broadening clinical spectrum, which is discussed briefly.

Birefringence of the human crystalline lens in vivo.

We studied aspects of the birefringence in the human crystalline lens. With the use of Mueller-matrix ellipsometry in vivo on both accommodated and unaccommodated eyes, we found no difference between the associated retardations. We calculated form birefringence of the lens by interpreting the membranes of the lens fiber cells as Wiener bodies.

On empathy: fundamental issues regarding its nature and teaching.

In nursing empathy is generally regarded as an essential component of nurse-patient interaction, but there appears to be a lack of clarity among nurse educators and professional nurses regarding its nature and how it may be taught and measured. This paper focuses on an analysis of selected theoretical works related to the nature and teaching of empathy, and an attempt is made to identify fundamental issues regarding the phenomenon "empathy" and its place in clinical nursing practice.