Cytology of treated and minimal Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and a pitfall of the Grocott methenamine silver stain.

To clarify the role of foamy alveolar casts (FACs) in the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), we retrospectively reviewed Papanicolaou (Pap)- and Grocott methenamine silver (GMS)-stained slides from 205 bronchial specimens submitted for suspected opportunistic lung infection. FACs containing sporozoites were seen in 86 cases, all with positive GMS. FACs were absent in 119 cases with negative GMS.

Relationship of running economy, ventilatory threshold, and maximal oxygen consumption to running performance in high school females.

The purpose of the study was to relate three determinants of distance running success, (a) maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), (b) ventilatory threshold (VT), and (c) running economy (RE), to actual running time in a 5-km race (ART). Twenty-four female runners (M age = 15.9 years) from four high school teams that competed at the Massachusetts All-State 5-km Cross Country Championship Meet and placed 1st, 7th, 19th, and 20th were tested in the laboratory.

Physiologic Comparison of Adolescent Female and Male Cross-Country Runners.

To compare the physiologic differences between adolescent male and female cross-country runners, 12 male and 12 female high school nonelite distance runners who had competed successfully at the All State 5-km championship cross-country meet were tested in the laboratory. Data were analyzed in relation to maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max), ventilatory threshold (VT), and running economy (RE). Male runners were taller, heavier, had less body fat, and ran faster by 2 minutes and 18 seconds than female runners.

Spontaneous decay of oxidized ascorbic acid (dehydro-L-ascorbic acid) evaluated by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

We applied high-pressure liquid chromatography to assess the decomposition of the oxidized form of vitamin C, dehydro-L-ascorbic acid. We selected experimental conditions that might represent a wide variety of clinical and research procedures. Decay of dehydro-L-ascorbic acid proceeded much more rapidly at high pH (7-8) than at low pH (3-5) and was more rapid at 37 or 45 degrees C than at 0 or 23 degrees C.

Separation and localization of the four cysteine-949 residues in human alpha 2-macroglobulin using fluorescence energy transfer.

By use of the intermediate form (I-form) [Gettins, Crews, & Cunningham (1989) Biochemistry 28, 5613-5618], alpha 2-macroglobulin can be specifically labeled with fluorescent probes in a manner that allows the determination of the topology of the four thiol ester derived Cys949 residues within this large tetrameric protease inhibitor. Freshly prepared I-form alpha 2-macroglobulin was reacted with 5-[[2-[(iodoacetyl)-amino]ethyl]amino]naphthalene-1-sulfonate (1,5-I-AEDANS) to produce alpha 2-macroglobulin specifically and stoichiometrically labeled with 1,5-AEDANS (donor) at the two Cys949 SH groups in the first protease interaction site. Upon subsequent reaction of this labeled species with chymotrypsin, the remaining two bait regions and thiol ester linkages were opened, generating two free SH groups on the two Cys949 residues in the second protease interaction site.

Acute and chronic effects of exercise using an Exercycle in healthy, untrained adults.

This study examined three factors related to exercise with an Exercycle, a motordriven upper and lower body exercise machine. We examined the effects of Exercycle training on peak oxygen consumption (VO2), peak heart rate, peak minute ventilation, and peak respiratory exchange ratio. We compared the physiologic responses to graded exercise between the Exercycle and a standard lower extremity (LE) cycle ergometer.

Oxidized low density lipoproteins cause contraction and inhibit endothelium-dependent relaxation in the pig coronary artery.

The direct vasoactive effects of native and oxidatively modified low density lipoproteins as well as their effects on endothelium-dependent relaxations to 5-hydroxytryptamine were studied in isolated rings of pig right coronary artery. Slowly developing contractions were caused by native low density lipoproteins (100 micrograms protein/ml). The contractions were more pronounced in the absence than in the presence of the trace metal chelator, EDTA, and coincided with the formation of lipid peroxides during the response.

Persistence of enteroviral RNA in chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with the abnormal production of equal amounts of positive and negative strands of enteroviral RNA.

A subgenomic restriction fragment from cDNA prepared from Coxsackie B2 virus (CVB2) RNA was subcloned into a riboprobe vector allowing the production of enteroviral group-specific RNA probes complementary to either the positive (genomic) or negative (template) strand of enteroviral RNA. These riboprobes were used to follow productive infection of cultured cells by CVB2; as expected, positive strand RNA was synthesized in approximately 100-fold excess over negative strand. RNA was extracted from muscle biopsy samples from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and probed for the presence of enteroviral RNA.

Cholecystopleural fistula with cholelithiasis presenting as a right pleural effusion.

At autopsy, multiple gallstones were recovered from the right pleural space of an elderly patient who presented with a massive right pleural effusion and septic shock. The mechanisms of gallstone migration and fistula formation between the gallbladder and right pleural space are described. Despite atypical presentations, gallbladder disease remains an important differential consideration of right pleural effusion in the elderly.

Inhibition and partial reversal of the methylamine-induced conversion of "slow" to "fast" electrophoretic forms of human alpha 2-macroglobulin by modification of the thiols.

It has been shown previously [Van Leuven, F., Marynen, P., Cassiman, J.

Localization of genomic regions specific for the attenuated, mouse-adapted poliovirus type 2 strain W-2.

In order to begin to elucidate the genomic basis of the attenuation of mouse-adapted, poliovirus type 2 strain W-2 (PV2/W-2), we have cloned and sequenced the virus and compared it with the virulent, mouse-adapted PV2/Lansing strain. In addition, we have performed computer-generated comparisons of PV2/W-2 to the non-mouse-adapted, attenuated PV2/Sabin strain to determine whether mutational patterns occur that result in attenuation. The PV2/W-2 genome is 7434 nucleotides in length, which is three bases shorter than PV2/Lansing.

End-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. Persistence of enterovirus RNA in myocardium at cardiac transplantation and lack of immune response.

Tissue from the explanted hearts of 21 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or 19 patients with other specific heart muscle diseases were investigated for presence of enterovirus-specific RNA with an enterovirus group-specific cDNA probe. This was complementary to coxsackievirus B2 RNA sequences between nucleotide numbers 6,550 and 7,400, which are highly conserved between enteroviruses. Hearts from six patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and one patient with ischemic heart disease were found to contain virus RNA.

Autoradiographic distribution of 125I-VIP binding in the rat adrenal cortex.

Using in vitro autoradiography, 125I-VIP binding was found to be concentrated in the capsule and glomerulosa of the rat adrenal cortex. The densest receptor distribution was coincident with the distribution of VIP nerve fibers that arborize extensively in the capsule and glomerulosa. The specificity of this binding was demonstrated using unlabelled VIP, ACTH and angiotensin II.

Treatment of tracheobronchial granular cell myoblastomas with endoscopic bipolar cautery.

Granular cell myoblastomas of the trachea and right upper lobe bronchus were discovered incidentally during therapeutic bronchoscopy. Because of their propensity to cause airway compromise and distal atelectasis, ablation of both lesions was undertaken. This is the first reported case of bipolar cautery of GCM through a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope.

Hormone-fuel metabolism during exercise of insulin-dependent diabetic patients treated with an artificial B-cell unit.

The effects of restoration of glucose homeostasis on hormone-fuel metabolism of diabetic individuals during exercise (40% maximal O2 consumption) were determined by monitoring fuel oxidation rates and levels of substrates and hormones in nine normal subjects and five insulin-dependent diabetic patients while on conventional insulin therapy and after 3 days on artificial B-cell directed glucose regulation. The non-protein respiratory quotient (npRQ) and carbohydrate oxidation rate of the conventionally-treated diabetic subjects (0.908 +/- 0.

Preparation and initial characterization of an intermediate, half-cleaved form of human alpha 2-macroglobulin.

A form of human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) has been prepared that has properties intermediate to those of native alpha 2-macroglobulin and 2:1 protease-alpha 2 M ternary complex by using Sepharose-linked chymotrypsin. The intermediate form has mobility on native polyacrylamide gels between the fast and slow forms of alpha 2M and migrates as a diffuse band. Two bait regions and two thiol esters per alpha 2M tetramer are cleaved, although no chymotrypsin is detectable in the modified alpha 2-macroglobulin species.

Beta-endorphin activity and hypercapnic ventilatory responsiveness after marathon running.

To investigate the hypothesis that endurance exercise may lead to a decrease in ventilatory chemosensitivity as possibly mediated by an increase in endogenous beta-endorphins, we measured hypercapnic ventilatory responsiveness (HCVR) and circulating beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in six runners before and after a marathon (42.2 km) race and after administration of 10 mg iv naloxone. Similar testing was performed at identical time periods on the day before the marathon as control data.

Urological manifestations of the popliteal pterygium syndrome.

We report a case of the popliteal pterygium syndrome resulting in abnormalities of the external genitalia and testicular ectopia. Management included bilateral orchiopexy and complex genitoplasty. Pterygia represent errors in development that manifest as webs across joints and can result in anomalies of the external genitalia.

Massive hemorrhage secondary to metastatic testicular carcinoma.

Massive bleeding secondary to metastatic foci of testicular carcinoma is a rare finding. Two cases of metastatic testicular carcinoma in which massive intraabdominal and gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred are reported. The first patient, who had metastasis to the duodenum and stomach, first underwent surgery because of the concern that chemotherapy might result in rapid tumor necrosis and bowel perforation.

Physiologic Characteristics and Team Performance of Female High School Runners.

This study compared team performances of adolescent female cross-country runners in relation to maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O max), ventilatory threshold, and running economy (RE). Twenty female runners (M age = 16.0 yrs) from four high school teams that competed in the Massachusetts All-State Cross-Country Championship Meet underwent maximal treadmill testing.

Loss of selective endothelial cell vasoactive functions caused by hypercholesterolemia in pig coronary arteries.

The influence of hypercholesterolemia on the reactivity of coronary arteries was investigated after feeding a high-cholesterol diet to pigs for 9 weeks. After this duration of hypercholesterolemia, the fatty or intimal proliferative changes of atherosclerosis were not yet evident in the coronary arteries by light or electron microscopy. Changes in isometric tension were compared in isolated ring segments of coronary arteries from normal and hypercholesterolemic animals.

Cosmetic surgery and criminal rehabilitation.

The contribution of physical appearance to criminal behavior has long been a matter of general interest. We investigated the influence of cosmetic surgery on recidivism rates in the Texas state prison system. The baseline prison population recidivism rates have been 14%, 32%, and 36% at one, two, and three years, respectively.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide stimulates adrenal aldosterone and corticosterone secretion.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nerve fibers have been demonstrated in the rat adrenal cortex in close association with zona glomerulosa cells, suggesting neural regulation of adrenocortical cell function (5). The present studies were undertaken to study the possible role of VIP in the regulation of steroid hormone secretion from the outer zones of the normal rat adrenal cortex. Capsule-glomerulosa preparations, consisting of the capsule, zona glomerulosa, and a small but variable portion of the zona fasciculata, were perifused in vitro.