NFkappaB and AP-1 DNA binding activity in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Current evidence suggests that multiple sclerosis (MS) results from an autoimmune response mediated by T lymphocytes, which would be activated in the peripheral blood and migrate into the central nervous system. NFkappaB and AP-1 are two main transcription factors involved in T-cell activation. To investigate possible alterations in the activity of these factors in MS individuals, we have assayed NFkappaB and AP-1 DNA binding activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Pitavastatin Nissan/Kowa Yakuhin/Novartis/Sankyo.

Pitavastatin (nisvastatin) is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor being developed jointly by Nissan, Kowa Kogyo, Novartis and Sankyo for the potential treatment of atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia.

[Medical care for chronic disease: reflexions on methodologic procedures of a qualitative study].

Chronic diseases have been the focus of qualitative researchers. However, few studies have explained in depth the methodological options choOsed in the studies and their reasons. This paper presents some reflections on the methodological strategies and procedures used in a multisite, qualitative study whose focus are the individual's perspectives on chronic conditions and medical care.

Autocrine IL-4 gene regulation at late phases of TCR activation in differentiated Th2 cells.

IL-4 is a multifunctional cytokine whose secretion displays important immunomodulatory functions. Its expression is regulated at the level of transcription, and one of the main factors involved is NFAT. The IL-4-induced transcription factor Stat6 is required for the development of naive T cells into Th2 phenotype, capable of secreting IL-4.

Analysis of carbon metabolism in Escherichia coli strains with an inactive phosphotransferase system by (13)C labeling and NMR spectroscopy.

We have developed Escherichia coli strains that internalize glucose utilizing the GalP permease instead of the phosphoenolpyruvate:carbohydrate phosphotransferase system. It has been demonstrated that a strain with these modifications (PTS(-)Glc(+)) can direct more carbon flux into the aromatic pathway than the wild-type parental strain (N. Flores et al.

Long-term follow-up of a randomized prospective trial comparing a standard 81 mg dose of intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin with a reduced dose of 27 mg in superficial bladder cancer.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of a three-fold reduced dose (RD, 27 mg) of intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) against the standard dose (81 mg) in patients with superficial bladder cancer, assessing recurrence, progression and differences in toxicity.

Patients And Methods: Five hundred patients with superficial bladder cancer (Ta, T1, Tis) were enrolled and randomly assigned to be treated after transurethral resection of all visible lesions with intravesical BCG Connaught strain (weekly x six and thereafter fortnightly x six) either with the standard or RD instillation.

Results: All but one of the 500 patients were evaluable for efficacy and toxicity (252 in the standard arm and 247 in the RD arm).

The human immunodeficiency virus-1 Tat protein activates human umbilical vein endothelial cell E-selectin expression via an NF-kappa B-dependent mechanism.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection is associated with inflammation and endothelial cell activation that cannot be ascribed to direct infection by the virus or to the presence of opportunistic infections. Factors related to the virus itself, to the host and/or to environmental exposures probably account for these observations. The HIV protein Tat, a viral regulator required for efficient transcription of the viral genome in host cells is secreted from infected cells and taken up by uninfected by-stander cells.

Changes in extracellular pH and myocardial ischaemia alter the cardiac effects of diadenosine tetraphosphate and pentaphosphate.

1. The structural conformation of diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A) and pentaphosphate (Ap(5)A) has been reported to alter as pH is reduced. As such, it is possible that the cardiac effects of Ap(4)A and Ap(5)A vary during acidosis and myocardial ischaemia due to changes in ligand structure, receptor proteins or intracellular signalling.

Tedisamil (Solvay).

Tedisamil, a potassium channel blocker (class III anti-arrhythmic agent)from Solvay, is in phase II trials for the potential treatment of atrial fibrillation [342434]. The drug had completed phase III trials for angina pectoris [342434], [177648], and although an NDA dossier for angina pectoris in refractory patients was ready for filing with the US FDA, Solvay has decided to pursue the broader indication of atrial fibrillation instead [342434]. Tedisamil is bradycardic without producing a negative inotropic effect.

Contribution of nitric oxide and prostanoids to the cardiac electrophysiological and coronary vasomotor effects of diadenosine polyphosphates.

We investigated the hypothesis that the coronary vasomotor and cardiac electrophysiological effects of diadenosine polyphosphates (Ap(n)A) are mediated via release of nitric oxide and prostanoids. Transmembrane right ventricular action potentials, refractory periods, and coronary perfusion pressure were recorded from isolated, Langendorff-perfused guinea pig hearts studied under constant flow conditions. The effects of threshold (1 nM) and maximal (1 microM) concentrations of diadenosine triphosphate (Ap3A), tetraphosphate (Ap4A), pentaphosphate (Ap5A), and hexaphosphate (Ap6A) were studied in the presence of nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors [L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester, 300 microM; or L-N5-(1-iminoethyl)ornithine, 30 microM] or cyclooxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin, 100 microM or meclofenamate, 10 microM).

Coronary vasomotor and cardiac electrophysiologic effects of diadenosine polyphosphates and nonhydrolyzable analogs in the guinea pig.

Platelet activation in heart disease is important owing to the effects of platelet-derived compounds on myocardial perfusion and cardiac electrophysiology. Diadenosine polyphosphates are secreted from platelets and present in the myocardium, but their electrophysiologic and vasomotor effects are incompletely understood. We used isolated guinea-pig hearts to study the effects of diadenosine triphosphate (Ap3A), tetraphosphate (Ap4A), pentaphosphate (Ap5A), and hexaphosphate (Ap6A) (10 pM-0.

Investigation of mechanisms that mediate reactive hyperaemia in guinea-pig hearts: role of K(ATP) channels, adenosine, nitric oxide and prostaglandins.

1. Reactive hyperaemia is a transient vasodilatation following a brief ischaemic period. ATP-dependent K(+) (K(ATP)) channels may be important in mediating this response, however it is unclear whether mitochondrial K(ATP) channels contribute to this in the heart.

Capillary filtration is reduced in lungs adapted to chronic heart failure: morphological and haemodynamic correlates.

Objective: To determine pulmonary capillary filtration in experimental chronic heart failure and to investigate some morphological and haemodynamic mechanisms that could account for reduced filtration in lungs adapted to chronic heart failure.

Methods: We studied pulmonary capillary filtration, vascular resistances and morphology in lungs from guinea-pigs adapted to chronic heart failure. Heart failure was induced by banding of the ascending aorta (n=66) or sham control operation (n=78) in guinea-pigs which were studied at 150+/-8 days post-operation.

Comparison of clinical, endoscopic and functional findings in patients with intestinal metaplasia at the cardia, carditis and short-segment columnar epithelium of the distal esophagus with and without intestinal metaplasia.

In recent years, the diagnosis of short segments of intestinal metaplasia lining the distal esophagus has increased. The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical, endoscopic, histologic and functional results in patients with intestinal metaplasia at the cardia (IMC), carditis and short-segment columnar epithelium (CE) lining the distal esophagus with and without intestinal metaplasia. Four groups were studied: 48 patients with carditis, 105 patients with IMC, 78 patients with short-segment CE (SSCE) without IM and 69 patients with short-segment CE with IM.

[Clinical and endoscopic findings and magnitude of gastric and duodenal reflux in patients with cardial intestinal metaplasia, short Barrett esophagus, compared with controls].

Background: The diagnosis of patients with short segments of intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus, has increased in recent years.

Aim: To assess the clinical, pathological and functional features of patients with esophageal intestinal metaplasia.

Patients And Methods: A prospective study was performed in 95 control subjects, 115 patients with cardial intestinal metaplasia and 89 patients with short Barret esophagus with intestinal metaplasia.

Storage pool defect in pooled buffy coat platelet concentrates within the shelf-life period.

Platelet concentrate (PC) transfusions are useful for maintaining haemostasis in a variety of clinical situations. The function of transfused platelets is of critical importance, and changes on storage of buffy coat-prepared PC may influence their haemostatic potential. Total platelet adenine nucleotide content and platelet aggregation responses were studied, serially, in pooled buffy coat-derived PCs (n = 7), stored under UK recommended blood bank conditions, over the stipulated shelf-life of 5 days.

Endogenous and exogenous coronary vasodilatation are attenuated in cardiac hypertrophy: a morphological defect?

Reactive hyperaemia (RH) following brief ischaemia is reduced in hypertrophied hearts, and this may contribute to reduced coronary flow reserve. We studied vasodilatation during RH and in response to exogenous stimuli in control and hypertrophied hearts and explored the mechanisms underlying RH. Vascular reactivity was assessed in isolated hypertrophied hearts (55+/-3 days after aortic banding or sham operation) by constructing dose-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and adenosine.

The effects of diadenosine polyphosphates on the cardiovascular system.

Diadenosine polyphosphates are members of a group of dinucleoside polyphosphates that are ubiquitous, naturally occurring molecules. They form a recently identified class of compounds derived from ATP and consist of two adenosine molecules bridged by up to six phosphate groups. These compounds are stored in high concentrations in platelet dense granules and are released when platelets become activated.

Low-dose radiotherapy for lymphoid lesions of the orbit and ocular adnexa.

Purpose: There is no agreement within the radiation oncology and ophthalmic communities regarding the treatment of lymphoid lesions of the orbit and ocular adnexa. The authors report their experience with the use of low-dose radiation therapy for malignant and benign lymphoid masses of the orbital region in a series of 54 patients treated between 1985 and 1993.

Methods: All patients received 2 Gy per day for a total of 24 Gy, except when the lesion was extensive, in which case the therapy was 1.

The mer operon of the acidophilic bacterium Thiobacillus T3.2 diverges from its Thiobacillus ferrooxidans counterpart.

The chromosomal mercury resistance (mer) region of the acidophilic bacterium Thiobacillus T3.2 was cloned, characterized, and compared to reported homologous sequences. The Thiobacillus T3.

Effects of prolonged oxygen exposure at 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 ATA on pulmonary function in men (predictive studies V).

As part of a study of human organ O2 tolerance, lung flow-volume and spirometric measurements were performed repeatedly before, during, and after continuous O2 exposures at 1.5, 2.0, and 2.