Growth hormone-releasing factor does not activate protein kinase C in somatotrophs.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement of protein kinase C in growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) action by directly measuring the effect of GRF on protein kinase C activity in purified male rat somatotrophs. Somatotrophs were incubated with GRF (10(-7) M) for 0.33, 1, 3, 10, 30 and 90 min.

A comparison of the decarbamoylation rates of physostigmine-inhibited plasma and red cell cholinesterases of man with other species.

Plasma and red cells from a variety of animal species were used to demonstrate that there is a relationship between the decarbamoylation rates of physostigmine-inhibited plasma and red cell cholinesterases in vitro and the effectiveness of carbamate pretreatment against nerve agent poisoning reported in the literature. Decarbamoylation rates were faster in the non-human primates than in the guinea-pig, and carbamate pretreatment is more effective in these species than in the guinea-pig. The data for the decarbamoylation rates of physostigmine-inhibited enzymes suggests that the non-human primates are the best animal model for extrapolation of protection studies from animal species to man.

The impact of time in treatment on the employment and earnings of drug abusers.

We use data from a longitudinal survey to estimate the effects of time in drug abuse treatment on post-treatment weeks worked and earnings for 2,420 clients in three treatment modalities. The regression analysis shows that time in treatment had a positive and statistically significant impact on these labor market outcomes, but the effects were small for all modalities. Although residential clients experienced the largest relative changes in weeks worked and real earnings, a benefit-cost calculation suggests that additional residential treatment cannot be justified from earnings improvements alone.

Benefit-cost analysis of hepatitis B vaccine programs for occupationally exposed workers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed a vaccination program for workers exposed to the hepatitis B virus 12 or more times per year. We performed a benefit-cost analysis of the proposed regulation and an expanded rule that covers all at-risk workers, regardless of the number of exposures. The annualized cost of the proposed vaccination program is estimated at $60.

Pyomyositis complicating the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A report of two cases with coexistent neutropenia.

Objective: To identify some factors contributing to the development of pyomyositis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by a report of two cases and a review of the literature.

Clinical Features: A 36-year-old man with AIDS presented with tenderness of the left adductor longus muscle; a 28-year-old man with AIDS presented with fever and left leg pain. Both men had a history of severe neutropenia induced by drug treatment and opportunistic infections requiring treatment in hospital.

Management of acute retention of urine: a reappraisal.

Our standard policy for the management of retention of urine due to prostatic hypertrophy is that the patient is catheterised and sent home, later to be seen and assessed in the Out-patient Department where he is given an admission date for operation. A detailed audit of 166 patients cared for in this way is presented and the results compared with those in 25 patients who remained in hospital in the interval between catheterisation and operation and in 402 patients not previously catheterised. Although the mortality rate was significantly higher in the retention group (3.

Normal unstimulated lymphocytes produce granulopoietic inhibitory activity.

Normal unstimulated lymphocytes cocultured with normal bone marrow will inhibit day-7 colony- forming units in culture. We have shown that this phenomenon has a molecular basis and attempted to characterize it further. Using specific assays and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies we have found that this granulopoietic inhibitory activity (GIA) is not due to alpha- or gamma-interferon, tumor necrosis factor, or acidic or basic isoferritins.

A comparison of the biological activities of authentic rat GRF(1-43)OH with the analogue rat GRF(1-29)NH2.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the biological activity of the synthetic rat growth hormone releasing factor analogue rGRF(1-29)NH2 and to compare its action on growth hormone (GH) release to that of authentic rGRF(1-43)OH. We first compared the concentration-response characteristics of the two peptides in static incubation, and then examined the reversibility and repeatability of the GH response in a perifusion system. Authentic rGRF(1-43)OH was significantly more potent in static incubation (EC50 = 3 x 10(-11) M) than the analogue (5 x 10(-11) M), whereas the reverse held true in perifusion.

Effect of acute physostigmine-hyoscine pretreatment on the neurochemical changes produced by soman in the guinea-pig.

The protective effects of two dose regimes of the organophosphate pretreatment combination, physostigmine and hyoscine, were assessed on the central neurochemical changes produced following soman intoxication. The lower dose combination (physostigmine 20 ?g/kg, hyoscine 10 ?g/kg, s.c.

Toxicity and tissue distribution of pentachlorophenol and permethrin in pipistrelle bats experimentally exposed to treated timber.

The dependence of bats in Britain on houses as roosts may result in them being exposed to pesticides used in remedial timber treatments. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and permethrin are used as a fungicide and an insecticide for timber treatment, respectively. The present study investigated toxicity and distribution in body tissues of these two pesticides in pipistrelle bats.

Free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and growth hormone release from purified rat somatotrophs. I. GH-releasing factor-induced Ca2+ influx raises [Ca2+]i.

This study was carried out to investigate the role of free intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in the action of GH-releasing factor (GRF) by determining whether GRF causes and increase in [Ca2+]i and whether this increase results from changes in Ca2+ influx/efflux and/or mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ stores. We used a purified preparation of normal rat somatotrophs and examined the changes in 45Ca uptake, [Ca2+]i measured with indo-1, intracellular cAMP, and GH release induced by GRF. GRF stimulated a concentration-related biphasic increase in [Ca2+]i.

Flow injection immunoassay using a protein A immunoreactor.

Competitive immunoassays have been developed for the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A and the anti-asthmatic drug theophylline utilizing identical controlled pore glass-protein A microcolumns and flow injection techniques. For cyclosporin A the assay was based on a monoclonal antibody with fluorescence detection whilst for theophylline sheep antiserum and electrochemical detection was used.

Free intracellular Ca2+ concentration and growth hormone (GH) release from purified rat somatotrophs. III. Mechanism of action of GH-releasing factor and somatostatin.

GH-releasing factor (GRF)-stimulated GH release is dependent on a biphasic increase in free intracellular Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i), resulting from an influx of Ca2+ into somatotrophs, while the inhibitory action of somatostatin (SRIF) on basal and GRF-induced GH release results from its ability to lower [Ca2+]i by inhibiting Ca2+ influx. This study was carried out to investigate the mechanism by which GRF and SRIF regulate [Ca2+]i to control GH release. The roles of ion channels, cAMP-dependent processes, and protein kinase-C (PKC) were investigated by measuring changes in [Ca2+]i, 45Ca influx, and GH release when purified rat somatotrophs were exposed to high K+, cAMP analogs, prostaglandin E2, as well as the PKC activators 1,2-dioctanoyl-glycerol and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate.

Free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and growth hormone release from purified rat somatotrophs. II. Somatostatin lowers [Ca2+]i by inhibiting Ca2+ influx.

This study was carried out to investigate the role of Ca2+ in the somatostatin (SRIF)-induced inhibition of GH release. We examined the effect of SRIF on basal and GH-releasing factor (GRF)-induced increases in Ca2+ influx and free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in normal somatotrophs and examined the effect of SRIF on 45Ca uptake, [Ca2+]i measured with indo-1, and GH release. SRIF inhibited basal and GRF-induced GH release concurrently with a reduction in steady state 45Ca uptake.

Conceptual framework for estimating the social cost of drug abuse.

Drug abuse imposes costs on individuals and society. Researchers have produced several studies on a subset of tangible costs of drug abuse and other illnesses, but key tangible costs sometimes have been overlooked and, even when recognized, rarely have been estimated. An assortment of intangible costs also have received very little research attention.

Major histocompatibility complex genes influence the outcome of HIV infection. Ancestral haplotypes with C4 null alleles explain diverse HLA associations.

Several alleles at multiple HLA loci have been found to be associated with infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): HLA A1; B8, B35; Cw7, Cw4; DR1, DR3 and DQ1, are associated with particular disease manifestations and/or disease progression. Furthermore, in a pilot study we have shown an increase in the frequency of C4 null alleles and suggested that all the reported HLA alleles could reflect association with a limited number of ancestral haplotypes (AHs). On this occasion, we studied 122 Caucasoid patients classified according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria.

Effect of growth hormone-releasing factor on phosphoinositide hydrolysis in somatotrophs.

We studied the role of the phosphatidylinositol system in the action of growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF). We asked whether GRF stimulates the activity of phospholipase C by determining GRF-induced changes in 32P labeling of the individual phosphoinositides and inositol phosphates in purified rat somatotrophs. The somatotrophs were challenged with GRF (10(-7)M) for 0.

Estimating the full cost of workplace injuries.

While many studies estimate medical costs and lost wages from workplace injuries, few have estimated pain and suffering costs. This study develops a wage-risk model for railroad workers and estimates the total cost of on-the-job injuries. On average, the total cost of an on-the-job injury to a railroad worker in 1980 was between $19,500 and $22,500.

Central MHC genes, IgA deficiency and autoimmune disease.

IgA deficiency is a common immunological disorder that is sometimes associated with an immunodeficiency syndrome, allergic disease, autoimmune disease and gluten enteropathy. Many subjects with this deficiency, however, are healthy, at least for many decades. Analysis of the immunological and genetic abnormalities found in IgA deficiency and in some of the associated disorders has led to the postulate that a genetically determined defect of immunoregulation underlies all of these diseases.

Cyclosporin A-sensitive nephrotic syndrome preceding Hodgkin's disease by 32 months.

A 20-year-old man developed a massive nephrotic syndrome, rapidly complicated by pulmonary embolism and septicemia. Two renal biopsies taken 3 months apart showed minimal change glomerulonephritis. Treatment with prednisolone 1.