Metallothionein and occupational exposure to cadmium.

The relationship between metallothionein (MT), chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd), and renal function was investigated in 53 men who were occupationally exposed to Cd. The aim was to determine if MT is a potential biological monitor for chronic exposure to Cd which would be useful for preventing Cd nephropathy. In this study MT excretion, serum MT, and serum creatinine concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with abnormal renal function who had been exposed to Cd.

An alternative baccalaureate curriculum plan for RNs.

It is a need of our times to improve the quality of baccalaureate programs for RN students. Professional pressures to secure the degree must be accompanied by the availability of appropriate programs. The yardstick of measure should not differ between generic or RN student.

Antigenicity of metallothionein.

The antigenic determinants of vertebrate metallothionein have been determined by a competitive-binding double-antibody radioimmunoassay to consist of two immunologically dominant regions in the NH2-terminal domain (residues 1-29). The COOH-terminal domain (residues 30-61) exhibited trivial immunoreactivity in competitive binding assays. The tryptic peptide encompassing residues 1-25 of the molecule competed with 125I-labeled metallothionein as effectively as the native protein.

Bile acid uptake and calcium flux in brush border membrane vesicles.

Our laboratory has recently reported that intestinal bile acid malabsorption in cystic fibrosis (CF) is a primary mucosal cell defect. Others have suggested that elevated intracellular Ca++ levels in other cell types in CF may represent a common primary dysfunction in Ca++ efflux in these cells. We examined the possibility that intestinal bile acid absorption and Ca++ efflux in mucosal cells may be linked physiologically.

Significance of urinary metallothionein in workers exposed to cadmium.

Cadmium in blood (Cd-B) and in urine (Cd-U) and metallothionein (Mt-U) and beta 2-microglobulin in urine (beta 2m-U) were measured in 94 male Cd workers. The results were examined according to the workers' current exposure to cadmium (group C, n = 73, workers currently exposed to Cd; group R, n = 21, Cd workers removed from exposure or retired) and according to their renal status (group N, n = 66, normal beta 2m-U; group I, n = 28, beta 2m-U greater than 200 micrograms/g creatinine). The interrelationships between Mt-U, Cd-U, Cd-B and years of cadmium exposure were examined in the various subgroups.

Expanding the hospital nursing role: an administrative account.

In reality, role change among staff RNs is a continuous phenomenon. As medical technology increases, patient care regimes follow suit, and the staff RN is constantly called upon to apply a knowledge base in different ways and to acquire new knowledge and behaviors. The nursing administrator who keeps pace with this growth can capitalize on the phenomenon, guiding the change to see that it is progressive, that it assists the nurse in developing a more advanced nursing (as opposed to mini-physician) identity and that it does improve extant nursing practice.

Antigen handling in aging. II. The role of Kupffer and endothelial cells in antigen processing in Fischer 344 rats.

A method has been developed for the purification of Kupffer and endothelial cells from rat liver by collagenase enzyme perfusion followed by centrifugal elutriation. After intravenous injection of a soluble antigen, [3H]azoaniline bovine serum albumin ( [3H]BSA), its distribution was studied in isolated cell populations from liver and spleen tissue of two aged groups of male F-344 rats. In young adult rats (6-8 months) both sinusoidal cell types contained the same amount of [3H]BSA; however, in older rats (22-24 months) the amount of antigen in the endothelial cells was significantly decreased.

Accessory function of aging Kupffer cells with different lymphocyte populations.

The present studies show that rat Kupffer cells are capable of both suppression and enhancement of mitogen responses. Studies were conducted using the T-cell mitogens concanavalin A and phytohemmaglutinin, as well as the rat B-cell mitogen Mycoplasma neurolyticum. Whereas Kupffer cell concentrations of 1 X 10(5)/well significantly suppressed the T- and B-mitogen response of both spleen nonadherent and peripheral blood lymphocytes, enhancement was restricted to the T-cell mitogen responses.

Age-related changes in responsiveness of various rat tissue lymphocytes to mitogens.

The effect of age on the mitogen responses of rat lymphoid tissues was investigated. Evaluation was based on using the in vitro proliferative response of lymphocytes from various tissues of Fischer-344 rats (2, 7, 13, 19 and 25 months) using concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Mycoplasma neurolyticum. The stimulation index (S.

Detection of circulating metallothionein in rats injected with zinc or cadmium.

Circulating metallothionein was measured by radioimmunoassay over a 13-day period in male Sprague-Dawley rats that received a sequence of three intraperitoneal injections (at 3-day intervals) of either 5 milligrams of zinc or 0.8 milligrams of cadmium per kilogram of body weight. These amounts of zinc and cadmium produced metallothionein concentrations in the range of 2 to 5 nanograms per milliliter of serum (zinc) and 2 to 15 nanograms per milliliter of serum (cadmium).

Freedom and choice in constitutional law.

The constitutional rights of children, the mentally ill, and other legally incompetent persons have been the subject of much litigation in the past twenty years. In this Article, Professor Garvey develops a general theory to explain the different ways in which persons of diminished capacity can be said to enjoy constitutional protections. He first notes that, of the various constitutional provisions, only one kind - freedom, which protect the right to make choices - pose serious difficulties when applied to persons of diminished capacity.

Bovine serum albumin humoral immune response in aged Fischer 344 rats.

The circulating antibody titers to bovine serum albumin (BSA) were determined for two groups of aged Fischer 344 rats obtained form the National Institute on Aging. One group received a single immunization of BSA in complete Freund's adjuvant, and the second group was immunized three times at two-week intervals with twice the antigen dosage. An age difference was observed during the peak response in both groups, the younger rats having higher titers; however, upon multiple injections the older rats show an enhanced response although significantly lower than the younger rats.

Uncomplicated sinus of Valsalva aneurysm detected by echocardiography in an asymptomatic patient: case report.

Echocardiography was extremely useful in detecting a distinctive echographic pattern with uncomplicated right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. The patient was clinically asymptomatic. The chest x-ray showed a normal cardiac silhouette.

Clinical evaluation of bronchopulmonary lavage using the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope.

Thirty-three patients had segmental and lobar bronchopulmonary lavage using three types of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopes. A maximum volume of 300 ml of normal saline solution at room temperature was used. Lavage was effective for removing large numbers of alveolar macrophages (mean, 17 million) and proteinaceous material (mean, 0.

Biliary tract operations: a personal series.

A personal series of 600 consecutive operations on the gallbladder and bile ducts is reported, along with the clinical and radiographic findings, complications, and mortality. It can be concluded that surgical treatment of gallstone disease can be carried out with a high degree of preoperative accuracy in the diagnosis and with relative safety. Death can occur in longstanding, neglected, or complex disease in the elderly or diabetic patient.