Evaluating the ability of visual images to inform college women about the link between smoking and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and to motivate quitting: critical dimensions.

Background: Because cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN, or dysplasia) is associated with behavioral factors, health education is an important part of the care of patients at risk for this disease. Smoking, which is strongly associated with CIN and cancers, is particularly important because smoking cessation, even after the onset of CIN, improves outcomes. This study is part of an effort to identify effective ways to convey information about the association between smoking and CIN to at-risk women.

Actual versus perceived risk of cervical cancer among college women smokers.

Unlabelled: Cervical cancer is a well-established smoking-related illness, but many at-risk women are unaware of this link.

Objective: The authors designed this study to (1) investigate the relationship of smoking behavior with the history of abnormal Pap test results, sexual history, and perceived risk of cervical cancer and (2) determine whether self-classified smoking status (and hence perceived risk) corresponds with actual smoking behavior in a college student population. PARTICIPANTS AND METHOD SUMMARY: College women students (N = 135) completed a survey assessing smoking history, health history, sexual risk behavior, and risk awareness.

Kinetic model for the study of gene expression in the developing sea urchin.

We have derived a kinetic model to assist in the study of gene expression for systems in which rapid changes in cell number occur. This kinetic model is based upon development of the sea urchin embryo, and considers changes in the number of cells, the fraction of each cell-cycle spent in mitosis, and the overall rate of transcription. We have applied this kinetic model to the accumulation of actin messenger RNA which occurs early in sea urchin embryogenesis.

Characterization of five members of the actin gene family in the sea urchin.

Hybridization of an actin cDNA clone (pSA38) to restriction enzyme digests of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus DNA indicates that the sea urchin genome contains at least five different actin genes. A sea urchin genomic clone library was screened for recombinants which hydridize to pSA38 and four genomic clones were isolated. Restriction maps were generated which indicate that three of these recombinants contain different actin genes, and that the fourth may be an allele to one of these.

Identification of an actin-like protein and of its messenger ribonucleic acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have identified a yeast protein that resembles actins from other eucaryotes in its tight binding to pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I, its copolymerizaton with purified muscle actin, its one-dimensional peptide map, and its apparent polymerization into 7-nm filaments. The yeast actin-like protein yielded a single spot on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggesting that a single protein species was present. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the actin-like protein had an apparent molecular weight of 45,000 compared with 42,000 for muscle actin.

Cloning of sea urchin actin gene sequences for use in studying the regulation of actin gene transcription.

In order to investigate the regulation of actin gene transcription during early sea urchin development, a specific hybridization probe for actin sequences is required. Such a probe was produced by cloning cDNA transcribed from a sea urchin poly(A)-containing mRNA preparation enriched for actin message. Double-stranded DNA was ligated into the BamHI restriction site of plasmid pBR322, and the resulting hybrid molecules were used to transform the Escherichia coli strain ML100.

Nuclear protein kinase activities during the cell cycle of HeLa S3 cells.

To ascertain the activity and substrate specificity of nuclear protein kinases during various stages of the cell cycle of HeLa S3 cells, a nuclear phospho-protein-enriched sample was extracted from synchronised cells and assayed in vitro in the presence of homologous substrates. The nuclear protein kinases increased in activity during S and G2 phase to a level that was twice that of kinases from early S phase cells. The activity was reduced during mitosis but increased again in G1 phase.

Cannabinoid effects on adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activities of mouse brain.

The experiments presented in this paper examine the mechanisms underlying the ability of cannabinoids to alter the in vivo levels of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in mouse brain. It was found that changes in cyclic AMP levels are a composite result of direct actions of cannabinoids on adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.

Non-histone chromosomal proteins: their role in the regulation of histone-gene expression.

Histone-gene expression was studied during the cell cycle of continuously dividing HeLa S3 cells and after stimulation of confluent monolayers of WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts to proliferate. The presence of histone-mRNA sequences was assayed by hybridization to a 3H-labelled single-stranded DNA complementary to histone-mRNA molecules. In HeLa S3 cells histone mRNA sequences were found in the nucleus and associated with polyribosomes during S-phase, but not during G1-phase.

Role of nonhistone chromosomal proteins in the regulation of histone gene expression.

Histone gene expression was studied during the cell cycle of continuously dividing HeLa S3-cells and following stimulation of confluent monolayers of WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts to proliferate. The presence of histone messenger RNA (mRNA) sequences was assayed by hybridization to a 3H-labeled single-stranded DNA complementary to histone mRNA's. In HeLa S3-cells, histone mRNA sequences were found in the nucleus and associated with polyribosomes during S phase but not during G1.

Activation of histone gene transcription by nonhistone chromosomal phosphoproteins.

Hybridization analysis of RNA transcripts from HeLa S3 cell chromatin to histone complementary DNA indicates that a chromosomal phosphoprotein fraction activates transcription of histone messenger RNA sequences in vitro with chromatin from a phase in the cell cycle when histone genes are normally silent.

The effect of SV40 transformation on the chromosomal proteins of 3T3 mouse embryo fibroblasts.

The composition and metabolism of chromosomal proteins-histones and nonhistones chromosomal proteins-were examined in normal and SV40 transformed 3T3 mouse cells. Variations were observed, many of which were similar to those previously reported for normal and SV40 transformed W138 human diploid fibroblasts. The possible implications of these viral induced changes in the protein component of the genome for the phenotypic modifications which occur in transformed cells are discussed.

Stimulation of uterine nonhistone protein phosphorylation and nuclear protein kinase activity by estradiol-17beta.

Changes in the phosphorylation of nonhistone chromosomal proteins have been followed in rat uterus stimulated by 17beta-estradiol. Isolated uteri were found to incorporate 32Pi into nonhistone proteins via an endogenous neclear protein kinase reactin. The rate of 32P labeling of nonhistone proteins and the activity of nuclear protein kinase(s) were found to be elevated over three- and two-fold respectively in uteri obtained from ovariectomized animals treated with estrogen.