Interferon-gamma-dependent inducible expression of the human interleukin-12 p35 gene in monocytes initiates from a TATA-containing promoter distinct from the CpG-rich promoter active in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cells.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) production by human monocytes is stringently regulated through the inducibility of both subunits, p35 and p40, and expression of p35 mRNA is the limiting factor for the secretion of the bioactive IL-12 p70 heterodimer. Optimal induction of p35 mRNA requires priming of the monocytes by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), followed by brief exposure to lipopolysaccharide or other bacterial products. To investigate control of p35 gene expression, we isolated genomic clones containing the human p35 gene and determined the 5' end of the mRNA expressed in monocytes.

Altered expression of keratinocyte growth factor and its receptor in psoriasis.

One of the biological characteristics of psoriasis is excessive flaking of the skin. This is directly related to the marked hyperplasia of epidermal keratinocytes and to incomplete epidermal differentiation. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), a potent mitogen for human keratinocytes, is expressed by stromal cells.

Women in the Persian Gulf War: health care implications for active duty troops and veterans.

The health of women who participated in Operations Desert Shield/Storm was evaluated to better understand the medical requirements of deployed military women and women veterans of the Persian Gulf War. Women's health care needs during the Persian Gulf War were reported to be very similar to those of men, with the exception of gynecologic problems, which generally were not serious and did not require hospitalization. However, insufficient data were obtained to identify specific health care needs among deployed women troops.

Neuroimaging--autopsy correlations in AIDS.

This article is a brief review of the radiologic-pathologic correlation of central nervous lesions occurring in patients with AIDS. The major discussions of the imaging appearance and radiologic differential diagnosis have been presented elsewhere in this issue. Our emphasis is on the gross pathologic correlations that are only possible with autopsy materials.

Applying lexical and semantic analysis to the exploration of free-text data.

A substantial study of primary nursing involving the authors ( 1 , 2 ) generated, in addition to the pre-coded data, a large number of free-text responses. We decided to investigate whether these less structured data could help to categorise and understand the leadership styles of ward sisters in the sample.

Differential expression of function-related antigens on newborn and adult monocyte subpopulations.

Umbilical cord blood and adult peripheral blood monocytes were separated into two subpopulations, based on the intensity of CD14 expression, and the coexpression of various antigens associated with monocyte function was examined. The majority of cord and adult monocytes expressed CD14 at a high density (CD14bright) while approximately 15% of monocytes expressed this antigen at a lower level (CD14dim). Three times as many CD14dim monocytes expressed CD16 (Fc gamma RIII) as did CD14bright monocytes in both cord and adult preparations, while its level of expression (mean fluorescence intensity) was significantly reduced on cord CD14dim monocytes relative to adult CD14dim monocytes.

Regulation of newborn and adult monocytes by PGE2: evidence of comparable differentiation status.

PGE2, which is produced in large amounts by monocytes, is considered to be an important autocrine factor in the regulation of the immune response. Altered sensitivity to PGE2 is known to reflect the differentiation status of monocytes/macrophages. Since newborn monocytes are thought to be less differentiated than adult peripheral blood monocytes, this study was designed to determine whether the diminished newborn monocyte function, relative to adult peripheral blood monocytes, might be the result of an altered autocrine responsiveness to PGE2.

Diminished production of prostaglandin E2 by monocytes of newborns is due to altered fatty acid membrane content and reduced cyclooxygenase activity.

To determine the biochemical basis for reduced PGE2 expression by cord blood monocytes relative to adult peripheral blood monocytes, fatty acid composition of cell membranes together with the amount and activity of enzymes involved in the cyclooxygenase pathway were investigated. Gas chromatographic analysis of mononuclear cell fatty acids showed a significant reduction in long chain fatty acids, including arachidonic acid. Acylase and phospholipase A2 activity, together with lipocortin 1 levels, were similar in cord and adult monocytes.

Pancreatitis associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection: a matched case-control study.

To determine the frequency of pancreatitis and to define risk factors for pancreatitis in patients with AIDS, we compared patients with pancreatitis to patients without pancreatitis in an urban infectious disease practice. Pancreatitis was defined as at least one clinical sign or symptom (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or tenderness) accompanied by elevation of serum amylase or lipase. Twenty-four (22%) of 105 patients with AIDS, 2 (4%) of 46 patients with AIDS-related complex, 1 (3%) of 39 asymptomatic patients infected with HIV-1, and none of 9 uninfected patients at risk for HIV-1 developed pancreatitis as defined above.

Radioiododestannylation: preparation of radioiodinated vinyl alcohols and selected evaluation in rats.

Radioiododestannylation has been employed to prepare a series of radioiodinated vinyl alcohols, two of which were evaluated for their tissue distribution in rats. The radioiodination method utilized tri-alkylstannylvinyl intermediates that can be prepared in good yields from 1,2-bis(tributylstannyl) ethylene and the appropriate ketones or by hydrostannation of the corresponding ethynyl alcohols. The radiolabeling proceeded at the no-carrier-added level to give, after HPLC separation, the desired products in 85-95% isolated yields.

Characterization of a novel syncytium-inducing baboon reovirus.

A syncytium-inducing reovirus was recently isolated from brain homogenates of a baboon suffering from acute, progressive meningoencephalo myelitis. This baboon reovirus (BRV) was classified as a member of the genus Orthoreovirus, family Reoviridae, on the basis of the characteristic capsid morphology and genome and protein profiles. We have assessed the relationship between BRV and the other syncytium-inducing reoviruses in order to determine whether the emergence of this virus represents a host range or pathogenic alteration in a previously described isolate or the appearance of a novel entity.

A pseudo-outbreak of salmonellosis.

during July 1991, a single laboratory reported an increased number of an unusual salmonella isolate. An outbreak control team was convened. A case was defined as an individual with diarrhoea from whose faecal sample Salmonella hadar was isolated after 1 July 1991.

Epinephrine-induced lactic acidosis in the setting of status asthmaticus.

A relationship between intravenous epinephrine infusion and the development of lactic acidosis has been well described. We report a temporal association between the administration of subcutaneous epinephrine and the development of lactic acidosis in the setting of status asthmaticus. A 20-year-old woman with a history of asthma came to the emergency service in acute respiratory distress and was treated with subcutaneous epinephrine.

Self-injection with olive oil. A cause of lipoid pneumonia.

A 48-year-old man with unipolar depression and a psychosexual problem concerning his body image was injecting his scrotum repeatedly with olive oil to increase the size of his genitals. He developed respiratory failure following accidental intravenous injection of olive oil and was found to have lipogranulomatous lesions in the lung and the scrotum.

Education strategy for the implementation of computerized nursing documentation.

Educators at The Toronto Hospital took an innovative approach to providing education and support to nursing staff prior to, during, and after the implementation of computerized nursing documentation. The education strategy included a combination of formal classroom training, inservices on the unit, a self-learning package and an electronic scavenger hunt. Resources such as Clinical Teachers, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Information Systems Analysts and Educators who provided support during the implementation phase received additional education to prepare for their role on the nursing units.

Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in US veterans. 6. Population ancestry and surname ethnicity as risk factors for multiple sclerosis.

Previously, we studied the effect of population ancestry on the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in US veterans of World War II, comparing by state 1980 US census ancestry data with MS case/control ratios. Here, the joint effects of population ancestry and surname-derived ethnicity on MS risk are examined in the same series. Census data are used again to characterize the population ancestry of the state from which each subject entered active duty (EAD)--that is, the proportions of the populace reporting various ancestries--and subjects were also individually categorized into a single ethnic group, without knowledge of case/control status, based on surname.