The role of metabolism in mammary epithelial cell growth inhibition by the isoflavones genistein and biochanin A.

The basis for the differential sensitivity of cultured normal human mammary epithelial (HME) cells and a transformed human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line to growth inhibition by the isoflavone genistein and its 4'-methyl ether derivative, biochanin A, was examined. In HME cells genistein is 5-fold more potent as a growth inhibitor than biochanin A, whereas in MCF-7 cells biochanin A and genistein are equally potent as growth inhibitors. Based on its properties as an in vitro protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor, biochanin A would be expected to be a less potent growth inhibitor than genistein.

Inhibition of fibroproliferation by pentoxifylline. Activity of metabolite-1 and lack of role of adenosine receptors.

We have reported previously that pentoxifylline and adenosine decrease platelet-derived growth factor- (PDGF) stimulated fibroproliferation. To determine the role of adenosine receptors in the inhibition of fibroproliferation observed with pentoxifylline, we used a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline, and specific A1 and A2 adenosine receptor antagonists. If the A2 receptor, which is present on fibroblasts, mediates the inhibition of fibroproliferation which occurs with pentoxifylline, then pretreatment of fibroblasts with receptor antagonists prior to the addition of pentoxifylline should prevent the action of pentoxifylline.

[Replacement of hip prostheses--technical aspects and personal results].

Total hip replacement is considered one of the most effective treatments in modern medicine. Thus in recent years loosening of total hip prosthesis in elderly patients has become increasingly frequent. An analysis and follow-up study of 63 operations with replacement of hip prostheses evaluating the intra- and postoperative complications shows good results in 50 to 85% concerning pain, function and mobility after a 3-year period.

Method to electronically collect emergency department data.

Study Objective: To describe the development and completeness of an electronic injury-surveillance system, the Rural Injury Surveillance System (RISS).

Methods: The emergency departments of nine rural Iowa hospitals submitted information on all patients treated from May 1993 through June 1994.

Results: The EDs submitted information on 23,594 patients with 32,445 different injury, disease, or follow-up visits.

MAP kinase activation by flow in endothelial cells. Role of beta 1 integrins and tyrosine kinases.

Local alterations in the hemodynamic environment regulate endothelial cell function, but the signal-transduction mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. We previously demonstrated that mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is rapidly stimulated by flow in bovine aortic endothelial cells. Integrin receptors may act as mechanotransducers, as suggested by rapid remodeling of focal adhesion complexes in response to flow.

Alleles of the maize P gene with distinct tissue specificities encode Myb-homologous proteins with C-terminal replacements.

The maize P gene is a transcriptional regulator of genes encoding enzymes for flavonoid biosynthesis in the pathway leading to the production of a red phlobaphene pigment. Multiple alleles of the P gene confer distinct patterns of pigmentation to specific floral organs, such as the kernel pericarp and cob tissues. To determine the basis of allele-specific pigmentation, we have characterized the gene products and transcript accumulation patterns of the P-wr allele, which specifies colorless pericarps and red cob tissues.

Variable effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on avian osteoclastic activity and reduction of bone loss in ovariectomized rats.

We compared the effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein, a naturally occurring isoflavone, to those of tyrphostin A25, tyrphostin A47, and herbimycin on avian osteoclasts in vitro. Inactive analogs daidzein and tyrphostin A1 were used to control for nonspecific effects. None of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors inhibited bone attachment.

Urodynamic changes during therapeutic intravesical instillations of capsaicin.

Objective: To describe the technique for and urodynamic changes during therapeutic instillations of intravesical capsaicin in patients with detrusor hyper-reflexia.

Patients And Methods: Ninety intravesical instillations of capsaicin were performed as a therapeutic procedure in 30 patients; 21 patients had various causes of non-traumatic spinal cord disease, five patients were very severely neurologically impaired and were bed-bound with an indwelling catheter, and four were neurologically normal. Simultaneous cystometry was performed in 25 patients during the instillation of capsaicin; 100 mL of 1 or 2 mmol/L capsaicin in 30% ethanol/saline was instilled into the bladder for 30 min and two patients received 30% ethanol/saline only.

Novenamines as inhibitors of two independent enzymes during DNA replication in a toluenized Escherichia coli cell system.

The amphiphilic novenamines described in this report have been shown previously to be specific inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase-associated ribonuclease, which they inhibit when they are in the micellar state but not when they are monomeric. These compounds also inhibit the bacterial enzyme DNA gyrase, which is essential for DNA replication. Hence, the present studies were initiated to determine whether the molecular species inhibiting the gyrase reaction was the monomeric or the micellar form.

The amphiphilic properties of novenamines determine their activity as inhibitors of HIV-1 RNase H.

Few inhibitors of the RNase H function associated with the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase have been discovered to date. We observed that three novenamines, U-34445, U-35122, and U-35401, are specific inhibitors of the HIV-1 RT RNase H function. All three compounds are strong amphiphiles and contain one ionizable group.

[Risk and prognosis of hip para-articular fractures. A comparison of treatment results of femoral neck and pertrochanteric femoral fractures].

Fractures of the femoral neck and the intertrochanteric region account for 7.2% of our surgically treated trauma-patients. Thanks to gentle anaesthetic methods, pre- and postoperative intensive care, and using dynamic hip screws for stabilizing intertrochanteric fractures or total hip replacement in hybrid technique for fractures of the femoral neck, hospital mortality has decreased to 4.

Drug treatment of functional dyspepsia: a systematic analysis of trial methodology with recommendations for design of future trials.

Objectives: To evaluate drug treatment of functional dyspepsia (including Helicobacter pylori) and provide guidelines for future trials based on a critical systematic overview of published studies.

Methods: Data sources were a Medline search for articles published in English going back to 1966 and a manual search of four GI journals going back to 1980. Original randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials were selected that enrolled at least 20 patients.

Positioning jig for implant abutments: procedures and clinical applications.

A custom-milled abutment may be positioned in six different orientations on a hexed implant. When more than one implant abutment is to be placed, the number of possible orientations increases and makes this step time consuming. It is imperative that the abutment be held in a fixed position while the abutment screw is tightened.

Effect of pentoxifylline in rat and swine models of hepatic fibrosis: role of fibroproliferation in its mechanism.

Fibroproliferation was studied in two animal models of liver disease. Oral feeding of yellow phosphorus to pigs reproducibly results in fibrosis after 8 weeks of feeding, extensive fibrosis after 12 weeks and cirrhosis after 16 weeks of yellow phosphorus. Bile duct ligation was used to induce cirrhosis in the rat.

[Late results of surgical treatment of capsular ligament injury of the thumb metacarpophalageal joint].

48 patients with 49 lesions of the ligamentous apparatus of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint were followed-up on average 32.4 months after operative treatment. Using our own scoring and grading, we evaluated the operative results by subjective and objective criteria.

Protein kinases as mediators of fluid shear stress stimulated signal transduction in endothelial cells: a hypothesis for calcium-dependent and calcium-independent events activated by flow.

Fluid shear stress regulates endothelial cell function, but the signal transduction mechanisms involved in mechanotransduction remain unclear. Recent findings demonstrate that several intracellular kinases are activated by mechanical forces. In particular, members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family are stimulated by hyperosmolarity, stretch, and stress such as heat shock.

Effect of proANF-(31--67) on sodium excretion in conscious monkeys.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of proANF-(31--67) on renal function in conscious, chronically instrumented monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). The experimental protocol consisted of a 30-min control period followed by 60 min of peptide infusion and a 30-min recovery period. Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-(99--126), proANF-(31--67), of a combination of ANF-(99--126) plus proANF-(31--67) was infused at 15 pmol.

[Complications caused by patient positioning in unidentified "thoracic outlet syndrome"].

Following a 3-hour surgery of his left leg, a 22 year old male patient suffered paralysis and burning pain in his left forearm with numbness of his 3rd, 4th and 5th finger. During the following days the symptoms diminished spontaneously. The explanation is an ischaemia due to the positioning during the operation in presence of an unknown thoracic outlet syndrome.

Fluid shear stress stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase in endothelial cells.

Local alterations in the hemodynamic environment regulate endothelial cell function, but the signal-transduction mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. Because mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases have been shown to be activated by physical forces, we measured the phosphorylation and enzyme activity of MAP kinase to identify the signal events involved in the endothelial cell response to fluid shear stress. Flow at physiological shear stress (3.

[Fluctuations in biophysical measurements as a result of variations in solar activity].

A theory is proposed to explain variations in the net electrical charge of biological substances at the Earth's surface. These are shown to occur in association with changes in the solar wind and geomagnetic field. It is suggested that a liquid dielectric's net volume charge will imitate pH effects, influence chemical reaction rates, and alter ion transfer mechanisms in biophysical systems.

Dietary correction of hypercholesterolemia in the rabbit normalizes endothelial superoxide anion production.

Background: We have shown that hypercholesterolemia increases vascular superoxide anion (O2-) production, which could be responsible for augmented inactivation of endothelium-derived vascular relaxing factor. We sought to determine whether this increased vascular O2- production is due to infiltration of macrophages into the intima and whether dietary treatment of hypercholesterolemia normalizes O2- production.

Methods And Results: A specific and sensitive assay for O2- based on chemiluminescence of lucigenin was used; the amount of O2- produced by vascular ring segments was quantified based on known quantities of O2- produced by xanthine-xanthine oxidase standards.

Kinetics and thermodynamics of emulsion delivery of lipophilic antioxidants to cells in culture.

Oil-in-water emulsions are being used increasingly for the delivery of lipophilic drugs, but the fundamental physicochemical principles governing such delivery have not been explored. We determined the kinetics and thermodynamics of delivery from emulsions to cells in culture for two lipophilic compounds, U74006 and U74500. Two fundamental properties dominate the delivery, (a) the concentration of the compound in the lipid phase of the emulsion is directly proportional to the concentration of the compound in cells at equilibrium, and (b) the rate of transfer is directly proportional to the concentration of particles in contact with the cells.