Substance use, trait measures, and subjective response to nicotine in never-smokers stratified on parental smoking history and sex.

Introduction: Male and female never-smokers stratified on parental history of smoking were tested for possible differences in susceptibility to the hedonic effects of nicotine.

Methods: We recruited nicotine-exposed never-smokers with two never-smoking biological parents (PH-) or two ever-smoking biological parents (PH+). After completing a baseline assessment battery focusing on conditions or behaviors associated with smoking, participants were tested for subjective and hedonic effects in response to administration of three different nicotine doses (0.

Race differences in factors relating to smoking initiation.

To investigate race differences in retrospectively-reported early smoking experiences, we studied African-American (n=48) and Caucasian (n=155) current smokers who participated in a study designed to identify phenotypic and genotypic factors associated with smoking. Compared with Caucasian smokers, African-American smokers were less educated (mean+/-s.e.

Favorite cigarette of the day in a random sample of women smokers.

From a random digit dialing survey of American women, we assessed current smokers (n=371). Respondents were 33.6+/-7.

Folic acid reduces nuclear translocation of beta-catenin in rectal mucosal crypts of patients with colorectal adenomas.

We have demonstrated that folic acid inhibits cell proliferation and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation in colon cancer cell lines. We examined the effect of one year supplemental folic acid (5 mg/day) on the rectal mucosal expression of beta-catenin and pGSK3beta, known to be affected by EGF-R, in patients with colorectal adenomas. Folic acid treatment significantly reduced nuclear expression of beta-catenin (P < 0.

Folic acid mediated attenuation of loss of heterozygosity of DCC tumor suppressor gene in the colonic mucosa of patients with colorectal adenomas.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and/or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes are implicated in the initiation and progression of many malignancies, including colorectal cancer. Although accumulating evidence suggests a chemopreventive role for folate in colorectal cancer, regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. The primary objective of the current investigation was to determine whether folic acid would prevent LOH of the three tumor suppressor genes, deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC), adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and p53 in macroscopically normal appearing rectal mucosa of patients with adenomatous polyps.

Endothelium down-regulates Fas, TNF, and TRAIL-induced neutrophil apoptosis.

Background: Neutrophil (PMN) apoptosis regulates PMN functional longevity and is integral to the resolution of inflammation. We have recently shown that PMN contact with an endothelial monolayer down-regulates spontaneous PMN apoptosis. We sought to explore endothelial-mediated down-regulation of PMN apoptosis following mediator-induced apoptosis.

Multiple heparanases are expressed in polymorphonuclear cells.

Background: Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are complex cell surface molecules containing polysaccharides called heparan sulfate. Lysosomes, platelet granules, and neutrophils (polymorphonuclear cells) contain heparanases that degrade heparan sulfate. There are at least two groups of heparanases: connective tissue-activating-peptide (CTAP-III) and mammalian heparanase (hpa).