Efficacy and cost of micronutrient treatment of childhood psychosis.

Psychosis is difficult to treat effectively with conventional pharmaceuticals, many of which have adverse long-term health consequences. In contrast, there are promising reports from several research groups of micronutrient treatment (vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids) of mood, anxiety and psychosis symptoms using a complex formula that appears to be safe and tolerable. We review previous studies using this formula to treat mental symptoms, and present an 11-year-old boy with a 3-year history of mental illness whose parents chose to transition him from medication to micronutrients.

Survey of Alberta hospital pharmacists' perspectives on additional prescribing authorization.

Purpose: The results of a survey to determine reasons for the slow adoption of prescribing authority by hospital pharmacists in the Canadian province of Alberta are presented.

Methods: A Web-based survey was conducted to elucidate pharmacist perspectives on additional prescribing authorization (APA), which permits independent prescribing by Alberta pharmacists who complete a peer-reviewed application process (at the time of the survey, only 52 hospital pharmacists had been granted APA). The survey elicited demographic data and practice characteristics and explored perspectives on APA and their influence on the decision to apply or not apply for APA.

Ovarian and placental production of progesterone and oestradiol during pregnancy in reindeer.

We obtained uterine and peripheral venous plasma, and samples of luteal and placental tissues from 2- to 7-year-old, Eurasian mountain reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) from a free-living, semi-domesticated herd in northern Norway in November 1995, and February and March 1996. In November, ovarian venous blood was also collected from four animals. Plasma samples were assayed for progesterone and oestradiol.

Psychosocial needs of women infected with HIV.

This article describes an exploratory social work study that examined the psychosocial needs of HIV seropositive (HIV+) Caucasian women. A questionnaire was used to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data from the sample of 12 women. Further, more substantive data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 6 of the sample.

Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene potentiates the effect of protein kinase A pathway activators on progesterone synthesis in cultured porcine granulosa cells.

The insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its major metabolite p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) have been implicated as endocrine-modulating chemicals. The DDT metabolite p, p'-DDE has been found contaminating human tissues and follicular fluid because of dietary exposure. We investigated the effects of DDE on progesterone synthesis in a stable porcine granulosa cell line, JC-410, and in primary cultures of porcine granulosa cells.

Steroid regulation of progesterone synthesis in a stable porcine granulosa cell line: a role for progestins.

The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of steroid hormones on the synthesis of progesterone in a stable porcine granulosa cell line, JC-410. We also examined the effect of steroid hormones on expression of the genes encoding the steroidogenic enzymes, cytochrome P450-cholesterol side chain cleavage (P450scc) and 3beta-hydroxy-5-ene steroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD). We observed that 48 h exposure of the JC-410 cells to estradiol-17beta (estradiol), androstenedione, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, levonorgestrel, and 5-cholesten-3beta, 25-diol (25-hydroxycholesterol) resulted in stimulation of progesterone synthesis.

Regulation of steroidogenesis in jc-410, a stable cell line of porcine granulosa origin.

We investigated the regulation of steroidogenesis in a cell line of porcine granulosa origin, JC-410. Cells responded to the protein kinase-A activators, cholera toxin and forskolin, with increased accumulation of intracellular cAMP. Histochemically, cells were shown to contain 3beta-HSD, the enzyme which converts pregnenolone to progesterone.

Establishment of a stable steroidogenic porcine granulosa cell line.

We report the establishment and preliminary characterization of a stable steroidogenic granulosa cell line, JC-410. This cell line was obtained by spontaneous immortalization of a primary culture of porcine granulosa cells. Cultured JC-410 cells produced less progesterone than granulosa cells in primary culture.

A novel perspective on the role of human chorionic gonadotropin during pregnancy and in gestational trophoblastic disease.

We have discussed recent new findings on the presence and function of hCG/LH receptors in non-gonadal tissues with particular emphasis on the placenta. These findings support the hypothesis that hCG plays a broader role throughout pregnancy than previously believed. Since hCG is widely used in reproductive medicine, the possible impact of hCG treatment on non-gonadal tissues must be considered.

Intravenous iron administration to very-low-birth-weight newborns receiving total and partial parenteral nutrition.

Background: Intravenous iron supplements are not routinely administered to very-low-birth-weight newborns receiving total parenteral nutrition because of the possible increased risk of infection and because iron needs may be met with blood transfusions.

Methods: To assess the benefits of a prudent IV iron supplement (200 to 250 micrograms/kg/d), 26 very-low-birth-weight newborns (birth weight, 1005 +/- 302 g; gestational age, 28 +/- 2.3 weeks; mean +/- SD) were randomly allocated to receive total parenteral nutrition without iron (No-Iron) or with iron supplied as iron dextran (Iron).

Intracellular calcium and the signaling mechanism of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in rat granulosa cells.

Objective: The purpose of these studies was to determine the source(s) of the increase in intracellular free calcium in response to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in ovarian granulosa cells.

Study Design: Rat granulosa cells were cultured and loaded with fura-2-acetoxy-methyl ester, a fluorescent calcium indicator dye, and intracellular free calcium measured by microspectrofluorometry. The source of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone induced increase in intracellular Ca++ was investigated with various calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem, and nifedipine), high K+ buffer, and perifusion with media lacking Ca++.

Prostaglandin F2 alpha and gonadotropin-releasing hormone increase intracellular free calcium in rat granulosa cells.

Changes in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were measured in single rat granulosa cells, using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye, fura-2AM. In 90 out of 135 granulosa cells (67%), there was a 3- to 4-fold increase in resting [Ca2+]i within 30 s of administration of PGF2 alpha (10(-6) M). The resting [Ca2+]i returned to pre-stimulation levels in approximately 80 s.

Effect of prostaglandin F2 alpha on cytosolic free calcium ion concentrations in rat luteal cells.

Changes in cytosolic free calcium concentrations [( Ca2+]i) in response to prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) were measured in single rat luteal cells, using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2. A total of 112 cells were studied in 20 experiments. The average resting [Ca2+]i was 113 +/- 6.

AIDS and social work treatment: a single-system analysis.

This article reports on an exploratory study that examined the efficacy of a social work intervention for people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex. The intervention was based on Heimler's Human Social Functioning theory and method. A single-system design was used to analyze change due to intervention, and two instruments were used to collect data across the phases.

Inhibition of aromatase activity by 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate in cultured first-trimester human trophoblast.

We have previously shown that 8-bromo-adenosine-3':5'-cyclic monophosphate inhibits production of estradiol from androgen precursors in trophoblast isolated from term placentas. In these experiments we sought to evaluate the effect of 8-bromo-adenosine-3':5'-cyclic monophosphate on aromatase activity in first-trimester trophoblast culture. Trophoblast cells were enzyme dispersed from first-trimester placentas and purified on a Percoll gradient.

Interaction of 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) with human cortical nicotinic and muscarinic receptor binding in vitro.

Tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) has recently been reported to be more useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease than physostigmine. A comparison of the effects of these two anticholinesterase agents on in vitro enzyme and receptor activities of human cerebral cortex (obtained at autopsy) revealed similarities in their interactions with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) but striking differences in their ability to displace both nicotinic and muscarinic radioligands from membrane preparations. IC50 values (the concentration required to reduce enzyme activity by 50%) for the inhibition of total tissue AChE were 7.

Effects of cyclic adenosine monophosphate on human chorionic gonadotropin and estradiol output by cultured human placental cells.

We have previously shown that adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) inhibits basal estradiol output in human trophoblast cells. The objective of this study was to investigate further the effect of 8-bromo-cAMP on the conversion of C19 androgens to estradiol by placental cells. Trophoblast cells were prepared from human term placenta and maintained in monolayer culture.

Differential effects of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone and estrogen production by term placental cells.

The present study examined the effects of a cAMP analog on the output of hCG and progesterone (P) in human term trophoblast cells in culture, as well as the conversion of androstenedione and testosterone to estradiol--17 beta and estrone by these cells. The levels of hCG and P in the culture medium increased throughout the four-day culture period. Addition of 8-bromo-adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP), forskolin or cholera toxin (but not 8-Br-cGMP) stimulated hCG and P production by the cultivated placental cells.

Hepatic estrogen and androgen receptors and binding proteins in streptozotocin-diabetic male Wistar rats.

We have previously shown that there are decreases in the sex differences seen in certain hepatic drug and steroid metabolising enzymes in rats with early (4 day) streptozotocin-induced diabetes. We postulated that hepatic sex hormone receptors or binding proteins might be involved in modulation of the sex differences noted in metabolism. In the present study, we measured the binding kinetics of the hepatic cytosolic estrogen receptor and androgen receptor, along with the high capacity-low affinity estrogen binding protein.

Social work services as a component of palliative care with terminal cancer patients.

This paper describes a social work service to critically ill non-hospitalized cancer patients based upon Heimler's theory and method of Human Social Functioning. Despite severe constraints arising from the physical deterioration and emotional distress of the patients and certain aspects of the treatment setting, efforts were made to validate the effectiveness of the service through pre- and post-intervention measures of patients' moods and single system experiments. The findings indicate that the Heimler method was effective in helping patients overcome their sense of helplessness and distressing emotional reactions to terminal illness.