Energy value of moderate alcohol consumption by humans.

We investigated the effects of an equal-energetic substitution of ethanol for dietary carbohydrate in high-and low-fat diets on energy expenditure and body composition. During the controlled feeding study, subjects maintained their weights and consumed only food and drink provided by the US Department of Agriculture Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center's Diet Study Facility. Subjects (16 men and 32 women) were divided equally into two groups and consumed either a high-or low-fat diet for 16 wk.

Reversible oligomerization and denaturation of the chaperonin GroES.

The chaperonin GroEL can assist protein folding and normally acts with the co-chaperonin GroES. These Escherichia coli proteins are encoded on the same operon, with GroES positioned first. In this report, we have investigated the reversible folding of GroES.

Inhalation of hypertonic saline aerosol enhances mucociliary clearance in asthmatic and healthy subjects.

Hyperosmolarity of the airway surface liquid (ASL) has been proposed as the stimulus for hyperpnoea-induced asthma. We found previously that mucociliary clearance (MCC) was increased after isocapnic hyperventilation (ISH) with dry air, and we proposed that the increase related to transient hyperosmolarity of the ASL. We investigated the effect of increasing the osmolarity of the ASL on MCC, by administering an aerosol of concentrated salt solution.

Mucociliary clearance during and after isocapnic hyperventilation with dry air in the presence of frusemide.

We have previously shown that mucociliary clearance (MCC) decreased during and increased after isocapnic hyperventilation (ISH) with dry air, both in asthmatic and healthy subjects. Inhaled frusemide, an inhibitor of the Na+/K+/2Cl- and NaCl co-transporters on the basolateral membrane of the epithelial cell, prevents the airway narrowing provoked by ISH with dry air. The co-transport system controls epithelial cell volume and chloride secretion and, thus, frusemide has the potential to modify the rate of recovery of periciliary fluid volume during and after ISH with dry air, and hence affect MCC.

Gender differences in medical presentation and detection of patients with a history of alcohol abuse or dependence.

Women and men with alcohol use disorders differ in many respects. A retrospective medical record review of 132 patients was performed to determine outpatient clinic utilization, presentation patterns and physician actions related to patient gender and lifetime DIS-status. Women, irrespective of DIS-status, utilized out-patient health care services more often than did DIS-positive or negative men.

All-trans retinoic acid rapidly decreases cathepsin G synthesis and mRNA expression in acute promyelocytic leukemia.

The cells from patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML M3) undergo terminal differentiation when treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). We have analyzed the expression of the mRNA for cathepsin G, a promyelocyte stage-specific transcript, in the leukemia and in retinoic acid responsive cell lines. We showed that the transcript is perpetually synthesized in patients' cells and that it rapidly disappears when the cells are treated with ATRA.

The C-terminal sequence of the chaperonin GroES is required for oligomerization.

The Escherichia coli protein GroES is a co-chaperonin that is able to assist GroEL in the refolding of proteins. GroES is a heptamer of seven identical subunits. Recent work has focused on the structural aspects of GroES.

Energy expenditure measurements in relation to energy requirements.

Long-term good health for weight-stable adults requires balance between energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE). Both EI and EE measurements can be used to estimate energy requirement. Results from studies conducted at Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in which two or more methods were used to measure EE are compared to determine relative differences in measurement techniques.

Residual structure in urea-denatured chaperonin GroEL.

The urea denaturation of the chaperonin GroEL has been studied by circular dichroism, intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence and fluorescence of the hydrophobic probe, 1,1'-bis(4-anilino)naphthalene-5,5'-disulfonic acid (bisANS). It is shown that GroEL denaturation, monitored by CD and intrinsic fluorescence measurements, can be well described by a two-state transition that is complete by 3-3.1 M urea.

Decreased protein synthesis during dry saturation diving.

Changes in metabolism during saturation dives have been reported; however, these changes have not been well defined. This study was conducted to determine the effect of saturation diving on protein metabolism. Whole body protein synthesis was measured by the ammonia and urea endpoint methods, following a single oral dose of 15N-glycine in 11 Navy divers 33.

Photoincorporation of 4,4'-bis(1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonic acid) into the apical domain of GroEL: specific information from a nonspecific probe.

The use of noncovalent hydrophobic probes such as bis-ANS has become increasingly popular in gaining structural information about protein structure and conformation. While these probes have provided rich information about protein conformation, specific information has been limited. In this report, we extend the usefulness of the probe bis-ANS by showing that it can be covalently photoincorporated into various proteins.

Effects of high altitude and cold exposure on resting thyroid hormone concentrations.

This study examined the effect of high altitude and cold exposure on thyroid hormone status during a mountaineering expedition. There were 15 males participating in an expedition to climb Mt. McKinley, AK.

Validity of urine-blood hydrational measures to assess total body water changes during mountaineering in the sub-Arctic.

Mountaineering involves high altitude and cold exposure which are each associated with significant levels of dehydration (via altitude-cold diuresis, high energy expenditures, and poor access to water). The purpose of this study was to identify and validate urine and blood indices of dehydration as compared to changes in total body water (which served as the reference standard). Male subjects (n = 10) were studied during a 14 day mountaineering expedition in the sub-Arctic during which they climbed to an altitude of 5245 +/- 229 m (mean +/- SE).

Better medication compliance is associated with improved control of childhood asthma.

Our previous studies have shown that medication compliance in children prescribed continuous treatment for asthma is poor, and that an intervention can improve the level of compliance. The present study examined the effects of an intervention on the clinical course of moderately severe asthma. At each of six clinic visits, spirometry was performed, medication compliance was assessed by questionnaire, and the physicians made an overall assessment of asthma severity (Severity Score) and provided a score for asthma control (Control of Asthma Score).

Sequence determinants of the capping box, a stabilizing motif at the N-termini of alpha-helices.

The capping box, a recurrent hydrogen bonded motif at the N-termini of alpha-helices, caps 2 of the initial 4 backbone amide hydrogen donors of the helix (Harper ET, Rose GD, 1993, Biochemistry 32:7605-7609). In detail, the side chain of the first helical residue forms a hydrogen bond with the backbone of the fourth helical residue and, reciprocally, the side chain of the fourth residue forms a hydrogen bond with the backbone of the first residue. We now enlarge the earlier definition of this motif to include an accompanying hydrophobic interaction between residues that bracket the capping box sequence on either side.

Energy expenditure and fluid production in hyperbaric He-O2 environments using doubly labeled water.

Energy expenditure (EE), carbon dioxide production (rCO2), water turnover (rH2O), and urine production (UP) were measured to determine nutrient requirements of U.S. Navy divers during saturation dives.

Psychiatric problems experienced by primary care patients who misuse alcohol.

Of 1936 primary care patients screened using the alcohol portion of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, 100 met criteria for "alcohol abuse and/or dependence." Sixty of the individuals who misused alcohol were matched to 60 who did not. All 160 patients answered questions about psychiatric symptoms and psychotropic drug use.

Different effects of inhaled amiloride and frusemide on airway responsiveness to dry air challenge in asthmatic subjects.

Amiloride, a Na+ channel blocker, and frusemide, an inhibitor of the Na+/K+/2Cl- co-transporter on the basolateral surface of airway epithelial cells, have the potential to affect water transport across the airway epithelium. As isocapnic hyperventilation challenge (ISH) with dry air may provoke airway narrowing in asthmatic subjects by dehydrating the airways, inhaled amiloride and frusemide may reduce airway responsiveness by effecting airway hydration. Fifteen asthmatic subjects (6 females, 9 males), who had a fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 20% after ISH, inhaled amiloride (11 mg), or its vehicle, from a Fisoneb ultrasonic nebulizer, within 10 min before ISH.

Central nervous system tuberculosis in Australia: a report of 22 cases.

Objective: To review the clinical features, treatment and outcome of patients with central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis.

Design And Setting: A retrospective analysis of the case records of patients diagnosed as having CNS tuberculosis in a large Australian teaching hospital.

Patients: Twenty-two patients with CNS tuberculosis were identified between 1978 and 1989.

The effect of inhaled frusemide on airway sensitivity to inhaled 4.5% sodium chloride aerosol in asthmatic subjects.

Background: Frusemide inhaled by asthmatic subjects before a variety of indirect bronchial challenges inhibits the airway response to these challenges. Since inhalation of hyperosmolar saline is an indirect bronchial challenge, the effect of inhaled frusemide and its vehicle on airway sensitivity to a 4.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) aerosol challenge was investigated.

Substance abuse among minority populations.

Substance abuse problems and their solutions not only vary considerably depending on the ethnicity of the patient, but also are influenced by factors such as age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status. Familiarity with the epidemiology of substance abuse problems of different sociocultural groups can help the clinician better understand and anticipate the needs of the patient population she or he is serving. The five-part sociocultural assessment model provides a framework to help the practitioner assess the sociocultural needs of an individual patient.

Seven-day validation of doubly labeled water method using indirect room calorimetry.

Carbon dioxide production, water production, and energy expenditure (EE) determined with 2H2(18)O were validated using a room calorimeter. Nine human subjects (5 males, 4 females) resided in the calorimeter for five to seven consecutive 23.5-h days.

Failure of salmeterol to inhibit circulating white cell responses and bronchoconstriction induced by platelet activating factor.

Background: Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a potent mediator of inflammation. Inhalation of PAF causes acute bronchoconstriction and a transient fall in white blood cell count in humans. Salmeterol inhibits pulmonary inflammation induced by PAF in guinea pigs.

Nedocromil sodium inhibits the airway response to hyperosmolar challenge in patients with asthma.

We studied 16 asthmatic subjects sensitive to changes in airway osmolarity to determine whether nedocromil sodium has any effect on airway narrowing caused by hypertonic saline challenges. Nedocromil sodium (10 mg) or its vehicle was inhaled 10 min before a challenge with ultrasonically nebulized 4.5% NaCl.