Effect of red wine consumption on lipoprotein (a) and other risk factors for atherosclerosis.

Epidemiological studies have pointed to the role of alcohol, and red wine in particular, in reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease. This study attempted to distinguish, in vivo, the effects of components specific to red wine and those of alcohol on lipoproteins, antioxidant status and membrane fluidity. Volunteers (n = 20) were given 200 ml of red wine per day for 10 days.

Embryonic expression of the chicken Sox2, Sox3 and Sox11 genes suggests an interactive role in neuronal development.

Three chicken Sox (SRY-like box) genes have been identified that show an interactive pattern of expression in the developing embryonic nervous system. cSox2 and cSox3 code for related proteins and both are predominantly expressed in the immature neural epithelium of the entire CNS of HH stage 10 to 34 embryos. cSox11 is related to cSox2 and cSox3 only by virtue of containing an SRY-like HMG-box sequence but shows extensive homology with Sox-4 at its C-terminus.

Older women and health services: moving from ageism toward empowerment.

Ageism and sexism in health services and research affect the quality of care, patient-provider interaction, patient self-perceptions, and the planning of health education programs for older women. Stereotyping of older women in the health care encounter, although often subtle, can have far-reaching effects on the health status of older women. Prevailing research methodologies are focused on disease processes and neglect older women's subjective experience of illness.

The spatial localization of Dlx-2 during tooth development.

The spatial distribution of Dlx-2 protein during murine tooth development has been investigated using immunohistochemistry with Dlx-2 antibodies. In common with several other homeobox genes expressed in toothgerms, Dlx-2 shows a multiphasic distribution in both epithelially and mesenchymally derived structures. This localization shows a number of similarities with the expression of Msx-2 and suggests a role for Dlx-2 in tooth initiation and tissue patterning.

The karyotype of Alligator mississippiensis, and chromosomal mapping of the ZFY/X homologue, Zfc.

Comparative mapping studies of X-linked genes in mammals have provided insights into the evolution of the X chromosome. Many reptiles including the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, do not appear to possess heteromorphic sex chromosomes, and sex is determined by the incubation temperature of the egg during embryonic development. Mapping of homologues of mammalian X-linked genes in reptiles could lead to a greater understanding of the evolution of vertebrate sex chromosomes.

Ascorbate and malondialdehyde in stroke patients.

It is believed that free radical formation and subsequent oxidative damage in the form of lipid peroxidation may be a factor in the cerebral damage secondary to the ischaemia of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Total serum ascorbate and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in 45 patients with CVA on the day of admission to hospital (Time 0) and 48 hours later (Time 48 hours) and also in 45 age and sex matched controls. There was no statistical difference in total serum ascorbate between the control group (34.

Complications associated with central venous catheters in a haematology unit.

The use of central venous catheters in patients suffering from haematological disorders has brought enormous benefits, but has been associated with an increase in septicaemia. We have reviewed septic and other complications in 43 patients who received one of three different forms of central venous catheters (type A-Hickman, type B-Portacath, type C-Pasport) during 1991. All complications were reviewed up to 18 months following insertion.

Chromosomal and temperature-dependent sex determination: the search for a conserved mechanism.

To test the hypothesis that the same (or similar) genes may be involved in chromosomal sex determination and temperature dependent sex determination we investigated the expression of the mammalian testis determining gene SRY in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), a species with temperature dependent sex. We have cloned Alligator SRY-related genes (A-Srys) which constitute three major gene classes with high degrees of sequence homology (45-87%) to mammalian SRY and related genes. Expression analysis and cellular localisation studies using staged embryonic material from male and female incubation temperatures are underway to assess the role of A-Sry genes in temperature dependent sex determination.

Analysis of the tandem repeat locus D4Z4 associated with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

The sequence of the tandem repeat sequence (D4Z4) associated with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) has been determined: each copy of the 3.3 kb repeat contains two homeoboxes and two previously described repetitive sequences, LSau and a GC-rich low copy repeat designated hhspm3. By Southern blotting, FISH and isolation of cDNA and genomic clones we show that there are repeat sequences similar to D4Z4 at other locations in the human genome.

Upregulation of c-fos protooncogene expression in pagetic osteoclasts.

Using in situ hybridization we show that expression of the c-fos oncogene, a gene normally associated with osteosarcomas, is greatly elevated in osteoclasts of patients with Paget's disease. Immunohistochemical staining with c-fos antibodies also shows increased protein in pagetic osteoclasts. In light of transgenic mouse experiments showing a key role for c-fos in bone resorption, we propose that elevated c-fos gene expression in pagetic osteoclasts is an important component in producing the pagetic phenotype.

Adaptation of a general optimism scale for use with older women.

The Life Orientation Test has been widely used with various populations since its development, but its psychometric properties among older adults have not been assessed. This study employed exploratory factor analysis to examine the factor structure of a modified version of the test for 90 frail older women. The results do not support a unidimensional conceptualization of optimism.

Impact of social support, social cognitive variables, and perceived threat on depression among adults with diabetes.

Tested was a model of social support and cognitive appraisal of self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and illness threat on depression. Study participants were community-dwelling adults with diabetes who completed a mailed questionnaire (N = 362). Results of structural equation modeling indicated that 52% of the variance in depression was explained by the model--largely by the direct effects of physical functioning, the perceived availability of social support, and the perceived threat of diabetes as well as the indirect paths from perceived support to perceived threat and from physical functioning to perceived support and perceived threat of diabetes.

Increase in mean platelet volume in patients with chronic renal failure treated with erythropoietin.

Aims: To assess whether r-HuEPO (recombinant human erythropoietin) has any effect on thrombopoiesis in patients with chronic renal failure.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 78 patients with chronic renal failure undergoing either haemodialysis (n = 57) or intraperitoneal dialysis (n = 21). All patients had a full blood count (in EDTA) measured before starting r-HuEPO and at monthly intervals thereafter up to six months.

An alternatively spliced transcript, p65 delta 2, of the gene encoding the p65 subunit of the transcription factor NF-kappa B.

We have identified a second alternatively spliced transcript of the NF-kappa B transcription factor p65 subunit. This transcript, named p65 delta 2, varies from p65 at two functionally important regions.

Estimation of body fat and body fat distribution in 11-year-old children using magnetic resonance imaging and hydrostatic weighing, skinfolds, and anthropometry.

From early pubescence, both degree and distribution of fatness have been related to health risk factors. Measures that are capable of providing estimates of overall fatness and the extent of high risk fat patterning are, therefore, advantageous. The objective of this study was to compare estimates of body fatness and fat distribution using magnetic resonance imaging with the traditional methods of hydrostatic weighing, skinfolds, and anthropometry in 11-year-old boys and girls.

Interleukin-6, IL-6 receptor, and IL-6 nuclear factor gene expression in Paget's disease.

The cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) is considered an important regulator of bone cell function and may play a central role in bone disease states characterized by increased bone remodeling, such as Paget's disease. Indeed, recent in vitro data suggest that IL-6 may be an autocrine/paracrine factor for pagetic osteoclasts. However, its expression and role in vivo are not known.

Ascorbate and exercise in the Northern Ireland population.

The relationship between physical activity, physical fitness and serum ascorbate was examined in the Northern Ireland Health and Activity Survey. This was a cross sectional population study (n = 1600), using a two stage probability sample, of the population of N. Ireland.

Intrarenal cytokine mRNA expression and location in normal and IgA nephropathy tissue: TGF alpha, TGF beta, IGF 1, IL-4 and IL-6.

Peptide regulatory factors (PRFs) are critical components in the regulation of glomerular inflammatory response to immune injury and may also have a primary role in modulating intrinsic cell proliferation and matrix synthesis. Dysregulation of PRFs and glomerular infiltration with inflammatory, including mononuclear, cells occur in models of nephritis, but direct evidence for their role is not established in normal and diseased tissue in man. Using in situ hybridization techniques capable of detecting specific cellular messenger RNA we have evaluated normal human and IgA nephropathy diseased renal tissue for expression and location of PRF encoding mRNA.