Implementation of a strategy involving a multidisciplinary mobile unit team to prevent hospital admission in nursing home residents: protocol of a quasi-experimental study (MMU-1 study).

Introduction: Nursing home residents represent a particularly vulnerable population experiencing high risk of unplanned hospital admissions, but few interventions have proved effective in reducing this risk. The aim of this research will be to verify the effects of a hospital-based multidisciplinary mobile unit (MMU) team intervention delivering urgent care to nursing home residents directly at their bedside.

Methods And Analysis: Four nursing homes based in the Parma province, in Northern Italy, will be involved in this prospective, pragmatic, multicentre, 18-month quasiexperimental study (sequential design with two cohorts).

T-cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangement and expression during human thymic ontogenesis.

T-cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain proteins appear early (approximately 15th week of gestation) during human thymic ontogenesis. These beta-chain proteins, which appear before terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), could be an expression of a fully rearranged (V-D-J), incompletely rearranged (D-J), or germline TCR beta-chain gene. The aims of this study, performed from the 15th week onward, were the following: (1) to investigate whether or not TCR beta gene rearranges at an early stage during human thymic ontogenesis; (2) to investigate whether complete presumptive functional (1.

[Differentiation activity of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone and its copper and cobalt complexes on Friend erythroleukemia cells].

Thiosemicarbazones are a wide group of organic derivatives whose biological activities are a function of the parent aldehyde or ketone and of the coordination metal type. Some thiosemicarbazones possess a broad spectrum of potentially useful chemotherapeutic properties (antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial). The present study reports the biological effects of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone, H2L, and relative complexes with copper, [(Cu(HL)(OH2))2]++ and with cobalt, [Co(III)(L)(HL)] on the differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC).

Genetic variability between isolates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 is comparable to the variability among HIV type 1.

The isolation from macaques of retroviruses related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) led to the identification of a second group of human retroviruses (termed HIV-2), which are prevalent in West Africa and closely related to the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). We have cloned and determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the human West African retrovirus HIV-2NIH-Z and compared it to that of a previously described strain of HIV-2 (HIV-2ROD) as well as to SIV and HIV-1. We have reached the following conclusions: (i) The HIV-2 isolates are (slightly) more closely related to each other than to SIV, compatible with their isolation from different species.

Identification and characterization of conserved and variable regions in the envelope gene of HTLV-III/LAV, the retrovirus of AIDS.

To determine the extent and nature of genetic variation present in independent isolates of HTLV-III/LAV, the nucleotide sequences of the entire envelope gene and parts of gag and pol were determined for two AIDS viruses. The results indicated that variation throughout the viral genome is extensive and that the envelope gene in particular is most highly variable. Within the envelope, changes were most prevalent within the extracellular region where clustered nucleotide substitutions and deletions/insertions were evident.

Polymorphism of the 3' open reading frame of the virus associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, human T-lymphotropic virus type III.

The genome of the virus associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III), includes two open reading frames, not found in other retroviruses. One of these, designated 3' open reading frame (3'orf) is 648 base pairs (bp) in length, and overlaps with the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences. Sequences of additional HTLV-III clones were determined in order to estimate the level and location of variation within 3'orf, to gain some insight into the function of its protein product.

Nucleotide sequence analysis of a variant human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-Ib) provirus with a deletion in pX-I.

A variant of human T-cell leukemia virus subgroup I (HTLV-I), designated HTLV-Ib, has been isolated from a transformed T-lymphocytic cell line established from a Zairian patient with adult T-cell lymphoma. A recombinant phage clone of the variant provirus, denoted lambda MC-1, hybridizes under high stringency to HTLV-I DNA probes, but 17 of 43 restriction enzyme sites differ from those of HTLV-I, 10 of them clustering within 1.5 kilobases in the env-pX region.

Characterization of long terminal repeat sequences of HTLV-III.

The nucleotide sequence of the long terminal repeat sequence (LTR) of the human T-cell leukemia (lymphotropic) virus type III (HTLV-III) was determined. This virus is associated etiologically with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The LTR was found to be 634 base pairs in length with U3, R, and U5 regions of 453, 98, and 83 bp, respectively.

Complete nucleotide sequence of the AIDS virus, HTLV-III.

The complete nucleotide sequence of two human T-cell leukaemia type III (HTLV-III) proviral DNAs each have four long open reading frames, the first two corresponding to the gag and pol genes. The fourth open reading frame encodes two functional polypeptides, a large precursor of the major envelope glycoprotein and a smaller protein derived from the 3'-terminus long open reading frame analogous to the long open reading frame (lor) product of HTLV-I and -II.

Phenotype of the terminal transferase-positive cells in human foetal liver and bone-marrow: analysis with monoclonal antibodies.

Liver and bone-marrow of 20 human foetuses between 15th and 20th week of gestational age were examined. Mononuclear cells were labelled with murine monoclonal antibodies to reveal surface antigens and with a rabbit antiserum to TdT for the detection of the nuclear enzyme, using a double colour indirect immunofluorescence technique. The results have revealed that TdT+ cells express the phenotype of B cell precursors HLA-DR+, CALLA+, FMC8+, LEU-1-, LEU-5-, LEU-9-.

Molecular characterization of human T-lymphotropic leukemia virus type III associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A T-lymphotropic retrovirus with cytopathic but not immortalizing activity has been isolated repeatedly from patients with acquired immune deficiency (AIDS) or lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS) and successfully transmitted to a T-cell line (HT) for continuous production. Seroepidemiology data and the OKT4 tropism and cytopathogenicity of this virus indicate it is the etiological agent of AIDS. We have cloned HTLV-III genomes using three approaches: (1) cDNA clones were obtained from a cDNA plasmid library constructed from RNA of purified virions using oligo (dT) primers; (2) unintegrated provirus clones were obtained from Hirt supernatants of acutely infected H9 cells using virus from H9/HTLV-III; (3) clones of integrated provirus with flanking cellular sequences were obtained from a genomic DNA library of H9/HTLV-III.

Inhibition of gastric emptying by angiotensin in the rat and its antagonism by saralasin.

Angiotensin, administered by intraperitoneal route (0.1 - 100 micrograms/kg) significantly delayed gastric emptying in the conscious rat. This action, most probably connected with the spasmogenic effect on the gastroduodenal junction, was antagonized by saralasin (125 and 250 micrograms/kg intraperitoneally).

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) in human foetuses. An immunofluorescent and biochemical study.

The liver, bone marrow and cord blood of 30 human foetuses between the 15th and 21st weeks of gestational age were examined. Liver suspensions were investigated both by immunofluorescent and biochemical assay; cord blood suspensions and bone marrow touches with immunofluorescent assay. The results indicate the existence of a few TdT+ cells in the liver, cord blood and bone marrow of human foetuses in the ages studied.

Ph1-positive acute myelocytic leukemia with high TdT levels.

The authors have determined TdT levels in a case of Ph1-positive AML. Peripheral blood cells and bone marrow cells taken during the various phases of the disease were examined. Liquor cells were analyzed when symptomatic central nervous system involvement occurred.

Action of angiotensin on vascular and intestinal smooth muscle and its antagonism by saralasin.

Angiotensin II was tested for its activity on rabbit aorta, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) from the rat, rat gastric fundus and rat colon. The peptide had a powerful stimulatory effect on vascular and extravascular smooth muscle beginning from concentrations of 10(-10) M. Its effect was antagonized by saralasin which acted in the different preparations to approximately the same extent: active concentrations of saralasin varied from 10(-8) M to 10(-7) M.