The anterior pituitary content of neuromedin U-like immunoreactivity is altered by thyrotrophin-releasing hormone and thyroid hormone status in the rat.

In this study we have examined the effects of TRH, thyroid hormones and dopamine on the rat anterior pituitary content of neuromedin U-like immunoreactivity. Oral administration of TRH (20 mg/100 g per day) to euthyroid animals evoked a fivefold increase in peptide content after 12 days of treatment. This effect was found to be dependent upon circulating levels of thyroid hormone, since administration of TRH to thyroidectomized animals failed to show a similar effect without simultaneous treatment with tri-iodothyronine.

Evidence for neuropeptide Y synthesis in the rat anterior pituitary and the influence of thyroid hormone status: comparison with vasoactive intestinal peptide, substance P, and neurotensin.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a 36-amino acid member of the pancreatic polypeptide family, was found to be present by RIA and immunocytochemistry in the rat anterior pituitary gland. NPY prohormone messenger RNA (mRNA) was identified in the pituitary by Northern blot analysis. The possible regulation of NPY was examined by determining the effects of thyroid hormone manipulation on peptide synthesis.

Dextromethorphan attenuates post-ischemic hypoperfusion following incomplete global ischemia in the anesthetized rat.

The effects of dextromethorphan (DM) were tested in an in vivo model of incomplete global cerebral ischemia. Anesthetized rats were divided into 4 groups: Group 1 (saline); Group 2 (DM pre-treatment, 20 mg/kg i.v.

The distribution of GAWK-like immunoreactivity in neuroendocrine cells of the human gut, pancreas, adrenal and pituitary glands and its co-localisation with chromogranin B.

GAWK is a recently discovered peptide isolated from extracts of human pituitary gland and subsequently shown to be identical to sequence 420-493 of human chromogranin B. The distribution of this peptide was studied in human gut, pancreas, adrenal and pituitary glands using antisera to two portions of the 74 amino acid peptide (sequences 1-17 and 20-38). In addition, the co-existence of GAWK immunoreactivity with other peptides and chromogranin B was investigated using comparative immunocytochemistry.

Hypoglycemic convulsions cause serious musculoskeletal injuries in patients with IDDM.

Six diabetic patients are described who sustained serious musculoskeletal injuries during insulin-induced hypoglycemia. The convulsions were associated with nocturnal hypoglycemia, superoptimal glycemic control, pregnancy, hypoglycemic unawareness, or errors in self-management.

Occupational hazard in hospital staff exposed to 2 per cent glutaraldehyde in an endoscopy unit.

The occupational hazards associated with exposure to 2 per cent glutaraldehyde have been assessed in medical and nursing staff working in an endoscopy unit. Eight of the nine staff were affected and the clinical manifestations included watering of eyes, rhinitis, dermatitis, respiratory difficulties, nausea and headache. The atmospheric concentrations of glutaraldehyde were assessed and the effect on clinical manifestations is discussed.

Galanin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide are colocalised with classical pituitary hormones and show plasticity of expression.

The identity of galanin- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-(VIP) immunoreactive (IR) cells in the rat anterior pituitary was investigated using immunocytochemistry and, since levels of both peptides are stimulated by oestrogen, the effect of oestrogen treatment and gonadectomy on the expression of both peptides was examined. In normal male rats, few galanin-IR and very few VIP-IR cells were found. Colocalisation studies performed on 2-microns serial paraffin sections revealed that in these animals galanin IR was present in somatotrophs and thyrotrophs.

Projective determinacy.

It is shown that projective determinacy follows from large cardinal axioms weaker than the assertion that supercompact cardinals exist.

Occurrence and developmental pattern of neuromedin U-immunoreactive nerves in the gastrointestinal tract and brain of the rat.

Neuromedin U is a newly described regulatory peptide, found by radioimmunoassay in significant concentrations in both the brain and gut of the rat. The aim of the present study was to localize this peptide immunoreactivity to discrete structures of the gut and brain and to map its distribution using immunocytochemistry. In the gut, neuromedin U was confined to nerve fibres mainly in the myenteric and submucous plexuses and the mucosa of all areas except stomach.

Increased hypothalamic neuropeptide Y concentrations in diabetic rat.

Central and lateral hypothalamic concentrations of 10 regulatory peptides were measured by radioimmunoassay in streptozocin-induced diabetic (STZ-D) and matched control rats between 1 day and 14 wk after diabetes induction. After 2 wk, both central and lateral hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentrations in STZ-D rats were consistently higher than those found in control rats, with significant 30-50% increases at 4 wk in the central hypothalamus, and at 6 and 14 wk in both central and lateral hypothalamus. Immunocytochemical studies in 4- and 6-wk STZ-D animals showed the appearance of intensely NPY-positive swollen cell bodies in the supraoptic nucleus and a subjective increase in NPY staining of medial hypothalamic nerve fibers.

Combined use of in situ hybridisation and immunocytochemistry for the investigation of prolactin gene expression in immature, pubertal, pregnant, lactating and ovariectomised rats.

We have investigated the use of in situ hybridisation together with immunocytochemistry for the study of endocrine cell function, using as an example the expression of prolactin messenger RNA (mRNA) in pituitaries of rats under various endocrinological conditions. In situ hybridisation using a 32P-labelled cRNA probe for rat prolactin was carried out on sections of 4% paraformaldehyde-fixed pituitaries from prepubertal, pubertal, pregnant, lactating and ovariectomised rats and adjacent sections were immunostained for prolactin. Northern gel analysis was performed on total RNA extracts of pregnant, lactating and control pituitaries.

Localization of 7B2, neuromedin B, and neuromedin U in specific cell types of rat, mouse, and human pituitary, in rat hypothalamus, and in 30 human pituitary and extrapituitary tumors.

The distributions of three novel peptides, 7B2, neuromedin B, and neuromedin U, in rat, mouse, and human pituitaries, rat hypothalamus, and 30 human pituitary tumors were investigated with immunocytochemistry. Immunoreactivity for 7B2 was present in rat, mouse, and human gonadotropes, in intermediate lobe cells and posterior lobe nerve fibers in rats and mice, in rat hypothalamus (particularly in the median eminence), and in eight human pituitary gonadotropinomas. In gonadectomized rats, larger, more numerous LH beta- and 7B2-immunoreactive gonadotropes were seen than in controls.

Designing the future.

As we look to the new century and are engaged in designing the future of professional nursing, it seems that exploring new services and settings, human resource development, entrepreneurial opportunities, and most importantly, establishing the economic viability of nursing are logical beginnings. Nursing's ability to move onward will be determined by today's advances in nursing practice. With our growing knowledge, our vision, and our search for expansion and excellence in professional practice, we have changed our lives and those of others.

Clinically apparent eating disorders in young diabetic women: associations with painful neuropathy and other complications.

Of 208 young women with insulin dependent diabetes, 15 (7%) had a clinically apparent eating disorder (anorexia nervosa or bulimia), a much higher prevalence than reported in non-diabetic women. Most, but not all, of these patients had a long history of poor glycaemic control. In contrast with previous suggestions, control did not deteriorate after the onset of the eating disorder.

The kinetics of triclabendazole disposition in sheep.

To investigate whether the disposition of triclabendazole (TCBZ) and its metabolites in blood or bile influenced its flukicidal potency, TCBZ was administered intraruminally at 10 mg kg-1 to sheep surgically fitted with a permanent re-entrant bile duct cannula. The profiles of TCBZ metabolites in peripheral plasma and bile were determined using high performance liquid chromatography. In plasma, only TCBZ sulphoxide (TCBZ-SO) and TCBZ sulphone were present and reached their maximum concentrations (greater than 13 micrograms ml-1) at 18 and 36 h, respectively, after administration.

Haemoglobin A1 and congenital malformation.

Two hundred and thirty pregnancies were studied in 196 diabetic women. Seven women with babies found to have major malformations had a higher median first trimester haemoglobin A1 (12.9%) than the median HbA1 (10.

Observations on the metabolic basis for altered insulin dose distribution in diabetic pregnancy.

Insulin requirements are known to increase during pregnancy, but it has not been reported whether this relates to prandial or basal requirements, or to a change in insulin pharmacokinetics. In nine unselected pregnant patients the pattern of this increase was that of a large increase in the total morning dose and a reduction in the evening dose of intermediate acting insulin, in order to maintain good control while avoiding nocturnal hypoglycaemia. 24 h metabolic profiles were carried out in these patients in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Eating disorders and psychiatric morbidity in patients with diabetes mellitus.

The role of psychological factors in diabetes mellitus is discussed, with particular reference to the influence of eating disorders. The paper describes a prevalence study of eating disorders in outpatients with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and a controlled questionnaire study of eating attitudes in a similar population. These studies suggest there is a genuine association between eating disorders and IDDM.

Pregnancy after vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

A 26-year-old female with insulin-dependent diabetes of 16 years duration had a vitrectomy for a dense non-resolving vitreous haemorrhage. Two months later she became pregnant. She delivered a healthy baby and despite the known adverse effects of pregnancy on retinopathy no deterioration occurred in visual acuity or in retinal appearance.