Norepinephrine-mediated calcium signaling is altered in vascular smooth muscle of diabetic rat.

We studied the influence of diabetes on norepinephrine (NE)-induced changes in intracellular free Ca2+ levels (receptor-mediated Ca2+ signaling) in single tail artery vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells. VSM cells from 12-16 week streptozotocin-induced diabetic (SID) rats showed an increase in sensitivity to NE when compared to control VSM cells in that the concentration of NE needed to elicit half maximal response of the initial Ca2+ transient was reduced more than 4-fold though the maximal response attained was apparently reduced. In addition, the slope factor (steepness) of the dose-response relation was lowered 4-fold.

Atypical depressive symptoms and clusters in unipolar and bipolar depression.

In order to examine differences in the atypical symptoms of depression between unipolar and bipolar patients, we studied 109 depressed patients (79 unipolar and 30 bipolar subjects) diagnosed with DSM-IV criteria. Patients were assessed using the Atypical Depression Diagnostic Scale (ADDS), a semi-structured interview that rates mood reactivity and other atypical depressive symptoms. Although atypical depression was common in this sample (28% of cases with definite atypical depression), no differences were found between the unipolar and bipolar patients in either the atypical symptom profile or the prevalence of an atypical depression diagnosis.

Electrophysiological correlates of seizure sensitivity in the dentate gyrus of epileptic juvenile and adult gerbils.

1. Naturally occurring inherited epilepsy is common among Mongolian gerbils, providing an opportunity to identify neurological factors that correlate with seizure behavior. In the present study we examine the ontogeny of seizure behavior and compare the electrophysiology and anatomy of the dentate gyrus in epileptic and nonepileptic gerbils.

Overexpression of heat shock protein 72 in transgenic mice decreases infarct size in vivo.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 72 by whole-body hyperthermia reduces infarct size in an in vivo model of ischemia and reperfusion. Furthermore, hearts obtained from transgenic mice that overexpress HSP72 demonstrate improved functional recovery and decreased infarct size in vitro after global ischemia and reperfusion.

Methods And Results: To test the hypothesis that overexpression of HSP72 in transgenic mice reduces infarct size in vivo, transgenic mice that were heterozygous for a rat HSP70i gene ([+]HSP72) and transgene-negative littermate controls ([-]HSP72) were subjected to 30 minutes of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion.

Substance P enhances electrical field stimulation-induced mast cell degranulation in rat trachea.

We previously demonstrated in an ex vivo rat tracheal model that chymotryptic activity is an index of mast cell degranulation and that substance P (SP) and electrical field stimulation (EFS) synergistically degranulate mucosal and connective tissue mast cells. In the current study, we found that the facilitatory effect of SP was apparent at concentrations as low as 10(-9) M. This effect was mimicked by 10(-7) M neurokinin A or by 10(-6) M capsaicin and was blocked by the NK1 receptor antagonist CP-96,345.

Patterns of violent incidents by patients in a general hospital psychiatric facility.

Reports of attempted or actual physical assaults by patients in the inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings of a psychiatric facility within a general hospital were prospectively surveyed during a one-year period. Among 397 patients discharged during the period, 46 patients were responsible for 133 violent incidents. Most incidents occurred on the locked inpatient unit during the daytime and after the first week of admission.

Treatment of seasonal affective disorder: a review.

Objective: To review the status of current treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Method: Treatment studies of SAD published between January 1989 and March 1995 were identified using a computerized MEDLINE literature search. Additional citations were obtained from the reference sections of these articles.

Immunogenicity of synthetic peptides of Haemophilus influenzae type b outer membrane protein P1.

To identify the B- and T-cell epitopes of P1 of Haemophilus influenzae type b, 13 peptides covering 90% of the protein were chemically synthesized. Mouse, guinea pig, and rabbit antisera raised against purified native P1 were tested for their reactivities against the peptides in peptide-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Six immunodominant linear B-cell epitopes were mapped to residues 103 to 137, 189 to 218, 248 to 283, 307 to 331, 384 to 412, and 400 to 437 of the mature P1 protein.

Purification and characterization of dog mast cell protease-3, an oligomeric relative of tryptases.

The existence of a protein approximately 48% identical with mast cell tryptases was predicted previously from a dog mastocytoma cDNA. Antibodies raised against a peptide based on the deduced sequence suggested that the protein (dog mast cell protease-3, dMCP-3) is expressed in mast cells. In this report, characterization of the protein purified from mastocytomas reveals an N-glycosylated, high molecular weight, tryptic serine protease, which appears to be a tetramer of catalytic subunits, approximately half of which are linked by disulfide bonds.

Multiple mechanisms for the effects of capsaicin, bradykinin and nicotine on CGRP release from tracheal afferent nerves: role of prostaglandins, sympathetic nerves and mast cells.

Application of capsaicin (CAP), bradykinin (BK) or nicotine (NIC) to intraluminally perfused rat tracheas induced an increase in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels in the perfusates. Depletion of sensory afferent CGRP with systemic CAP pretreatment resulted in a significant reduction of CGRP release evoked by CAP, BK or NIC. Chemical destruction of sympathetic nerve fibres by systemic pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine reduced CGRP release evoked by NIC, but did not alter the release produced by CAP or BK.

Chymotryptic activity in perfusates of isolated rat trachea: correlation with mucosal and connective tissue mast cell secretion.

Serine proteinases participate in many inflammatory events in the airway. We therefore screened perfusates of isolated rat tracheas for tryptic, elastolytic, and chymotryptic serine proteinases. Only chymotryptic activity, indicated by hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate N-succinylalanylalanylprolylphenylalanyl p-nitroaniline (AAPF), was consistently detected in these perfusates.

Larger axillary metastases in obese women and smokers with breast cancer--an influence by host factors on early tumor behavior.

To better define the influence by host factors on very early breast cancer behavior, we retrospectively analyzed nodal status, diameter of the largest axillary metastasis (M), diameter of the primary tumor (P), the M/P ratio, tumor estrogen receptor status, age, obesity, and smoking habits in 176 women with node-positive breast cancer. Both M/P ratios and M were larger in the 72 obese women and in the 40 nonobese smokers than in the 64 nonobese nonsmokers after control for other factors. Step-wise regression analysis demonstrated independent associations between M/P ratios and obesity (p = 0.

Synthesis and immunological characterization of a 134-mer synthetic peptide corresponding to the N-terminal half of the HIV-1 nucleoprotein, p24.

A 134-mer peptide corresponding to the N-terminal sequence of p24 (residues 146-279 of the gag gene product of the LAV strain) was chemically synthesized using highly optimised protocols on an ABI 430A synthesizer. The crude peptide was obtained by treating the peptide-resin with HF, then purified by a combination of size exclusion and RP-HPLC. One hundred milligram of 90% pure 134-mer can be obtained within a month.

Effects of thresholding in joint-transform correlation.

The joint-transform power spectrum of two identical objects can be represented as a one-dimensional sinusoidal grating modulated by a Fourier transform, and the correlation peaks can be regarded as the first-order diffraction of the grating. The peak intensity and the width are then determined by the aperture and the modulation of the grating. Based on this analysis, it is shown that dc blocking, hard clipping, or binarization of the power spectrum results in higher correlation peak intensity and a narrower peak width.

Distribution of chymase-containing mast cells in human bronchi.

Mast cell chymase stimulates secretion from cultured airway gland serous cells and hydrolyzes bronchoactive peptides in vitro. To explore the likelihood of these interactions occurring in situ, we examined the distribution and concentration of chymase-containing mast cells near glands and smooth muscle of major human bronchi from eight individuals without known airway disease. Total airway mast cells and the subset of mast cells containing chymase were detected by staining for methylene blue metachromasia and chloroacetate esterase activity, respectively.

Spatial-light-modulator-based electro-optical imaging system.

We describe a novel electro-optical system that can image objects over a long range of distance without involving any mechanical movement.

Full complex modulation using liquid-crystal televisions.

An optical architecture is proposed that uses two modified liquid-crystal televisions (LCTV's) to control amplitude and phase modulation independently. Two applications in pattern recognition are discussed.

Optical switching with photorefractive polarization holograms.

A switching technique that uses the polarization sensitivity of photorefractive holograms in crystals is experimentally demonstrated. The design is capable of handling a large number of 2 x 2 switching channels with only four holograms. The concept is applicable to either synchronous or asynchronous switching and also to a variety of photorefractive materials.

Using the hybrid modulating properties of liquid crystal television.

The phase modulating capabilities of a commercially available liquid crystal television (LCTV) have been investigated and applied to the joint transform optical correlator architecture. Operating the LCTV in a phase modulating mode requires a much smaller coherent light source while still producing a good joint transform power spectrum and good correlation signals.

Optical disk based joint transform correlator.

A joint transform correlation system based on optical disks is presented. The operation principle, system considerations, and processing speed are discussed.

The risk of developing disease for siblings of patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

We analyzed the risk of developing insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in 411 siblings of patients with IDDM. We found that siblings who had a positive test for antibodies against islet cells (ICA) at the time of diagnosis of the index case had a higher risk of developing IDDM than did those who had negative tests. However, of the ten siblings who developed IDDM, only four were positive at the initial testing.

High-efficiency joint-transform correlator.

A technique that increases the efficiency of a conventional joint-transform correlator is proposed. By modifying the joint-transform power spectrum of the input objects by using a spatial sampling method, the readout light as well as the physical area of the square-law detector can be fully utilized. As a result, the output correlation intensity can be substantially increased.

Degradation of airway neuropeptides by human lung tryptase.

Several lines of evidence suggest a possible role for mast cell proteases in modulating the biologic effects of neuropeptides. To explore the potential of such interactions in human airway, we examined the activity of human tryptase, the major secretory protease of human lung mast cells, against several neuropeptides with proposed regulatory functions in human airway. Using highly purified tryptase obtained from extracts of human lung, we determined the sites and rats of hydrolysis of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide histidine-methionine (PHM), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and the tachykinins substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), and neurokinin B (NKB).