Efficacy of recombinant human Hb by 31P-NMR during isovolemic total exchange transfusion.

The ability of recombinant human Hb (rHb1.1), which is being developed as an oxygen therapeutic, to support metabolism was measured by in vivo 31P-NMR surface coil spectroscopy of the rat abdomen in control animals and in animals subjected to isovolemic exchange transfusion to hematocrit of <3% with human serum albumin or 5 g/dl rHb1.1.

A prospective study of the utility of standardized instruments in predicting recidivism among first DWI offenders.

Objective: The present study investigated the utility of four instruments--the MacAndrews scale of the MMPI-2 (MAC), four scales of the Alcohol Use Inventory (AUI), the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and the Skinner's Trauma Scale (STS)--in assessing risk for rearrest among first driving while impaired (DWI) offenders.

Method: Subjects were clients (N = 1,384, 80% male) convicted of a DWI offense who were referred to the Lovelace Comprehensive Screening Program for evaluation and who completed a court-mandated screening program. Stratified life table analysis was used to determine rearrest rates in the period following the screening referral.

Use of computer interview data to test associations between risk factors and pregnancy outcomes.

Computer interviews have been used in a variety of settings as a means of gathering data and providing health education information. The objective of this study was to determine whether data gathered from a computer interview have predictive validity in determining pregnancy outcomes. Pregnant women (N = 190) completed a computer-assisted interview to provide risk factor information.

Chemoprevention of ultraviolet radiation-induced skin cancer.

The use of chemical and physical sunscreening agents has increased dramatically during the last two to three decades as an effective means of preventing sunbum. The use of high sunprotection factor sunscreens has also been widely promoted for the prevention of skin cancer, including melanoma. Whereas sunscreens are undoubtedly effective in preventing sunbum, their efficacy in preventing skin cancer, especially melanoma, is currently under considerable debate.

Sunscreen protection against ultraviolet radiation-induced pyrimidine dimers in mouse epidermal DNA.

Pyrimidine dimers were measured in epidermal DNA of SKH:HR1 mice following exposure to solar-simulated UV radiation (SSUV, 290-400 nm) or to UVA (320-400 nm). Mice were exposed to SSUV or UVA after topical application (2 mg/cm2) of vehicle, a UVB absorber (5% 2-ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate [2-EHMC]), or a broad-spectrum UVA absorber (5% Mexoryl SX). The rates of induction of pyrimidine dimers in untreated animals were 5.

Th1 CD4+ cells adoptively transfer experimental hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Cultured cells from Micropolyspora faeni-sensitized donors can adoptively transfer murine experimental hypersensitivity pneumonitis (EHP). To determine whether the CD4+ cells responsible for transfer have characteristics of Th1 or Th2 cells, we established cell lines from lung-associated lymph nodes of M. faeni-sensitized C3H/HeJ mice by culturing with antigen and either IFN-gamma, IL2, and anti-IL4, or IL4.

Dietary n-3 fatty acids differentially affect sickness behavior in mice during local and systemic inflammation.

We tested the hypothesis that increased dietary fish oil levels (via modulation of the production of inflammatory mediators) modulate sickness symptoms (i.e., anorexia, cachexia, fever, lethargy) of systemic and local inflammation.

Ventilation during simulated altitude, normobaric hypoxia and normoxic hypobaria.

To investigate the possible effect of hypobaria on ventilation (VE) at high altitude, we exposed nine men to three conditions for 10 h in a chamber on separate occasions at least 1 week apart. These three conditions were: altitude (PB = 432, FIO2 = 0.207), normobaric hypoxia (PB = 614, FIO2 = 0.

Sickness behavior in mice deficient in interleukin-6 during turpentine abscess and influenza pneumonitis.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), among other cytokines, is thought to be involved in the regulation of sickness behavior (e.g., anorexia, cachexia, fever, and lethargy) induced by infections bacterial and viral origin) and sterile tissue necrosis (burns and surgical traumas).

Exacerbated febrile responses to LPS, but not turpentine, in TNF double receptor-knockout mice.

We examined the effects of injections of systemic [lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 2.5 mg/kg or 50 pg/kg ip] or local (turpentine, 100 microl sc) inflammatory stimuli on fever, motor activity, body weight, and food intake in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) double receptor (TNFR)-knockout mice. A high dose of LPS resulted in exacerbated fevers in TNFR-knockout mice compared with wild-type mice for the early phase of fever (3-15 h); the late phase of fever (16-24 h) and fevers to a low dose of LPS were similar in both groups.

NMR measurements of flow profiles in a coarse bed of packed spheres.

The velocity profiles of water flowing in a circular pipe filled with coarse, uniform, spherical beads, as well as the evolution of velocity profiles from clear flow into the bed of beads and visa versa, were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging using the phase-encoding method. Corrections for partial-volume effects were necessary in order to obtain accurate flow parameters. Phase errors due, for example, to electrical eddy currents induced by switching gradients, were minimized by the use of a static reference sample.

Photorepair of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced pyrimidine dimers in lens epithelial DNA of Monodelphis domestica.

The repair of UV radiation-induced pyrimidine dimers has been measured in lens epithelial DNA of the marsupial Monodelphis domestica using a pyrimidine dimer-specific endonuclease from Micrococcus luteus. Approximately 40% of the initially induced dimers were repaired during 90 min exposures to photoreactivating light. This capacity of the lens epithelium to photorepair pyrimidine dimers may provide a means with which to determine whether pyrimidine dimers in lens epithelial DNA are involved in UV radiation-induced pathologic changes of the lens.

IL-1 type I receptor mediates acute phase response to turpentine, but not lipopolysaccharide, in mice.

This study examined the role of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) type I receptor (IL-1RtI) in the acute phase response (APR) to inflammation in mice. Turpentine (100 microliters/mouse) injected subcutaneously induced fever, lethargy, body weight loss, and anorexia in IL-1RtI wild-type mice. Knockout mice lacking the IL-1RtI were resistant to these effects of turpentine, supporting a role for this receptor in the APR to local inflammation.

Validity of self-reported criminal offences and traffic violations in screening of driving-while-intoxicated offenders.

Many jurisdictions in the USA, Canada and some European countries use diagnostic methods to assess substance abuse problems of driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenders, to address the concern that, during DWI screening, offenders may not give accurate information on their criminal history and traffic violations to avoid referral to treatment. This study was designed to validate self-reported data, to assess the need for DWI agencies to access court records, and to obtain an offence profile for this population. DWI offenders (n = 274, mostly first-time) were randomly selected from those who attended the Lovelace Comprehensive Screening Program (LCSP).

Breast cancer survival among New Mexico Hispanic, American Indian, and non-Hispanic white women (1973-1992).

A study of breast cancer survival was conducted among New Mexico Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women and New Mexico and Arizona American Indian women diagnosed between 1973 and 1992. The goals were to determine whether, after adjusting for first treatment and the extent of disease at diagnosis, American Indian and Hispanic women had poorer survival than non-Hispanic whites and, if survival had improved over time, whether comparable improvements had been made for the three racial/ethnic groups. Five-year relative survival rates were calculated, and a Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to compare survival between races/ethnicities, adjusting for first treatment and the extent of disease at diagnosis.

Drinking environment and sociodemographic factors among DWI offenders.

Objective: This study was designed to identify issues for public health/traffic safety in prevention of DWI and alcohol-related traffic injuries/deaths by investigating the relationships among drinking locations, sociodemographic characteristics and drinking-environment-related factors of convicted DWI offenders.

Method: Subjects were clients (N = 5,154, 79% male) referred to the Lovelace Comprehensive Screening Program for alcohol-related assessment and were interviewed by counselors using a structured, computer-based questionnaire. Differences among ethnic/racial and gender categories were analyzed by logistic regression.

Acute ventilatory response to simulated altitude, normobaric hypoxia, and hypobaria.

Background: Some reports claim that ventilation (VE) is greater in human subjects in normobaric hypoxia than at altitude following an equivalent drop in inspired PO2 (PIO2). It has been suggested that reduced barometric pressure (PB) may decrease chemoreceptor sensitivity and account for these results. In this pilot study we tested the hypothesis that VE and hypoxic chemoresponsiveness would not be different after 30 min of normobaric hypoxia and altitude.

Urinary findings and renal function in adult Navajo Indians and associations with type 2 diabetes.

We screened a sample of adult Navajo Indians for signs of renal disease that might underlie their increasing rates of renal failure. Nondiabetics had modest rates of hypertension, which was more common in males and increased with age. Microscopic hematuria was very common, and only a fraction was associated with progressive nephropathy.

Effect of chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation and photoreactivation on life span and tumor development in the marsupial Monodelphis domestica.

The effect of exposure to chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation on life span was examined in Monodelphis domestica, which is capable of photoreactivation repair of UV-radiation-induced pyrimidine dimers. Shaved Monodelphis were exposed to 500 J/m2 UV radiation, 500 J/m2 UV radiation then 90 min of photoreactivating light (PRL), or 90 min of PRL three times weekly for 104 weeks. Opossums were weighed weekly; samples for serum chemistry and hematology testing were obtained periodically.

G-protein coupling of muscarinic receptors in adult and neonatal rat submandibular cells.

The submandibular glands of neonatal and adult rats express muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Receptor occupancy initiates signaling through activation of phospholipase C, hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids, and calcium mobilization. The increased cytoplasmic [Ca2+] activates ion transport pathways, resulting in secretion of primary saliva.

Nonmelanoma skin carcinoma in Albuquerque, New Mexico: experience of a major health care provider.

Background: Although nonmelanoma skin carcinomas (NMSC) are increasing nationwide, rates are difficult to measure precisely, because few registries include types of carcinoma. Albuquerque, New Mexico is a high risk site for both melanoma and NMSC. In a National Cancer Institute (NCI) survey conducted between 1977 and 1978, NMSC incidence rates among non-Hispanic white males were the highest of 8 national study sites.

Muscarinic signalling in submandibular salivary acinar cells of ageing rats.

Muscarinic cholinergic stimulation of submandibular acinar cells results in the activation of Ca(2+)-dependent ion-transport pathways responsible for the secretion of primary saliva. Decreased saliva production is common among elderly people and may compromise oral health with implications for systemic health, nutrition, and quality of life. The density and affinity of muscarinic receptors in the submandibular gland of rats and the Ca2+ responses to stimulation of these receptors in the acinar cells were examined.