Cross-sectional neurotoxicology study of lead-exposed cohort.

Although the toxic effects of lead have been known for centuries, lead intoxication is still widespread in the United States. Without baseline tests of neuropsychological, neurobehavioral and neurophysiological testing it may be difficult to detect subtle changes in neurological function after lead exposure. This may be further confounded by partial chelation treatment and exposure to neurotoxic mixtures or inability to quantitate alcohol consumption.

Generation of chemotactic activity for neutrophils by liver cells metabolizing ethanol.

The mechanism of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration of the liver in acute alcohol-related liver injury is unknown. We have reported that ethanol metabolism by hepatocytes incubated with moderate concentrations of ethanol (2-50 mM) results in the release into the medium of a chemoattractant for human PMN. This response to ethanol is time- and concentration-dependent with peak activity at 10 mM ethanol.

Cation interactions with putative NMDA receptor-gated channels labeled by [3H]MK-801 in rat cerebral cortex.

Polyvalent cations that block excitatory responses to N-methyl-D-aspartate inhibited the binding of [3H]MK-801 to putative N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-gated channels in brain membranes. The order of potency was Zn2+ greater than La3+ = Cd2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Co2+ greater than Ni2+ = Mg2+. These findings support the existence of interacting sites on the N-methyl-D-aspartate channel for ionic and organic antagonists, and provide a molecular mechanism for the modulation of excitatory neurotransmission and excitotoxicity by endogenous polyvalent cations.

Renal ornithine decarboxylase activity, polyamines, and compensatory renal hypertrophy in the rat.

We determined the role of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in compensatory renal hypertrophy (CRH) by relating renal ODC activity and polyamine content to kidney size, expressed as a percent of body weight, 1 wk after unilateral nephrectomy (UN). In normal rats, renal ODC activity increased from 11.0 +/- 7.

Chronic ethanol causes heterologous desensitization of receptors by reducing alpha s messenger RNA.

One of the biochemical results of ethanol exposure is a change in the amount of the intracellular second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) produced in response to receptor stimulation. In general, acute ethanol exposure increases the amount of cAMP produced on stimulation of receptors coupled to the enzyme adenylyl cyclase via the GTP-binding protein Gs, whereas chronic ethanol exposure has the opposite effect (results for receptors coupled via Gi have been more variable). We previously reported that adaptation to continuous ethanol exposure reduces receptor-stimulated cAMP production by 25-35% in a neuroblastoma cell line (NG108-15), and an even greater reduction of 75% was observed in lymphocytes taken from actively-drinking alcoholics.

Seropositivity for HIV and the development of AIDS or AIDS related condition: three year follow up of the San Francisco General Hospital cohort.

The three year actuarial progression rate to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a cohort of men in San Francisco who were seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was 22%. An additional 26 (19%) developed AIDS related conditions. Beta 2 Microglobulin concentration, packed cell volume, HIV p24 antigenaemia, and the proportion and number of T4 lymphocytes each independently predicted progression to AIDS.

Variables affecting outcome in blunt chest trauma: flail chest vs. pulmonary contusion.

We reviewed 144 consecutive patients with flail chest and/or pulmonary contusion between 1979 and 1984. The purpose was to analyze the factors adversely affecting morbidity and mortality. There were 97 males and 47 females, with an average age of 40 years +/- 18 S.

Equivalence of continuous flow nebulizer and metered-dose inhaler with reservoir bag for treatment of acute airflow obstruction.

Traditionally, patients with acute airflow obstruction are treated with bronchodilator aerosols delivered by continuous flow nebulizers. While bronchodilator administration with the metered dose inhaler (MDI) and reservoir or spacer attachment is as effective as administration with the nebulizer in most settings, the former has not been widely accepted for treatment of acute airway obstruction in the emergency room. We compared the efficacy of the continuous flow nebulizer to that of the MDI with InspirEase (reservoir spacer) in 75 patients (45 men and 30 women), ages 18-73 (chi 44 years) who presented to the emergency room with acute asthma and COPD.

Hand deformity and sensory loss due to Hansen's disease in American Samoa.

We report the prevalence of sensory loss and hand deformity in 63 patients with Hansen's disease in American Samoa. Open ulceration, the most common deformity, was present in 41% of patients; sensory abnormalities were present in 54% and were bilateral in 65%. The presence of abnormal sensibility correlated with a high percentage of other deformities.

Approval need in self-reports of addicts and family members.

Ample evidence documents the tendency of research subjects to attribute to themselves socially desirable traits and to deny having socially undesirable qualities. This tendency is particularly marked among subjects who are defensive, lacking in self-esteem, or sensitive to status differences. Drug addicts often have all of these characteristics.