Effects of progestins and relaxin on glycodelin gene expression in human endometrial cells.

Objective: Glycodelin is an endometrial protein proposed to play an important role in embryonic implantation. We examined the effects of progestins and relaxin on glycodelin transcription, synthesis, and secretion.

Study Design: Northern blotting, metabolic labeling, and fluorography were used to assess glycodelin messenger ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis in endometrial tissue and cells.

Treatment of depression with antiglucocorticoid drugs.

Objective: The theoretical and empirical rationales for the potential therapeutic use of antiglucocorticoid agents in the treatment of depression are reviewed.

Method: Individual case reports, case series, open-label, and double-blind, controlled trials of the usage of cortisol-lowering treatments in Cushing's syndrome and major depression are evaluated and critiqued.

Results: In each of the 28 reports of antiglucocorticoid treatment of Cushing's syndrome, antidepressant effects were noted in some patients; the largest two series document a response rate of 70% to 73%.

Surgery for crural venous leakage.

A procedure for congenital or acquired crural venous leakage is described. A 3-in.-long inguinoscrotal incision is made about 1 in.

Haemophilus influenzae associated scleritis.

Aims: To describe the clinical course and treatment of Haemophilus influenzae associated scleritis.

Methods: Retrospective case series.

Results: Three patients developed scleritis associated with ocular H influenzae infection.

Another toxic shock syndrome. Streptococcal infection is even more dangerous than the staphylococcal form.

In the battery of diseases caused by group A streptococci, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is among the most severe. Its nonspecific presentation and rapid progression require that the treating physician be both knowledgeable and vigilant. Certain signs and symptoms suggest that caution is in order: Pain out of proportion to physical findings may herald deep tissue involvement in a patient who at first glance appears to have cellulitis.

Cell-adhesion-dependent influences on genomic instability and carcinogenesis.

Adhesion-dependent cell signaling is known to be important in carcinogenesis. It is postulated that several types of adhesion molecules act as tumor suppressor genes by enforcing cell-substrate and cell-cell adhesion thereby preventing the migration of cells and their invasion into surrounding tissues. Recent evidence, however, suggests that disruption of adhesion systems can both initiate neoplastic transformation and contribute a rate-limiting step to progression.

Gastrocystoplasty: is there a consensus?

The problems encountered with ileal and colocystoplasty have led to the use of the stomach for bladder augmentation, termed gastrocystoplasty. The advantages of gastrocystoplasty over intestinal segment augmentation include reduced chloride reabsorption, decreased mucus production, decreased urinary infection in the presence of acid urine, extremely low incidence of stones, and avoidance of complications from short bowel syndrome. The gastric patch provides comparable improvements in bladder volume, pressure, and continence.

Analysis of excitatory and inhibitory spontaneous synaptic activity in mouse retinal ganglion cells.

Spontaneous inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs and sEPSCs) were identified and characterized with whole cell and perforated patch voltage-clamp recordings in adult mouse retinal ganglion cells. Pharmacological dissection revealed that all cells were driven by spontaneous synaptic inputs mediated by glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptors. One-half (7/14) of the cells also received glycinergic spontaneous synaptic inputs.

Ion-channel-forming colicins.

Several features of ion-channel-forming colicins have been illuminated by recent revelations: its four-domain structure, the mechanism and thermodynamics of binding to the gating loop of outer membrane porins, the mechanism of translocation, competition for the transperiplasmic excursion facilitated by the Tol or Ton transperiplasmic proteins, and the formation of a waisted, funnel-shaped transmembrane channel of well-characterized shape.

Complex limbal choristomas in linear nevus sebaceous syndrome.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the clinical and histopathologic findings in four patients with complex limbal choristomas associated with linear nevus sebaceous syndrome (LNSS), a rare disorder including nevus sebaceous, seizures, and mental retardation, and often accompanied by ocular anomalies.

Design: Small observational case series.

Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical and histopathologic records of four patients.

Expression of CD44 isoforms in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells.

Purpose: To determine the expression of CD44 isoforms in cultured human trabecular meshwork (HTM) and to discuss their possible relationship with outflow facility.

Methods: CD44 isoform expression in cultured HTM was qualitatively examined using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR analysis.

Results: Immunohistochemistry of cultured HTM showed intense staining with a CD44s antibody, and with antibodies against CD44 exon 7, exon 11-12 and exon 14.

Vesicular neurotransmitter transport and the presynaptic regulation of quantal size.

Specific transport activities package classical neurotransmitters into secretory vesicles for release by regulated exocytosis, but the proteins responsible for the vesicular transport of neurotransmitters are still being identified. One family of proteins includes vesicular transporters for monoamines and acetylcholine. Genetic manipulation in cells and in mice now shows that changes in the expression of these proteins can alter the amount of neurotransmitter stored per synaptic vesicle, the amount released and behavior.

Role of clinicians in cigarette smoking prevention.

Despite a gradual decrease in smoking rates among adults, the proportion of youth who smoke regularly has remained stable. Among high school students in 1997, 19.9% of white, 7.

Influence of age, anatomic site and race on skin roughness and scaliness.

Background: Variations in skin roughness and scaliness between age groups, anatomic sites and race have been assumed but minimally quantified.

Objective: We quantitatively investigated skin roughness, scaliness and stratum corneum hydration as a function of age, anatomic site and race (white and black).

Methods: Skin roughness, scaliness and stratum corneum hydration were determined in vivo by noninvasive bioengineering and image analysis techniques in 22 female subjects grouped according to age (young and aged) and race (white and black).

Evaluating skin-protective materials against contact irritants and allergens. An in vivo screening human model.

2 acute irritants and 1 allergen were selected: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) representative of irritant household and occupational contact dermatitis, the combination of ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) and urea to simulate diaper dermatitis, and Rhus to evaluate the effect of model protective materials. The putative protective materials and vehicle were applied to both ventral forearms of 10 subjects in each group, according to a randomized code. Test materials were spread over a marked 2.

Translational activation and cytoplasmic polyadenylation of FGF receptor-1 are independently regulated during Xenopus oocyte maturation.

FGF signaling is critical for establishing the Xenopus laevis embryonic body plan and requires the expression of functional FGF receptor during early embryogenesis. FGF receptor-1 (XFGFR) maternal mRNA is present in immature oocytes, but the protein is not expressed until oocyte maturation. In this report we demonstrate that endogenous XFGFR translation begins just prior to germinal vesicle breakdown and that translation depends on completion of earlier meiotic events.

Azurophilic granules of human neutrophilic leukocytes are deficient in lysosome-associated membrane proteins but retain the mannose 6-phosphate recognition marker.

During granulocyte differentiation in the bone marrow (BM), neutrophilic leukocyte precursors synthesize large amounts of lysosomal enzymes. These enzymes are sequestered into azurophilic storage granules until used days later for digestion of phagocytized microorganisms after leukocyte emigration to inflamed tissues. This azurophil granule population has previously been defined as a primary lysosome, i.

Evaluation and treatment of orthostatic hypotension.

Orthostatic hypotension is defined as a decrease of at least 20 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure when an individual moves from a supine position to a standing position. Nonneurogenic causes of orthostatic hypotension are related to cardiac pump failure, reduced intravascular volume, venous pooling or a medication side effect. Neurogenic causes include both central and peripheral nervous system lesions.