Mapping of a surface-exposed, conformational epitope of the P6 protein of Haemophilus influenzae.

P6 is an outer membrane protein of Haemophilus influenzae that is antigenically conserved and considered a candidate component of future H. influenzae vaccines. P6 contains a surface-exposed epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3B9.

Decreased bone mineral density in medicated psychiatric patients.

Osteoporosis is a common problem in postmenopausal women. It has been linked to estrogen deficiency, other neuroendocrine processes such as hypercortisolemia and male hypogonadism, nutritional deficiencies, and other mechanisms. Some of these changes have been also reported in male and female patients with mental disorders, especially those receiving psychotropic medications.

Adenosine-recruitable flow reserve is absent during myocardial ischemia in unanesthetized dogs studied in the basal state.

We conducted the present study to determine if pharmacologically recruitable flow reserve was present during ischemia in unanesthetized dogs studied in the absence of adrenergic activation. Microsphere measurements of regional perfusion at reduced coronary pressures in a distal circumflex region subjected to intracoronary adenosine infusion (0.265 mg/min IC) were compared with measurements in a proximal circumflex region where pressure was reduced but flow was being autoregulated normally.

Loss of the O4 antigen moiety from the lipopolysaccharide of an extraintestinal isolate of Escherichia coli has only minor effects on serum sensitivity and virulence in vivo.

The O-specific antigen in extraintestinal isolates of Escherichia coli is believed to be an important virulence factor. To assess its role in the pathogenic process, proven isogenic derivatives with either a complete (CP921) or nearly complete (CP920) deficiency of the O4 antigen were obtained by TnphoA'1-mediated transposon mutagenesis of an O4/K54/H5 blood isolate (CP9). By utilizing a previously reported isogenic K54 capsule-deficient derivative (CP9.

Long-term follow-up of sphincterotomy in the treatment of autonomic dysreflexia.

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a syndrome affecting a majority of patients with high spinal cord lesions. An association between AD and detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) is often seen. Between 1980 and 1988 we performed 51 transurethral sphincterotomies in 38 patients.

Mechanisms of hypoosmotic volume regulation in glioma cells.

Rat C6 glioma cells undergo regulatory volume decrease (RVD) following hypoosmotic exposure. RVD was inhibited by the K+ channel blockers barium (10 mM) and quinine (1 mM). The mechanism of activation of the volume regulatory process was studied.

Allopurinol plus standard resuscitation preserves hepatic blood flow and function following hemorrhagic shock.

To determine the contribution of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) to the blood flow deficit and hepatocellular dysfunction seen after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock, the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol was given to rats as a 50 mg/kg bolus after shock but before resuscitation and continued as a 25 mg/kg/h infusion. Resuscitation with shed blood and lactated Ringer's restored cardiac output and blood pressure in both groups. Control animals demonstrated a reduction in total hepatic and effective hepatic blood flow to 59% and 43% of baseline values, respectively.

Growth of Moraxella catarrhalis with human transferrin and lactoferrin: expression of iron-repressible proteins without siderophore production.

Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis, a mucosal pathogen closely related to Neisseria species, is a prominent cause of otitis media in young children and lower respiratory tract infections in adults. In this study, we investigated whether M. catarrhalis can compete for iron bound to human transferrin or human lactoferrin in a manner similar to that utilized by Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Use of pyocin to select a Haemophilus ducreyi variant defective in lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis.

Haemophilus ducreyi, a cause of genital ulcer disease in developing countries, appears to facilitate the heterosexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus in Africa. Despite an increase in studies of this gram-negative human pathogen, little is known about the pathogenesis of chancroid. Our studies have shown that the lipooligosaccharides (LOS) of H.

Effect of ischemic preconditioning on interstitial purine metabolite and lactate accumulation during myocardial ischemia.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ischemic preconditioning on the changes in interstitial fluid (ISF) purine metabolites and lactate during prolonged regional myocardial ischemia. The study consisted of two groups of anesthetized dogs: a control group (n = 13) that was exposed to 60 minutes of regional myocardial ischemia and a preconditioned group (n = 10). In the preconditioned group, regional myocardial ischemia was induced for two 5-minute episodes, each followed by 10 minutes of reperfusion.

The use of ultrasonography to scan the abdomen of patients presenting for routine physical examinations.

Background: Ultrasonography has become an increasingly important diagnostic tool, producing high-quality images at a low cost. However, except in obstetrics, ultrasonography has not been used for screening purposes in asymptomatic persons.

Methods: This prospective study included 189 patients on whom an abdominal ultrasound scan was performed by a family physician as part of a routine physical examination.

Combination of cyclosporine and splenectomy suppresses interleukin-6 production and major histocompatibility complex class II expression and prolongs cardiac xenograft survival.

Although untreated Lewis rat recipients will reject a transplanted hamster heart in 3 days, accommodation of heart xenografts can be induced by treatment with cyclosporine and splenectomy, improving graft survival to greater than 50 days. Both humoral and cellular arms of the immune system may be involved in the mechanisms responsible for the prolongation of graft survival. Our objective was to study the impact of cyclosporine and splenectomy on the deposition of antibodies, complement, or both within the graft.

Colon cancer in blacks: age-related presentation and survival within a similar socioeconomic group.

Young blacks with colon cancer continue to have a poor survival rate for reasons that remain undetermined. Medical records of blacks with colon cancer diagnosed at an inner-city hospital during a 10-year period were reviewed. The cohort consisted of 118 indigent, nonmigratory patients grouped by age.

Endocardial and epicardial interstitial purines and lactate during graded ischemia.

The purpose of this study was to compare interstitial fluid (ISF) levels of purine metabolites and lactate in the endocardium and the epicardium during graded regional myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Anesthetized dogs were subjected to 60 min of regional myocardial ischemia induced by either partial or complete occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), followed by 60 min of reperfusion. To sample ISF, cardiac microdialysis probes were implanted in the LAD-perfused myocardium; dialysate levels served as indexes of ISF concentrations.

Twitch potentiation following voluntary diaphragmatic contraction.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether twitch potentiation (a transient augmentation of twitch tension following vigorous muscular contraction) occurs in the human diaphragm in vivo. Six healthy subjects were studied. To determine whether twitch potentiation occurs, the subjects attempted to maximally activate their diaphragm by performing the combined Mueller-expulsive maneuver with visual feedback (Pdi max maneuver).

Surgical management of advanced squamous cell skin cancers.

Squamous cell cancer of the skin usually follows prolonged exposure to known carcinogens including ultraviolet light, ionizing radiation, chronic infection or irritation, chemicals, and immunologic suppression. The majority of squamous cell skin cancers metastasize infrequently and can be cured with aggressive wide local excision. However, on occasion they can be quite aggressive locally, with or without associated distant metastasis, and may require a radical surgical approach.

Increased imidazoline and alpha 2 adrenergic binding in platelets of women with dysphoric premenstrual syndromes.

An association between dysphoric premenstrual syndromes (PMS) and a lifetime history of major depressive disorders has previously been documented. Other studies have demonstrated an increase in the binding of radiolabeled imidazoline compounds to platelets of depressed patients. Clonidine and related imidazoline compounds interact with alpha 2 adrenoceptors to inhibit neuronal noradrenergic activity and in higher concentrations, they stimulate noradrenergic activity through their interaction with imidazoline receptors.

Patterns and predictors of smoking cessation among users of a telephone hotline.

Most former cigarette smokers in the United States have stopped without formal assistance. However, a large proportion of smokers desire and seek help other than by attending formal programs. It is important to recognize what factors are likely to influence the effectiveness of smoking cessation attempts among these persons.

The effect of pregnancy on the response to the TxA2/PGH2 analogue U-46619 in rabbits.

We compared the hemodynamic actions of U-46619, a stable thromboxane A2 (TxA2) prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) analogue, in nonpregnant (NP) rabbits with those observed in late pregnant (P) rabbits. An intravenous injection of U-46619 (10 micrograms) to each of eight NP chronically instrumented rabbits (mean body weight 3.4 kg) induced an immediate (1 min) and reversible fall of cardiac output (CO, 66%) and mean arterial pressure (MAP, 41%, both P < 0.

The major heat-modifiable outer membrane protein CD is highly conserved among strains of Branhamella catarrhalis.

The outer membrane of Branhamella catarrhalis contains a major, heat-modifiable outer membrane protein called CD which has epitopes on the surface of the intact bacterium. The gene encoding CD was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein migrates in gels as a doublet, indicating that CD is encoded by single gene whose gene product has two stable conformations.

Pulmonary arterial elasticity in awake dogs.

We measured the relationship between pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa), diameter (D), and length of a segment of the main pulmonary artery (MPA) in chronically instrumented conscious dogs breathing spontaneously (CCC). There were no physiologically significant changes in Ppa or D in the CCC dogs postoperatively, and the cross-sectional MPA shape measured by fast computed tomography was nearly circular. These results suggest that the MPA was not distorted by chronic instrumentation.