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.

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.

Three-dimensional structures and contexts associated with recurrent amino acid sequence patterns.

We have used cluster analysis to identify recurring sequence patterns that transcend protein family boundaries. A subset of these patterns occur predominantly in a single type of local structure in proteins. Here we characterize the three-dimensional structures and contexts in which these sequence patterns occur, with particular attention to the interactions responsible for their structural selectivity.

Indirect T-cell allorecognition: perspectives for peptide-based therapy in transplantation.

Indirect allorecognition is an important component of allotransplant rejection. Although the initial indirect alloresponse is limited to a few dominant determinants on donor major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, subsequent spreading to additional determinants on recipient and donor antigens is common. Gilles Benichou and colleagues discuss the mechanisms by which immunodominance is acquired or disrupted in indirect alloresponses, and examine the implications for the design of peptide-based selective immunotherapy in transplantation.

Fine-needle aspiration of lymph nodes: use of flow cytometry immunophenotyping.

Fine-needle aspiration of lymph nodes can be used successfully in the clinical work-up of lymphadenopathy. The procedure has some limitations, some of which can be overcome by using such ancillary studies as flow cytometry or immunophenotyping. The authors discuss the use of these techniques in establishing definitive diagnosis of the most common and well-recognized lymphadenopathies.

Self determinant selection and acquisition of the autoimmune T cell repertoire.

Autologous proteins are continuously processed and presented in the form of peptides associated with self major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules at the surface of antigen-presenting cells for interaction with autoreactive T cells. During thymic selection, the presentation of self peptides is an essential element in the establishment of the T cell repertoire. Developing T cells which recognize self peptide/self MHC complexes with sufficient affinity are clonally deleted.

Characterization of spontaneous excitatory synaptic currents in salamander retinal ganglion cells.

1. Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) were recorded under voltage-clamp conditions. Consistent with activation of non-NMDA-type glutamate receptors, the sEPSCs reversed at potentials above 0 mV, were blocked by 1 microM CNQX and prolonged by 2 mM aniracetam.

Cost and quality of life: thrombolysis and primary angioplasty.

In an era of limited health care resources, analyses of the cost-effectiveness of cardiac interventions are becoming increasingly important. By generally accepted cost-effectiveness methodologies, the incremental cost for thrombolysis with streptokinase in patients with acute myocardial infarction ranges from approximately $3,500 to approximately $21,000/year of life saved. The estimated incremental cost-effectiveness of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) compared with streptokinase ranges from approximately $16,000 to $60,000/year of life saved.

Radiation-induced decrease in nitric oxide synthase--containing nerves in the rat penis.

Purpose: Evaluate effect of prostatic irradiation on erectile function.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven male adult rats were divided into three groups according to a single radiation dose to the prostate: control (no irradiation) (n = 15), 1,000 cGy (n = 15), and 2,000 cGy (n = 17). Five months after irradiation, rats underwent evaluation of penile vascularity and of erectile response to central and peripheral stimulation.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of supraventricular arrhythmias in patients with congenital heart disease: results and technical considerations.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report the results and techniques of radiofrequency ablation for treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias in patients with congenital structural heart disease.

Background: The management of patients with congenital and other structural heart disease may be complicated by serious arrhythmias due to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or by atrial arrhythmias after cardiac surgery. Ablation techniques using radiofrequency current are revolutionizing the management of arrhythmias, but reports have included few with structural heart disease.

Demographics and cigarette smoking among women.

Background: A population-based sample of 893 white women ages 25 to 59 years from five San Francisco, California, Bay Area counties were queried about their demographic characteristics, height, reported weight at age 25, cigarette smoking history, and oral contraceptive and sunscreen use.

Methods: Multiple logistic regression techniques were used to analyze the data. Forty-three percent of the women in the sample had never smoked more than 100 cigarettes, while 27% were current and 30% were former smokers.

Identification of the 64K autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes as the GABA-synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase.

The pancreatic islet beta-cell autoantigen of relative molecular mass 64,000 (64K), which is a major target of autoantibodies associated with the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) has been identified as glutamic acid decarboxylase, the biosynthesizing enzyme of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). Pancreatic beta cells and a subpopulation of central nervous system neurons express high levels of this enzyme. Autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase with a higher titre and increased epitope recognition compared with those usually associated with IDDM are found in stiff-man syndrome, a rare neurological disorder characterized by a high coincidence with IDDM.

Somatostatin inhibits pancreatic exocrine secretion via a neural mechanism.

The mechanism of inhibition of pancreatic exocrine secretion by somatostatin is unknown. We hypothesized that somatostatin acts indirectly, via intrinsic pancreatic neurons, to inhibit pancreatic exocrine secretion. To test this hypothesis, amylase and volume outputs in response to secretin (10(-8) mol/L) and cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK) (10(-8) mol/L) were studied in the rat isolated, perfused, pancreas model.