The role of medical therapy in the rank order of glaucoma treatment.

There is no consensus as to how treatment of open-angle glaucoma should be initiated. Medical therapy, laser trabeculoplasty, and filtration surgery each have their advocates as the best modality for initial treatment. The advantages and disadvantages of these three options are discussed here.

Heuristics and biases: selected errors in clinical reasoning.

Many clinical decisions are made in uncertainty. When the diagnosis is uncertain, the goal is to establish a diagnosis or to treat even if the diagnosis remains unknown. If the diagnosis is known (e.

A differential response of diffuse brain injury on the concentrations of endothelin and nitric oxide in the plasma and brain regions in rats.

In the present study, we hypothesized that acute diffuse brain injury (DBI) in rats would produce an increase in endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, and/or nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator, in plasma and brain areas in rats. DBI was induced in anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats (350-400 g) using a 350 g weight dropped from 1 meter height impact through a device designed by Marmarou et al., 1994.

Protoveratrines A and B increase sleep apnea index in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The action of protovertarines A and B, which stimulate carotid sinus baroreceptors and vagal sensory endings in the heart as well as pulmonary bed, were assessed on spontaneous and postsigh central sleep apneas in freely moving Sprague-Dawley rats. During the 6-h recording period, animals were simultaneously monitored for sleep by using electroencephalogram and electromyogram recordings, for respiration by single-chamber plethysmography, and for blood pressure and heart period by using radiotelemetry. After administration of 0.

CSF neurotensin concentrations and antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Objective: The relationship between CSF neurotensin concentrations and measures of psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder was examined before and after treatment with antipsychotic drugs.

Method: CSF neurotensin concentrations were measured in 42 drug-free patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. For 18 of these patients, CSF neurotensin was measure again after 4 weeks of antipsychotic treatment.

Evidence that adenosine contributes to maintenance of hepatosplanchnic blood flow during peritoneal sepsis in rats.

Sepsis induced derangements in hepatosplanchnic perfusion can contribute to organ damage and death. Adenosine, a common and potent metabolic vasodilator, has not been evaluated as a mechanism for maintenance of blood flow during sepsis. We tested the hypothesis that adenosine receptor blockade would cause a decrease in hepatosplanchnic blood flow during intraperitoneal (i.

Interpretive psychotherapy in the inpatient community meeting on a short-term unit.

The authors present a model of inpatient community meetings conducted as large-group interpretive psychotherapy. The model focuses on the examination of relationships between patients and staff in the here-and-now and the patient group's maladaptive ways of interpreting staff members' behavior. The group leader and other staff members listen to patients' comments and questions and identify underlying group themes that reflect how patients are experiencing their relationship to staff.

Beating affects the posttranscriptional regulation of alpha-myosin mRNA in cardiac cultures.

Contractile arrest of cardiac myocytes results in increased abundance of alpha-myosin heavy chain (MHC) mRNA but decreased alpha-MHC protein content. Our aim is to determine the posttranscriptional mechanisms regulating alpha-MHC mRNA-protein uncoupling in cultured neonatal rat hearts during altered contractile activity. Spontaneously contracting myocytes were arrested by the use of verapamil (10 mumol/l; a Ca(2+)-channel blocker) or by 2,3-butanedione monoxime (5 mmol/l; a cross-bridge inhibitor).

Covalent binding to DNA in vitro of 2',3'-oxides derived from allylbenzene analogs.

Epoxidation at the allylic side chain is a major metabolic pathway for allylbenzene and its naturally occurring analogs safrole, estragole, and eugenol. We demonstrate herein that the epoxide metabolites of allylbenzene, estragole, and safrole can form covalent adducts with DNA in vitro, binding primarily to guanine, but also to the other three DNA bases. Epoxide hydrolases can prevent the binding of allylbenzene 2',3'-oxide to DNA in vitro.

Strategies for the prevention of a successful biological warfare aerosol attack.

Biological warfare (BW) aerosol attacks are different from chemical attacks in that they may provide no warning/all clear signals that allow the soldier to put on or remove his M17/M40 protective mask. Methods are now being perfected to detect a BW aerosol cloud using an airborne (helicopter) pulsed laser system to scan the lower altitudes upwind from a troop concentration of corps size, and to sample and analyze the nature of the aerosol within a brief time interval. This system has certain limitations and vulnerabilities, since it is designed specifically to detect a line-type aerosol attack.

Membrane anchoring and release of carboxypeptidase M: implications for extracellular hydrolysis of peptide hormones.

Carboxypeptidase M (CPM) was discovered as a membrane-bound B-type carboxypeptidase which is widely distributed in a variety of tissues and cells. The amino acid sequence of CPM indicated that the C-terminal hydrophobic region might be a signal for membrane attachment via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. This was demonstrated by [3H)ethanolamine labeling of Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells which resulted in labeling of the membrane anchor of CPM as shown by immunoprecipitation, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography.

Mucin (Muc-1) expression is differentially regulated in uterine luminal and glandular epithelia of the baboon (Papio anubis).

Changes in the organization and composition of apical cell surface glycoconjugates accompany the transition of luminal epithelial cells from the prereceptive state of the uterus in many species. In spite of the biological and clinical significance of this process, few molecular markers have arisen as useful predictors of uterine receptivity. Recent studies in mice demonstrate that the transmembrane mucin glycoprotein, Muc-1, is abundantly expressed at the apical surface of luminal epithelia under most conditions and is invariably reduced in receptive uteri.

412-positive mesodermal cells and the gonadal mesoderm are separate from the fat-cell lineage.

The Drosophila retrotransposon, 412, is expressed in a cell-specific manner during embryogenesis. At stage 11, 412 transcripts are present in bilateral clusters of cells within the mesoderm. The posterior clusters of 412-positive cells become associated with the gonads at stage 13; however, the fate of the cells in the remaining clusters is unknown.

Association of oviduct-specific glycoproteins with human and baboon (Papio anubis) ovarian oocytes and enhancement of human sperm binding to human hemizonae following in vitro incubation.

The objectives of this study were 1) to determine whether or not human and baboon oviduct-specific glycoproteins (human OGP, baboon OGP) would associate with ovarian oocytes during in vitro incubation in a manner similar to that detected in vivo for oviductal oocytes and 2) to determine whether the association of OGP with ovarian oocytes influenced sperm binding. In vitro association of OGP with ovarian oocytes was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence assay using a polyclonal antibody prepared against human or baboon OGP. Human and baboon ovarian oocytes incubated in culture media containing OGP showed association of OGP with the zona pellucida (ZP) as detected by bright fluorescence.

Vascular anatomy of the nose and the external rhinoplasty approach.

Objective: To characterize the venous, lymphatic, and arterial blood supply of the nose and determine the effect of the external rhinoplasty approach on this vasculature. We hypothesized that dissection in the areolar tissue plane below the musculoaponeurotic layer of the nose will preserve the nasal vasculature and minimize postoperative nasal tip edema.

Design: The study included preoperative and postoperative clinical evaluation, cadaver dissection, and histologic examination.

Expression of rat kallikrein and epithelial polarity in transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

Many properties of urinary kallikrein are well characterized, but the intracellular processing of prokallikrein and release by kidney cells have yet to be clarified. We report here on the synthesis of prokallikrein in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells transfected with rat submaxillary gland kallikrein cDNA and on its activation by MDCK cells and by an enriched liver Golgi membrane preparation. Transfected MDCK cells secreted only prokallikrein at both the apical and basolateral sides in about a 4:1 ratio, but cells transfected with kallikrein cDNA in reverse orientation or untreated cells released only traces of the enzyme.

A novel DNA/protein complex interacts with the insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) insulin response sequence and is required for maximal effects of insulin and glucocorticoids on promoter function.

Glucocorticoids stimulate and insulin inhibits hepatic production of IGFBP-1 at the level of gene transcription. We previously identified contiguous insulin and glucocorticoid response sequences in the proximal rat IGFBP-1 promoter. This insulin response sequence (IRS) is palindromic (CAAAACAAACTTATTTTG) and each half resembles an IRS in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene.

Superior laryngeal nerve injury from thyroid surgery.

Background: Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve is a well-recognized complication of thyroid surgery. Injury to the superior laryngeal nerve is less documented, perhaps due to the difficulty in recognizing its manifestations. This study was designed to document the incidence of injury to the superior laryngeal nerve in a series of patients who underwent thyroidectomy.

Secretory proteins and growth factors of the baboon (Papio anubis) uterus: potential roles in pregnancy.

The primate endometrium undergoes distinct morphological changes during the menstrual cycle. These alterations are regulated by the steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Several lines of evidence suggest that some of these hormonally induced changes may be modulated by growth factors.

Unexpected isolation of Bordetella pertussis from a blood culture.

Bordetella pertussis was isolated from a culture of blood from a 31-year-old man with Wegener's granulomatosis. The organism was detected with the BACTEC 9240 system after 6 days of incubation and was confirmed as B. pertussis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The role of arachidonic acid metabolism in somatostatin and substance P effects on inward rectifier K conductance in rat brain neurons.

Somatostatin enhances an inward rectifier K conductance in cultured locus coeruleus neurons, while substance P reduces an inward rectifier K conductance in cultured nucleus basalis and locus coeruleus neurons. The role of arachidonic acid metabolites in these responses was studied. The somatostatin-induced response was reduced by phospholipase A2 inhibitors, non-specific lipoxygenase inhibitors and specific 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors.

Detoxication of the 2',3'-epoxide metabolites of allylbenzene and estragole. Conjugation with glutathione.

The enzymatic detoxication in vitro of the 2',3'-epoxide derivatives of allylbenzene and estragole was examined, and the relative rates of enzymatic glutathione conjugation and epoxide hydrolysis were compared with those for styrene 1',2'-oxide. HPLC was used to determine the amounts of dihydrodiol and glutathione conjugate metabolites formed by cell extracts from several sources. Although some differences among species were observed, in general, the rates of epoxide inactivation by both pathways are similar.

Identification of multiple B-cell transcriptional repressor elements in S mu-C mu intron of mouse IgH chain locus.

The S mu-C mu intron of the IgH chain locus is conserved in rodents, but its biological function is unknown. It has been shown that switch recombination breakpoints are concentrated within the repetitive sequences in the S mu region in mitogen-activated normal B cells. In Ig-secreting hybridomas these breakpoints occur most frequently at the most 5' end, and immediately upstream of the S mu DNA.

Synthetic peptides as probes for G protein function. Carboxyl-terminal G alpha s peptides mimic Gs and evoke high affinity agonist binding to beta-adrenergic receptors.

The molecular interfaces between Gs and the beta-adrenergic receptor were investigated using synthetic peptides corresponding to various regions of its alpha subunit, alpha s. These experiments were carried out on saponin-permeable C6 glioma cells in which the beta-adrenergic receptor appears tightly coupled to Gs. Synthetic site-specific peptides from alpha s (corresponding to amino acids 15-29, 354-372, and 384-394) and alpha i (8-22, 315-324, and 345-455) were tested for their ability to interfere with coupling between the beta-adrenergic receptor and Gs.