Gender dictates the nuclear receptor-mediated regulation of CYP3A44.

The CYP3As are broad-spectrum drug-metabolizing enzymes that are collectively responsible for more than 50% of xenobiotic metabolism. Unlike other CYP3As, murine CYP3A44 is expressed predominantly in the female liver, with much lower levels in male livers and no detectable expression in brain or kidney in either gender. In this study, we examined the role of nuclear hormone receptors in the regulation of Cyp3a44 gene expression.

CAR/PXR provide directives for Cyp3a41 gene regulation differently from Cyp3a11.

This study reports that Cyp3a41 gene contains 13 exons and is localized on the chromosome 5. CYP3A41 is a female-specific isoform that is predominantly expressed in the liver. Estrogen signaling is not responsible for its female specificity.

Sexual dimorphism and tissue specificity in the expression of CYP4F forms in Sprague Dawley rats.

The cytochromes P450 belong to a superfamily of enzymes involved in a diverse array of endobiotic and xenobiotic metabolic pathways. Several members of a novel family of cytochrome P450 (CYP4F), which specifically mediate leukotriene B(4) omega-hydroxylation, have now been identified in various species including rat, mouse, and human. In rats, the CYP4F family consists of four related genes, CYP4F1, CYP4F4, CYP4F5, and CYP4F6.

Dementia and mental retardation markers on the Rey 15-item Visual Memory Test.

This study examined the qualitative errors of repetitions and confabulations on the Rey 15-item Visual Memory Test among 500 psychiatric patients who were divided into groups with (1) low IQ scores, (2) a diagnosis of dementia, and (3) other psychiatric diagnoses. These groups were compared on the presence of confabulated figures and repetitions on the Rey. The low IQ patients had the highest rate for both confabulations (48.

Diabetes mellitus in cystic fibrosis.

Glucose intolerance and diabetes are common complications of cystic fibrosis (CF), affecting up to 75% of the adult population. This article discusses the prevalence and pathophysiology of glucose tolerance abnormalities in CF, and reviews recent recommendations for diagnosis, screening, and management of CF-related diabetes (CFRD).

A followup on transurethral collagen injection therapy for urinary incontinence.

Purpose: Transurethral collagen injection therapy has been used successfully in treating stress urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter deficiency since United States Food and Drug Administration approval in October 1993.

Materials And Methods: Telephone interview and chart review were performed on 139 women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency documented using video urodynamics, of whom 73% had grade 3 incontinence (leakage without effort). Median followup was 18 months (range 6 to 36).

Change in expression of heart carnitine palmitoyltransferase I isoforms with electrical stimulation of cultured rat neonatal cardiac myocytes.

Electrical stimulation of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes in culture produces increases in myocyte size (hypertrophy) and organization of actin into myofibrillar arrays. The maturation of the cells is associated with enhanced contractile parameters and cellular calcium content. The numbers and intensity of cellular mitochondrial profiles increase, as measured by scanning laser confocal microscopy.

Neural analogue of long-term sensitization training produces long-term (24 and 48 h) facilitation of the sensory-to-motor neuron connection in Aplysia.

1. An in vitro analogue of long-term sensitization training was used to gain insights into the mechanisms and time course of the memory for long-term sensitization in Aplysia. The analogue, consisting of four blocks of shocks, was delivered to peripheral nerves of the isolated pleural-pedal ganglia, which contain the sensory neurons and motor neurons that mediate the tail withdrawal reflex.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 attenuates the expression of experimental murine lupus of MRL/l mice.

The murine strain MRL/l spontaneously develops a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like syndrome. An increased number of T cells and polyclonal T helper cell activity has been described in these mice suggesting a potential role for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3 [1,25-D3], an antiproliferative hormone selecting the T-helper lymphocyte subset. One month old MRL/l mice were submitted or not to 1,25-D3 0.

Kainic acid lesioning alters development of the outer plexiform layer in neonatal rabbit retina.

The first synaptic relay in the primary visual pathway occurs between terminals of photoreceptors and second-order neurons within the outer plexiform layer of the retina. During development, one of these types of second-order neurons, the type A horizontal cell, differentiates and assumes mature characteristics several days before any other cells ramifying in that synaptic layer. In neonates, horizontal cells appear to be GABAergic during the first 5 days of postnatal life and in addition they also are responsive to kainic acid.