The cyanobacterium Synechococcus modulates Photosystem II function in response to excitation stress through D1 exchange

In this minireview we discuss effects of excitation stress on the molecular organization and function of PS II as induced by high light or low temperature in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942. Synechococcus displays PS II plasticity by transiently replacing the constitutive D1 form (D1:1) with another form (D1:2) upon exposure to excitation stress. The cells thereby counteract photoinhibition by increasing D1 turn over and modulating PS II function. A comparison between the cyanobacterium Synechococcus and plants shows that in cyanobacteria, with their large phycobilisomes, resistance to photoinhibition is mainly through the dynamic properties (D1 turnover and quenching) of the reaction centre. In contrast, plants use antenna quenching in the light-harvesting complex as an important means to protect the reaction center from excessive excitation.

Susceptibility to astrocytoma and meningioma: influence of allelism at glutathione S-transferase (GSTT1 and GSTM1) and cytochrome P-450 (CYP2D6) loci

We describe a case-control study to identify associations between polymorphism at the cytochrome P-450 (CYP2D6) and glutathione S-transferase (GSTT1 and GSTM1) loci and susceptibility to astrocytoma and meningioma. Accordingly, genotype frequencies in 112 astrocytoma and 50 meningioma patients were compared with frequencies in 577 controls. GSTM1 genotype frequencies in these groups were not different. Logistic regression analysis showed GSTT1 null and CYP2D6 poor metabolizer were risk factors in astrocytoma (odds ratio = 2.67 P = 0.0005 and odds ratio = 4.17 P = 0.0043, respectively) and meningioma (odds ratio = 4.52, P = 0.0001 and odds ratio = 4.90, P = 0.0132, respectively) when corrected for the other variables. No interactive effects between genotypes were identified. The data suggest polymorphism at loci encoding carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes influences susceptibility to astrocytoma and meningioma, possibly by determining effectiveness in the detoxification of environmental carcinogens.

Non-response in a population study after an environmental disaster

After the grounding of the tanker MV Braer off the coast of Shetland an epidemiological study was rapidly instigated to determine any immediate or long-term health effects on the exposed resident population. The study was carried out in two phases, at the time of the grounding and five months later. The objective of this study is to determine the reasons for non-response in both phases of the Shetland Health Study. A telephone survey was performed on a systematic sample of non-responders from the exposed population in both phases of the study. The setting was the south mainland of Shetland. Fifty-nine of the 215 non-responders in the first phase of the study and 16 of the 86 non-responders in the second phase were surveyed. The main reasons for non-response were attitudinal rather than situational or organisational. Non-responders did not feel their health was affected, were not interested in the study or did not think the study was useful. Some were put off by the biological tests involved and some had difficulties with appointment times. Practical issues such as flexible appointment systems are easier to address than client characteristics but factors relating to distrust and indifference must be addressed if non-response rates are to be minimised.

NFATx, a novel member of the nuclear factor of activated T cells family that is expressed predominantly in the thymus

The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) regulates cytokine gene expression in T cells through cis-acting elements located in the promoters of cytokine genes. Here, we report the cDNA cloning, chromosomal localization, and initial characterization of a transcription factor related to NFATp and NFATc. The novel molecule, designated NFATx, exhibits in its middle a region very similar to the Rel homology domain in NFATc and NFATp. The amino-terminal region of NFATx also shows significant similarities to corresponding sequences in NFATc and NFATp and contains three copies of a conspicuous 17-residue motif of unknown function. We provide evidence showing that NFATx can reconstitute binding to the NFAT-binding site from the interleukin 2 promoter when combined with AP1 (c-Fos/c-Jun) polypeptides and that NFATx is capable of activating transcription of the interleukin 2 promoter in COS-7 cells when stimulated with phorbol ester and calcium ionophore. NFATx mRNA is preferentially and remarkably found in the thymus and at lower levels in peripheral blood leukocytes. The expression pattern of NFATx, together with its functional activity, strongly suggests that NFATx plays a role in the regulation of gene expression in T cells and immature thymocytes.

The role of the father in a pre-suicide state

In the self-examination that followed a patient's suicide attempt, the author was worried by three features which he had observed in an earlier suicide attempt by another patient: (1) the father had not featured in the analysis as much as would have been expected, (2) the suicide attempt occurred during a period when the time and place boundaries of the analytic setting were in jeopardy, e.g. the patient was absent from sessions; and (3) this coincided with the author having temporarily underestimated the suicidal risk. These three features were illuminated by a transference to a father who did not claim his child for himself and offer an alternative to fusion with a dangerous mother. Although the patient's suicide fantasies were based on a pathological bond with his mother, during the pre-suicide state the internalised father who had failed to protect his son from mother was evoked in the countertransference to function as a sanction for the suicidal act.

Enhancing critical-thinking skills: faculty-student partnerships in community health nursing

The enhancement of critical-thinking skills empowers students to participate in the building of healthy environments in a variety of settings. The authors describe the development and implementation of unique classroom strategies emphasizing the use of critical thinking by students, the forging of faculty-student partnerships in community health nursing, and the potential impact of these strategies on the expanding horizons of practice.

The MAP kinase signal transduction pathway is activated by the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide

Anandamide is an endogenous ligand for delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) receptors. Incubation of cultured cells with anandamide or THC causes increased arachidonic acid release and eicosanoid biosynthesis. Here we demonstrate that the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway contributes to this response. Treatment of WI-38 fibroblasts with anandamide causes increased MAP kinase activity and increased phosphorylation of the arachidonate-specific cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). Significantly, MAP kinase phosphorylates and activates cPLA2 [Lin, et al., Cell, 72 (1993) 269-278]. The MAP kinase signal transduction pathway may therefore mediate the effects of anadamide on cPLA2 activation and arachidonic acid release.

Smoking-related beliefs and behaviour among adults with asthma in a representative population sample

BACKGROUND

Smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke are inadvisable for adults with asthma.

AIMS

To determine the smoking prevalence and daily smoking rate of asthmatics and compare smoking-related beliefs and behaviours among smokers with and without asthma. To compare beliefs of asthmatics about passive smoking and asthma, how many are exposed at home and what they do when they are exposed, with people who do not have asthma.

METHODS

A representative population survey of 3019 South Australian adults aged 15 years and older interviewed in their own homes in late 1992.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight per cent of asthmatics were smokers; mean daily smoking rate was 17.6. Asthmatics had similar patterns of smoking, readiness to quit and quit attempt histories as people without asthma. More than 40% of smokers with asthma did not perceive that smoking had greatly affected their health, over half did not believe they were at risk in future and two-thirds did not think future health problems would be serious. Among non-smokers, despite being more convinced of the effects of passive smoking on asthma, and being more concerned about exposure, those with asthma were no more likely to take protective action in response to actual or imminent exposure than those without asthma. One in ten non-smokers with asthma were exposed to smoking at home.

CONCLUSIONS

The smoking habits of adults with asthma are cause for concern, with many asthmatic smokers perceiving they are not personally at risk from their smoking. Health education principles should be used by health professionals caring for asthmatic smokers to guide the selection and delivery of smoking cessation strategies. Prevailing restrictions on indoor smoking play an important role in protecting the respiratory health of non-smokers with asthma.

Transcription factor ATF2 regulation by the JNK signal transduction pathway

Treatment of cells with pro-inflammatory cytokines or ultraviolet radiation causes activation of the c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK). Activating transcription factor-2 (ATF2) was found to be a target of the JNK signal transduction pathway. ATF2 was phosphorylated by JNK on two closely spaced threonine residues within the NH2-terminal activation domain. The replacement of these phosphorylation sites with alanine inhibited the transcriptional activity of ATF2. These mutations also inhibited ATF2-stimulated gene expression mediated by the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor and the adenovirus early region 1A (E1A) oncoprotein. Furthermore, expression of dominant-negative JNK inhibited ATF2 transcriptional activity. Together, these data demonstrate a role for the JNK signal transduction pathway in transcriptional responses mediated by ATF2.

A functional factor X deficiency

A functional factor X deficiency is described which caused pronounced reduction in the in vitro activation of the extrinsic system while marginally affecting the in vitro activation of the intrinsic pathway. All studies were normal with the exception of a prolonged PT, an elevated factor X antigen, and low factor X activity. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of two factor X species. The abnormal molecule was of higher molecular weight. Interestingly, there was no bleeding associated with this deficiency. The biochemical basis of this defect is currently under investigation.

Pseudothrombocytopenia in plateletpheresis donors

BACKGROUND

EDTA pseudothrombocytopenia (PTCP) is an in vitro artifact in which the anticoagulation of blood with EDTA is associated with in vitro agglutination of platelets, resulting in a spuriously low platelet count. In apheresis donors, whole-blood samples for complete blood counts are routinely drawn into tubes anti-coagulated with EDTA.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Records of apheresis donors were examined to identify persons in whom the postdonation counts were less than 100 x 10(9) per L. Identified donors were studied to confirm the presence of PTCP by drawing blood samples into EDTA, heparin, and trisodium citrate for serial platelet counts at room-temperature incubation. Platelet counts in citrated plasma were measured before and after the addition of EDTA. A single HLA-matched component from an identified PTCP donor was monitored for response by corrected count increment in the recipient.

RESULTS

A total of nine donations were identified, involving 2 donors from a population of 945 donors (prevalence 0.2%). On testing, both donors were confirmed to have PTCP. The addition of EDTA to citrated plasma did not affect the platelet count. Response in a recipient to an HLA-matched component showed an acceptable corrected count increment.

CONCLUSION

PTCP may occur in plateletpheresis donors and result in needless medical referral or donor deferral. PTCP does not appear to alter the yield content of the component or to be passively transferred to a recipient.

Auditory brainstem responses after ovariectomy and estrogen replacement in rat

Previous work has suggested possible influences of ovarian hormones on evoked potentials in the auditory system. The aim of this project was to study the effects of ovariectomy and subsequent administration of estrogen replacement on the auditory brainstem response and the middle latency response. Groups of 90 day-old Long-Evans hooded rats were anesthetized for bilateral ovariectomies (ovex) and recordings made 3 weeks later. During the week prior to recordings some ovariectomized groups received subcutaneous injections of 10, 100 or 500 micrograms/kg Premarin in peanut oil, and other unoperated animals received vehicle injections. Recordings from vertex/chin using needle electrodes and pure tone stimulus parameters were made under Rompun/Ketamine. The results using 40 kHz tone stimuli showed that mean latencies for ovex animals were longer than animals in the 100 micrograms/kg Premarin group for waves 1a, 1an, 1b, 11, 111, 111n, and 1V/V. Other posthoc comparisons at 40 kHz stimulation revealed differences between control and 100 micrograms/kg Premarin groups for latencies of waves 1b, 1bn, 11 and 111. Latency reduction appeared for waves 1b, 1bn, 11 and 111 for the 10 ovex group, but only at wave 11 for the 500 ovex group, compared to ovex-only animals. Data from 8 kHz stimulation also demonstrated significant differences between the ovex and ovex 100 groups at waves 1bn and Vn. Observations of interpeak latency differences, especially between waves 1a and 11, suggested central as well as cochlear involvement in hormone action.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hemostatic effects of stress hormone infusion

BACKGROUND

Surgery causes changes in hemostasis, leading to a hypercoagulable state. This postoperative increase in hemostatic function is attenuated in patients receiving regional anesthesia compared with those receiving general anesthesia. Regional anesthesia also decreases the neuroendocrine response to surgery compared with general anesthesia, and this effect is hypothesized to be responsible for the differences in hemostatis. To test the hypothesis that neuroendocrine hormones cause changes in hemostasis, we infused stress hormones into normal volunteers and measured hemostatic function.

METHODS

After drug screening, 12 normal volunteers were studied. On two admissions, volunteers randomly received either stress hormone (epinephrine, cortisol, or glucagon) or placebo infusion for 24 h. During infusion, patients remained at bed rest and received controlled meals. Blood was obtained from indwelling venous catheters before infusion and 2, 8, and 24 h after the start of infusion. Blood was analyzed for neuroendocrine hormone concentrations, glucose, complete blood count, coagulation proteins, platelet reactivity, and activity of the fibrinolytic system.

RESULTS

In the stress hormone group, concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, glucagon, and insulin were increased during the infusion period compared with those in the placebo group. Glucose concentrations and white blood cell counts were increased in the stress hormone group compared with those in the placebo group. Circulating fibrinogen concentrations increased 30% and ex vivo collagen-induced platelet reactivity increased 123% (aggregation) and 103% (dense granule release) in the stress hormone infusion group, whereas there was no change in the placebo group. Fibrinolytic proteins were similar in both groups, demonstrating a decrease in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity at 8 and 24 h (196% in the hormone group vs. 199% in the placebo group).

CONCLUSIONS

Infusion of stress hormones to concentrations found during surgery is safely tolerated and causes metabolic changes observed with surgery. Stress hormone infusion increases ex vivo platelet reactivity and fibrinogen concentrations that resemble changes seen postoperatively but does not recreate the postoperative decrease in fibrinolytic activity. Differences in neuroendocrine response between types of anesthesia may explain some postoperative changes in platelet function and acute phase reactivity, but additional uncharacterized factors are responsible for the differences in fibrinolysis.

Age-related changes in beta-adrenergic neuroeffector systems in the human heart

BACKGROUND

Aging decreases cardiac beta-adrenergic responsiveness in model systems and in humans in vivo. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the age-related changes in the beta-receptor-G protein-adenylyl cyclase complex in nonfailing human hearts.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-six nonfailing explanted human hearts aged 1 to 71 years were obtained from organ donors and subjected to pharmacological investigation of beta-adrenergic neuroeffector systems. When the population was subdivided into the 13 youngest and 13 oldest subjects, total beta-receptor density assessed by maximum [125I]ICYP binding (beta max) was reduced in older hearts by 37% in left ventricles and 31% in right ventricles (both P < .05), and the downregulation was confined to the beta 1 subtype (r = .78 left ventricle beta 1 density versus donor age). Older donor hearts exhibited a 3- to 4-fold rightward shift of ICYP-isoproterenol (ISO) competition curves and demonstrated 43% fewer receptors in a high-affinity agonist binding state (P < .05). Older hearts exhibited decreased adenylyl cyclase stimulation by ISO, by zinterol (beta 2-agonist), and by the G protein-sensitive probes forskolin, Gpp(NH)p, and NaF. In contrast, there was no change in response to manganese, a specific activator of the adenylyl cyclase catalytic subunit. Toxin-catalyzed ADP ribosylation in membranes prepared from older versus younger hearts revealed a 29% to 30% reduction (P < .05) with cholera toxin (Gs) but no difference with pertussis toxin (Gi). The systolic contractile response of isolated right ventricular trabeculae to ISO was decreased by 46%, with a 10-fold increase in ISO EC50 in older relative to younger donor hearts.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a profound decrease in cardiac beta-adrenergic responsiveness with aging. This occurs by multiple mechanisms including downregulation and decreased agonist binding of beta 1-receptors, uncoupling of beta 2-receptors, and abnormal G protein-mediated signal transduction.

The effects of bedrest on circadian changes in hemostasis

Venous stasis occurs when people are at bedrest, because of altered venous flow characteristics. This is commonly believed to be one etiology behind the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The hemostatic effects of bedrest and their possible role in DVT development have not been fully examined. We hypothesized that bedrest would lead to increases in hemostatic function and that these increases could be important in the development of DVT. Twelve non-smoking volunteers were studied during supine positioning for 36 hours. Platelet reactivity and plasma concentrations of fibrinogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin, plasminogen, thromboxane beta 2, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, tissue plasminogen activator and neuroendocrine hormones (cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine) were measured at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Cortisol demonstrated an early morning increase while catecholamines were unchanged throughout. Fibrinogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin, plasminogen and platelet reactivity were no different at any time point. Fibrinolytic proteins changed over time, manifested by decreased PAI-1 antigen and activity levels at 24 h. Based upon the parameters measured, bedrest causes no increase in hemostatic function. In fact, bedrest causes the potential for enhanced fibrinolysis, that differs from that previously reported for normal activity over 24 h. This may represent a protective mechanism to counter the effects of stasis from bedrest.

Use of molecular probes and PCR for detection and typing of Leishmania--a mini-review

The use of molecular tools to detect and type Leishmania species in humans, reservoirs or sandflies has been pursued using different approaches. The polymerase chain reaction provided sensitivity to case this task, since the use of hybridization procedures alone employing specific probes is hampered due to the low detection limit. In this report, we describe the different molecular targets used in our laboratory, aiming at the detection and specific typing of these protozoa. Different kits based on hybridization assays and PCR amplification using kinetoplast and nuclear targets are described and the results obtained from their use are reported.

Long-term neuropsychological sequelae of fever associated with amnesia

It has been well established that high fever can cause substantial damage to the cerebellum and also cause multiple small vascular lesions in neocortex and subcortical white matter. Beyond acute effects, the neuropsychological sequelae of these latter cortical and subcortical lesions have not been studied. The investigation reported involved 36 VA patients with a history of serious febrile illness. The febrile illnesses of the pyrexic subjects did not cause febrile seizures and resulted from diseases that did not directly involve the brain (e.g., encephalitis, meningitis, malaria). Control subjects were combat veterans who had suffered gunshot wounds, but who had no history of febrile illness. Pyrexic patients performed worse than controls on a variety of measures including language, memory, concentration, and word finding as well as failing a test of dichotic listening for words. Results demonstrate that hyperpyrexia can have lasting neuropsychological sequelae, and suggest that history of serious febrile illness be considered as an exclusionary criterion for participation in neuropsychological research concerning other topics or disorders.