Connective tissue growth factor expression in the rat remnant kidney model and association with tubular epithelial cells undergoing transdifferentiation

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) has been shown to mediate many actions of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in the fibrotic response in several diseases. We compared expression of CTGF, TGF-beta, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), TNF-alpha, and interleukin-1 (IL-1) by in situ hybridization in Sprague-Dawley rats euthanized at 0, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy using the rat remnant kidney model of renal failure. Collagen was evaluated by trichrome stains, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. We compared expression patterns to cells undergoing metaplasia. Tubular epithelial regeneration and transdifferentiation to myofibroblasts were assessed morphologically and by proliferating cell nuclear antigen, smooth muscle actin, desmin, and vimentin immunohistochemistry. CTGF expression was minimal in controls, mild at 2 weeks and marked by 4 to 8 weeks in interstitial fibroblasts, coinciding with damage, regeneration, and fibrosis. TGF-beta expression was increased in many cell types at 2 weeks, increased further by 4 weeks, then remained constant. PDGF-B messenger RNA was found in many stromal cells at 2-4 weeks, but expression decreased at 8 weeks. No significant IL-1 or TNF-alpha staining was detected. We conclude that CTGF and interacting factors are associated with development or progression of chronic interstitial fibrosis. Proximity of CTGF, TGF-beta, and PDGF mRNA expression to regenerative epithelial cells and those transdifferentiating to myofibroblasts suggests that growth factors may modulate renal tubular epithelial differentiation.

Preoperative High-Dose Cisplatin Versus Moderate- Dose Cisplatin Combined with Ifosfamide and Mitomycin in Stage IIIA (N2) Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Results of a Randomized Multicenter Trial

Preoperative chemotherapy has become an accepted treatment for stage IIIA (N2) non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The majority of induction regimens employ cisplatin, although the importance of cis-platin dose in combination is unclear. A randomized trial was conducted to address whether higher pre-operative cisplatin doses result in improved survival and increased pathologic complete response in NSCLC. Patients with stage IIIA clinically enlarged and biopsy-proven N2 lesions were randomly assigned to receive either high-dose cisplatin (HDCP) (100 mg/m2) or moderate-dose cisplatin (MDCP) (50 mg/ m2) in combination with ifosfamide (3 g/m2) and mitomycin (6 mg/m2). Disease was restaged after 3 cycles, and those patients with response or stable disease underwent thoracotomy. From March 1993 to February 1997, 83 patients were randomized: 46 received HDCP, and 37 received MDCP. Clinical characteristics were well matched. Radiographic response rate was 59% for HDCP patients and 30% for MDCP patients (P = 0.01). Thoracotomy was performed in 71 patients (86%), 58 of whom had resectable disease. Complete resection rate was 61% in the HDCP group, and 51% in the MDCP group (P = 0.5). Postoperative mortality was 11%. Pathologic complete response was observed in one patient who received MDCP. Median survival in the HDCP and MDCP groups was 13 and 11 months, respectively (P = 0.3). In conclusion, higher radiographic response rate is observed in patients who receive HDCP, but this study fails to show any significant improvement in either overall survival or pathologic complete response in this group of patients.

An increased intraovarian synthesis of nerve growth factor and its low affinity receptor is a principal component of steroid-induced polycystic ovary in the rat

A form of polycystic ovary (PCO) resembling some aspects of the human PCO syndrome can be induced in rats by a single injection of estradiol valerate (EV). An increase in sympathetic outflow to the ovary precedes, by several weeks, the appearance of cysts, suggesting the involvement of a neurogenic component in the pathology of this ovarian dysfunction. The present study was carried out to test the hypotheses that this change in sympathetic tone is related to an augmented production of ovarian nerve growth factor (NGF), and that this abnormally elevated production of NGF contributes to the formation of ovarian cysts induced by EV. Injection of the steroid resulted in increased intraovarian synthesis of NGF and its low affinity receptor, p75 NGFR. The increase was maximal 30 days after EV, coinciding with the elevation in sympathetic tone to the ovary and preceding the appearance of follicular cysts. Intraovarian injections of the retrograde tracer fluorogold combined with in situ hybridization to detect tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) messenger RNA-containing neurons in the celiac ganglion revealed that these changes in NGF/p75 NGFR synthesis are accompanied by selective activation of noradrenergic neurons projecting to the ovary. The levels of RBT2 messenger RNA, which encodes a beta-tubulin presumably involved in slow axonal transport, were markedly elevated, indicating that EV-induced formation of ovarian cysts is preceded by functional activation ofceliac ganglion neurons, including those innervating the ovary. Intraovarian administration of a neutralizing antiserum to NGF in conjunction with an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to p75 NGFR, via Alzet osmotic minipumps, restored estrous cyclicity and ovulatory capacity in a majority of EV-treated rats. These functional changes were accompanied by restoration of the number of antral follicles per ovary that had been depleted by EV and a significant reduction in the number of both precystic follicles and follicular cysts. The results indicate that the hyperactivation of ovarian sympathetic nerves seen in EV-induced PCO is related to an overproduction of NGF and its low affinity receptor in the gland. They also suggest that activation of this neurotrophic-neurogenic regulatory loop is a component of the pathological process by which EV induces cyst formation and anovulation in rodents. The possibility exists that a similar alteration in neurotrophic input to the ovary contributes to the etiology and/or maintenance of the PCO syndrome in humans.

Intraovarian excess of nerve growth factor increases androgen secretion and disrupts estrous cyclicity in the rat

A single injection of estradiol valerate induces a form of cystic ovary resembling some aspects of the human polycystic ovarian syndrome. Preceding the development of follicular cysts, there is an increase in intraovarian synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the low affinity NGF receptor (p75 NGFR). Selective blockade of NGF actions and p75 NGFR synthesis in the ovary restored estrous cyclicity and ovulatory capacity in estradiol valerate-treated rats, suggesting that an increase in NGF-dependent, p75 NGFR-mediated actions within the ovary contributes to the development of cystic ovarian disease. We have tested this hypothesis by grafting NGF-producing neural progenitor cells into the ovary of juvenile rats that have been induced to ovulate precociously by a single injection of PMSG. The NGF-producing cells, detected by their content of immunoreactive p75 NGFR material, were found scattered throughout the ovary with some of them infiltrating the granulosa cell compartment of large, precystic follicles. Ovarian NGF content was 2-fold higher than in the ovary of rats receiving control cells. Estrous cyclicity was disrupted, with the animals showing prolonged periods of persistent estrus, and an almost continuous background of vaginal cornified cells at other phases of the estrous cycle. Morphometric analysis revealed that the presence of NGF-producing cells neither reduced the total number of corpora lutea per ovary nor significantly increased the formation of follicular cysts. However, the ovaries receiving these cells showed an increased incidence of precystic, type III follicles, accompanied by a reduced number of healthy antral follicles, and an increased size of both healthy and atretic follicles. These changes in follicular dynamics were accompanied by a selective increase in serum androstenedione levels. The results show that an abnormally elevated production of NGF within the ovary suffices to initiate several of the structural and functional alterations associated with the development of follicular cysts in the rat ovary.

Rise in endothelium-derived NO after stimulation of rat perivascular sympathetic mesenteric nerves

To evaluate whether sympathetic activity induces nitric oxide (NO) production, we perfused the rat arterial mesenteric bed and measured luminally accessible norepinephrine (NE), NO, and cGMP before, during, and after stimulation of perivascular nerves. Electrical stimulation (1 min, 30 Hz) raised perfusion pressure by 97 +/- 7 mmHg, accompanied by peaks of 23 +/- 3 pmol NE, 445 +/- 48 pmol NO, and 1 pmol cGMP. Likewise, perfusion with 10 microM NE induced vasoconstriction coupled to increased NO and cGMP release. Electrically elicited NO release depended on stimulus frequency and duration. Endothelium denudation with saponin abolished the NO peak without changing NE release. Inhibition of NO synthase with 100 microM N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine reduced basal NO and cGMP release and blocked the electrically stimulated and exogenous NE-stimulated NO peak while enhancing vasoconstriction. Blocking either sympathetic exocytosis with 1 microM guanethidine or alpha1-adrenoceptors with 30 nM prazosin abolished the electrically evoked vasoconstriction and NO release. alpha2-Adrenoceptor blockade with 1 microM yohimbine reduced both vasoconstriction and NO peak while increasing NE release. In summary, sympathetically released NE induces vasoconstriction, which triggers a secondary release of endothelial NO coupled to cGMP production.

Effects of adrenalectomy on the stress-induced changes in ovarian sympathetic tone in the rat

A 3-wk period of stress promotes the development of ovarian cysts in rats apparently mediated by increased sympathetic nerve activity and ovarian steroid secretion. After 11 wk of stress, these parameters are indistinguishable from nonstressed control rats. To study adrenal contribution, we adrenalectomized rats and studied the effect of 3-wk of cold/restraint stress (1.5 h/d) on them compared to intact animals. Adrenalectomy (ADX) increased ovarian norepinephrine (NE) release, the content of beta-adrenergic receptors (betaAR) and basal, but not isoproterenol (Iso)-induced, androgen secretion. Stress to intact animals increased NE release, decreased betaAR content, and Iso-induced, but not basal, androgen secretion from the ovary. ADX did not modify the response to stress. We propose a tonic inhibition by the adrenal gland on nerve activity of ovarian nerves. Stress overrides this inhibitory effect, and nerve activity downregulates betaAR, decreasing ovarian steroid secretion.

Differential effects of treatment modality on psychosocial functioning of cocaine-dependent men

Changes in psychosocial functioning, including depression, anxiety, somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness, interpersonal sensitivity, confidence in the ability to resist taking drugs in different situations, and social adjustment are examined for male veterans entering treatment for cocaine dependence. The sample was comprised of African Americans (66%), Hispanics (8%), and Whites (26%) with a mean age of 35 years at intake. Participants were assessed at the end of 1 year and 2 years; during the follow-up period, participants utilized different combinations of treatment modalities. Paired t-tests showed significant improvement between intake and follow-up, both at the end of 1 year and 2 years, on the Beck Depression Inventory, on the depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsiveness, and interpersonal sensitivity scores of the Symptom Check List (SCL-58), and in four role areas of social adjustment on the Social Adjustment Inventory. There were no significant differences between intake and follow-up on the somatization subscale of the SCL-58 and on the Drug Taking Confidence Questionnaire (DTCQ). Measures taken at Year 2 were not significantly different from Year 1. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that treatment modality did not differentially affect psychosocial functioning on nearly all measures, except on somatization, confidence in the ability to resist taking drugs in different situations, and social adjustment involving leisure time. However, a combination of inpatient, high-intensity outpatient, and self-help group participation and a combination of outpatient and self-help group participation were better than a combination of inpatient, low-intensity outpatient, and self-help participation in increasing the confidence in the ability to resist cocaine use in different situations and to reduce symptoms of somatization.

Phase II clinical trial of cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and ifosfamide as treatment for advanced locoregional head and neck carcinoma

The association of ifosfamide with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil for the management of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck was assessed in this trial. Ifosfamide was given initially to 12 patients in combination with standard fixed doses of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, at 1,000 mg/m2 daily on days 2, 3, and 4. Two patients died of neutropenia and severe infection, and the authors recruited seven more patients who were treated with a lower dose of ifosfamide, 800 mg/m2 daily on days 2, 3, and 4. One of the seven patients died of neutropenia and severe infection. Three complete remission were observed in 18 patients evaluable for efficacy. The study was closed early because of the severe toxicity profile demonstrated by this scheme and because of no clear advantage in efficacy versus cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil combinations.

Stress promotes development of ovarian cysts in rats: the possible role of sympathetic nerve activation

Activation of the sympathetic innervation precedes the induction of polycystic ovaries in rats given estradiol valerate (EV). The mechanism of induction by EV may thus involve both direct and neurogenic components. We tested this hypothesis using a combined cold and restraint stress to induce an increase in sympathetic tone, including that of the ovarian sympathetic nerves. Three weeks after the start of stress we found: 1. An increase in the content of norepinephrine (NE) in the celiac ganglion. 2. An increase in the release of NE from the ovary. 3. An unchanged NE uptake by the ovary. 4. An unchanged content of NE in the ovary. The ovarian content of neuropeptide Y (NPY) (colocalized with NE) was significantly decreased. These results suggest that NE synthesis and its secretion are increased during this period and correlate with the increase in secretion of androgens and estradiol, the development of precystic follicles, and a decrease in the ovulatory rate. After 11 wk, NE release had returned to control values, whereas the ovarian NE content had risen significantly, suggesting a maintained high rate of NE synthesis. In the ovary, NPY contents, steroid secretion, morphology, and ovulation had returned to the control state. These results suggest the participation of an extraovarian factor that might act locally to control the release of NE from the ovary, and further support the hypothesis that increased sympathetic activity plays a role in the development and maintenance of ovarian cysts.

Variations in psychosocial functioning associated with patterns of progression in cocaine-dependent men

This study examined the relationship between patterns of progression of cocaine use and psychosocial functioning in a sample of cocaine-dependent men who were veterans. Four patterns of progression were examined: mild-severe, moderate-severe, mild-moderate-severe, and severe only. Analysis of variance and post hoc analysis with Duncan grouping revealed significant differences among cocaine users with different patterns of progression in terms of negativism, problem index for situations involving unpleasant emotions, problem index for situations involving urges, depression, somatic anxiety, and medical problems in the family. However, there were no significant differences on sensation seeking, confidence to resist taking cocaine in different situations, obsessive compulsiveness, somatization, attention deficit, and social adjustment. Cocaine users with a severe-only pattern of progression were significantly more dysfunctional than those with mild-moderate-severe progression in terms of negativism, problem index for situations involving unpleasant emotions, depression, and somatic anxiety. Cocaine users with mild-moderate-severe progression had significantly less somatic anxiety than those with mild-severe progression and had less negativism and a lower problem index for urges than those with moderate-severe progression. Logistic regression analysis revealed unique behavioral variables associated with different patterns of progression. The implications of these findings for treatment are discussed.

[Fluoxetine in the treatment of borderline personality disorder]

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the therapeutic effect of fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in borderline personality disorder.

METHOD

46 patients with borderline personality disorder according to DSM-III-R and Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB-R) criteria, were given fluoxetine 20-60 mg for seven weeks. They were evaluated each week using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and a clinical Impulsivity Scale.

RESULTS

There were significant improvements in BPRS, HDRS, GAF and Impulsivity Scale from the first week of the treatment. These improvements continued until the seven week of treatment. The favourable outcome was not only due to the improvement in depression and impulsivity scores, but also to the decline of global psychopathology.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that fluoxetine is an effective pharmacologic treatment for borderline personality disorder. These findings support the hypothesis of a 5-HT dysfunction in borderline personality disorder.

Alcohol and cocaine interactions and aggressive behaviors

This chapter presents (1) a review of several studies on the relationship between violent/aggressive behavior and the use of cocaine and/or the use of alcohol; and (2) findings from our study of cocaine-dependent men, illustrating deviant and violent behavior before and during cocaine addiction careers. As had been found in previous research, use of alcohol and cocaine seemed to increase the likelihood of the cocaine users in our sample engaging in deviant or violent behaviors. The extent of deviant or violent behavior, in our sample, during periods of cocaine use, periods of cocaine-alcohol use, periods of alcohol use only, and periods of abstinence for both alcohol and cocaine are discussed. Changes in the nature of the deviant or violent behaviors prior to and after the onset of cocaine addiction are also described.

Cloning of an aquaporin homologue present in water channel containing endosomes of toad urinary bladder

Regulation of total body water balance in amphibians by antidiuretic hormone (ADH) contributed to their successful colonization of terrestrial habitats approximately 200-300 million years ago. In the mammalian kidney, ADH modulates epithelial cell apical membrane water permeability (Pf) by fusion and retrieval of cytoplasmic vesicles containing water channel proteins called aquaporins (AQPs). To determine the role of AQPs in ADH-elicited Pf in amphibians, we have identified and characterized a unique AQP from Bufo marinus called AQP toad bladder (AQP-TB). AQP-TB possesses many structural features common to other AQPs, AQP-TB is expressed abundantly in ADH-responsive tissues, including toad urinary bladder and skin as well as lung, skeletal muscle, kidney, and brain. In a manner identical to that reported for the mammalian ADH-elicited water channel AQP2, AQP-TB expression is increased significantly by intervals of dehydration or chronic ADH stimulation. However, expression of AQP-TB protein in Xenopus laevis oocytes does not significantly increase oocyte Pf. The lack of expression of functional AQP-TB water channels in oocytes may result from intracellular sequestration of AQP-TB due to the presence of a YXRF sequence motif present in its carboxyterminal domain.

Osmoregulatory changes in myo-inositol content and Na+/myo-inositol cotransport in rat cortical astrocytes

Exposure of cortical astrocytes to 325, 350, or 390 mosM culture media for 48 h caused a 1.4-, 2.1-, and 3.5-fold increase, respectively, in cellular content of the compatible osmolyte myo-inositol. Elevated myo-inositol levels accounted for approximately 56-100% of the solute needed by the cells for complete volume regulation under hypertonic conditions. Myo-inositol accumulation was associated with 4-5-fold (peak rate) and 1.8-2-fold (steady-state rate) increases in the rate of Na(+)-dependent myo-inositol uptake when cells were acclimated to 390 mosM culture medium for 12 h or 24-96 h, respectively. When medium osmolality was elevated by 25 mosM, peak and steady-state increases in myo-inositol uptake of 1.7-fold and 1.3-fold, respectively, were observed. Exposure to 390 mosM medium for 12-48 h induced a 3-8-fold increase in cotransporter mRNA levels suggesting that the increase in myo-inositol uptake is brought about by increased cotransporter gene expression. Abrupt return of hypertonic cells to an isotonic medium induced a rapid increase in myo-inositol efflux and a return of cotransporter mRNA to control values in < 2 h. In contrast, the cotransporter remained fully activated at hypertonic levels for 16 h. Between 16-24 h after the transfer, the rate of myo-inositol uptake returned to control values. The remarkable sensitivity of the cotransporter to hypertonic stress indicates that upregulation of myo-inositol transport in glial cells is likely to occur in a variety of disease states that cause an elevation of plasma osmolality. Slow downregulation of the cotransporter may be responsible in part for the slow loss of myo-inositol and cerebral edema that occurs with too rapid correction of chronic plasma hypertonicity.

Water channel vesicles from toad urinary bladder contain a family of proteins present in other tissues

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) stimulation causes the fusion and subsequent retrieval of cytoplasmic vesicles containing water channels (WCV) with the apical membrane of toad bladder granular cells. Previously, we showed that purified WCV contain 12 major protein bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. To identify various WCV proteins, we screened a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies and characterized an immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody, 5E5, that recognizes integral membrane WCV proteins of 38, 33, and 31 kDa. Immunocytochemistry and Western blot analyses show that 5E5 binds to multivesicular body endosomes shown previously to contain ADH water channels. In addition, 5E5 recognizes these proteins in selected cells of the skin, intestine, liver, kidney, spleen, and lung. However, 5E5 does not appear to recognize components of the water channel itself. We conclude that WCV contain several membrane proteins recognized by 5E5 that are present in certain cells of the other organs. Monoclonal 5E5 provides a probe to determine the structure and function of these endosomal proteins as well as their role in the ADH water permeability response.

Cellular subsets and epithelial ICAM-1 and HLA-DR expression in human papillomavirus infection of the vulva

Cryostat sections of 20 clinical condylomata of the vulva induced by human papillomavirus and 5 normal control biopsies were examined using immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that in vulvar papillomavirus infection the intraepithelial Langerhans' cells showed abnormal morphology and a significantly lower density than controls. CD1a positive Langerhans' cells were also observed in dermis of condylomata, suggesting an abnormal epithelial traffic of dendritic cells. T lymphocytes with a mean CD4/CD8 ratio of 0.25 and a mean density of 267 +/- 59 cells/mm2 of epithelial section were the main cellular infiltrate in vulvar papillomavirus infection. Most of the T cells were HLA-DR negative. Those condylomata with moderate to severe mononuclear infiltrate showed leucocyte function antigen 1 positive T cells forming small clusters in the lower epithelial half around the ICAM-1 positive keratinocytes. Vulvar warts also showed epithelial areas with overlapped ICAM-1 and HLA-DR expression. Scattered T gamma-delta and B lymphocytes, macrophages and NK cells were observed among the cells of the dermal infiltrate of vulvar condylomata.

The molecular structure of the antidiuretic hormone elicited water channel

Measurements of osmotic water permeability (Pf) have shown that the plasma membranes of human red cells and certain epithelial cells possess specialized water channels. Although these water channels have been characterized extensively using biophysical techniques, the proteins that compose these unique channels have only recently been identified. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) stimulation rapidly increases collecting duct epithelial cell Pf by fusion of water channel-containing vesicles (WCV) with their apical membranes. The proteins of WCV from toad bladder and rodent kidney have been characterized. The principal proteins in toad bladder WCV are 55,000 daltons (55 kDa) and 53 kDa and span the lipid bilayer of these vesicles. Polyclonal antisera raised against the 55-kDa and 53-kDa proteins inhibit ADH-stimulated toad bladder Pf by 80% and recognize protein bands of 46, 38 and 30 kDa in mouse kidney. Purification of WCV from rat kidney reveals enrichment of the 46-kDa protein. Recently, a 28-kDa integral membrane protein (called CHIP-28) has been isolated from human red cells. It forms functional water channels in Xenopus oocytes and when reconstituted into proteoliposomes. Large amounts of CHIP-28 protein are present in epithelial cells of the proximal tubule and descending thin limb of Henle's loop. Molecular cloning efforts are underway to elucidate the structure and function of these candidate water channel proteins.

Renal bone disease in pediatric and young adult patients on hemodialysis in a children's hospital

Renal bone disease has been well defined in adult patients receiving chronic dialysis and in children on peritoneal dialysis/continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. However, little is known about the histologic features in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis in a children's hospital center. Twenty one patients, aged 17.5 +/- 1.5 yr, on hemodialysis for 35 +/- 6 months underwent iliac crest bone biopsies and deferoxamine infusion tests. Nineteen of 21 patients were receiving oral calcitriol. The 21 patients were classified by histomorphometry as follows: osteitis fibrosa, 5; mild hyperparathyroidism, 3; normal histology, 3; aplastic, 6; and mixed lesions, 4. Four of 21 patients were surface positive for aluminum, and seven other patients stained positive for iron in bone. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels correlated directly with the bone formation rate (r = 0.84) and with eroded bone perimeter (r = 0.67). Eight of the nine patients with serum PTH levels above 125 pg/mL had marrow fibrosis. All patients with serum calcium levels < 10.0 mg/dL and serum PTH levels > 125 pg/mL had either osteitis fibrosa or mixed bone lesions--a group of patients that might benefit from aggressive vitamin D therapy. In contrast, an examination of patients with serum calcium levels > 10.0 mg/dL and serum PTH levels < 65 pg/mL correctly identified three out of three patients with aluminum-related bone disease. These findings suggest that measurements of serum intact PTH levels by the immunoradiometric assay method may be valuable in distinguishing high-turnover lesions from normal or low-turnover skeletal lesions in this population.

Relationship between types of human papillomavirus and Langerhans' cells in cervical condyloma and intraepithelial neoplasia

Planimetric and immunohistologic studies of Langerhans' cells were performed on epithelial sheets dissected from paired biopsy specimens removed from histopathologically normal and abnormal areas of cervices infected by the human papillomavirus. The results showed that epithelial lesions associated with human papillomavirus types classically not related to malignancy (such as types 6 and 11) showed a similar decrease in the Langerhans' cell number to that induced by types 16 and 18. This phenomenon was analyzed in condylomas and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of low degree, in which human papillomavirus DNA was detected by Southern blot. On the other hand, a significant decrease was observed in Langerhans' cell number in areas of condyloma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia compared to normal (control) areas from the same patients. It was also confirmed that Langerhans' cell density increases along with the grade of intraepithelial neoplasia.

Osmoregulation of Na(+)-inositol cotransporter activity and mRNA levels in brain glial cells

During plasma hypertonicity brain volume is regulated acutely by electrolyte uptake and chronically by accumulation of organic solutes such as inositol. Cultured rat C6 glioma cells, an astrocyte-like cell line, show a similar pattern of volume control. Volume regulatory accumulation of inositol requires external inositol, indicating that membrane transport plays a central role in this process. The inositol uptake pathway is Na+ dependent and exhibits Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Chronic hypertonic acclimation results in a twofold increase in the maximum velocity of the transporter without changing the Km. Hypertonic stress also results in a 17-fold increase in transporter mRNA. Elevation of mRNA levels precedes activation of the transporter by 4-6 h, suggesting that increased inositol uptake is mediated by synthesis and membrane insertion of new transport proteins. Reacclimation of hypertonic cells to isotonicity causes a rapid reduction of transporter mRNA levels to control levels within 4 h. In contrast, downregulation of transport activity does not begin until between 10 and 24 h after reexposure to isotonicity.

[Borderline personality disorder: a comparative study between the clinical diagnosis and the Rorschach test]

Diagnostic concordance among Rorschach Test, clinical approach and DSM-III-R criteria for BPD is studied in an inpatient sample. A low degree of concordance among the three diagnostic systems was found. Two among 8 DSM-III-R criteria (physically self-damaging acts, and unstable-intense relationships) were the most discriminating symptoms for diagnosing BPD. The importance of considering the diagnostic efficiency of each DSM-III-R criterion is discussed. The most frequent concurrent diagnosis along with BPD were: Affective, and psychotic disorders. Their relationship is analyzed.