Altered skin flowmotion in hypertensive humans

Essential hypertensive humans exhibit attenuated cutaneous nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilation. Using spectral analysis (fast Fourier transformation) we aimed to characterize the skin flowmotion contained in the laser-Doppler flowmetry recordings during local heating-induced vasodilation before and after concurrent pharmacological inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in hypertensive and age-matched normotensive men and women. We hypothesized that hypertensive subjects would have lower total power spectral densities (PSDs), specifically in the frequency intervals associated with intrinsic endothelial and neurogenic control of the microvasculature. Furthermore, we hypothesized that NOS inhibition would attenuate the endothelial frequency interval. Laser-Doppler flowmetry recordings during local heating experiments from 18 hypertensive (MAP: 108±2mmHg) and 18 normotensive (MAP: 88±2mmHg) men and women were analyzed. Within site NO-dependent vasodilation was assessed by perfusion of a non-specific NOS inhibitor (N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester; l-NAME) through intradermal microdialysis during the heating-induced plateau in skin blood flow. Local heating-induced vasodilation increased total PSD for all frequency intervals (all p<0.001). Hypertensives had a lower total PSD (p=0.03) and absolute neurogenic frequency intervals (p<0.01) compared to the normotensives. When normalized as a percentage of total PSD, hypertensives had reduced neurogenic (p<0.001) and augmented myogenic contributions (p=0.04) to the total spectrum. NOS inhibition decreased total PSD (p<0.001) for both groups, but hypertensives exhibited lower absolute endothelial (p<0.01), neurogenic (p<0.05), and total PSD (p<0.001) frequency intervals compared to normotensives. These data suggest that essential hypertension results in altered neurogenic and NOS-dependent control of skin flowmotion and support the use of spectral analysis as a non-invasive technique to study vasoreactivity.

Synthesis and characterization of dual-functionalized core-shell fluorescent microspheres for bioconjugation and cellular delivery

The efficient transport of micron-sized beads into cells, via a non-endocytosis mediated mechanism, has only recently been described. As such there is considerable scope for optimization and exploitation of this procedure to enable imaging and sensing applications to be realized. Herein, we report the design, synthesis and characterization of fluorescent microsphere-based cellular delivery agents that can also carry biological cargoes. These core-shell polymer microspheres possess two distinct chemical environments; the core is hydrophobic and can be labeled with fluorescent dye, to permit visual tracking of the microsphere during and after cellular delivery, whilst the outer shell renders the external surfaces of the microspheres hydrophilic, thus facilitating both bioconjugation and cellular compatibility. Cross-linked core particles were prepared in a dispersion polymerization reaction employing styrene, divinylbenzene and a thiol-functionalized co-monomer. These core particles were then shelled in a seeded emulsion polymerization reaction, employing styrene, divinylbenzene and methacrylic acid, to generate orthogonally functionalized core-shell microspheres which were internally labeled via the core thiol moieties through reaction with a thiol reactive dye (DY630-maleimide). Following internal labeling, bioconjugation of green fluorescent protein (GFP) to their carboxyl-functionalized surfaces was successfully accomplished using standard coupling protocols. The resultant dual-labeled microspheres were visualized by both of the fully resolvable fluorescence emissions of their cores (DY630) and shells (GFP). In vitro cellular uptake of these microspheres by HeLa cells was demonstrated conventionally by fluorescence-based flow cytometry, whilst MTT assays demonstrated that 92% of HeLa cells remained viable after uptake. Due to their size and surface functionalities, these far-red-labeled microspheres are ideal candidates for in vitro, cellular delivery of proteins.

Investigation of microsphere-mediated cellular delivery by chemical, microscopic and gene expression analysis

Amino functionalized cross-linked polystyrene microspheres of well defined sizes (0.2-2 mum) have been prepared and shown to be efficient and controllable delivery devices, capable of transporting anything from small dye molecules to bulky proteins into cells. However, the specific mechanism of cellular entry is largely unknown and widely variant from study to study. As such, chemical, biological and microscopic methods are used to elucidate the mechanism of cellular uptake for polystyrene microspheres of 0.2, 0.5 and 2 mum in mouse melanoma cells. Uptake is found to be wholly unreliant upon energetic processes, while lysosomal and endosomal tracking agents failed to show co-localisation with lysosomes/endosomes, suggesting a non-endocytic uptake pathway. To further explore the consequences of microsphere uptake, gene expression profiling is used to determine if there is a transcriptional response to "beadfection" in both murine and human cells. None of the common transcriptional responses to enhanced endocytosis are observed in beadfected cells, further supporting a non-endocytic uptake mechanism. Furthermore, the microspheres are noted to have a limited interaction with cells at a transcriptional level, supporting them as a non-toxic delivery vehicle.

Microsphere-based tracing and molecular delivery in embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are in vitro cell lines that can differentiate into all lineages of the fetus and the adult. Despite the versatility of genetic manipulation in murine ES cells, these approaches are time-consuming and rely on inefficient transient cellular delivery systems that can only be applied to undifferentiated ES cell cultures. Here we describe a polystyrene microsphere-based system designed to efficiently deliver biological materials into both undifferentiated and differentiating ES cells. Our results demonstrate that these microspheres can be successfully employed for simultaneous cellular labeling and controlled transfer of various cargos such as fluorophores, proteins and nucleic acids into ES cells without any significant toxicity or loss of pluripotency. This versatile delivery system is also effective in other stem cell lines derived from early embryos, trophoblast and neural stem cells.

Microspheres as a vehicle for biomolecule delivery to neural stem cells

Neural stem cells (NSC) are a valuable model system for understanding the intrinsic and extrinsic controls for self-renewal and differentiation choice. They also offer a platform for drug screening and neurotoxicity studies, and hold promise for cell replacement therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Fully exploiting the potential of this experimental tool often requires the manipulation of intrinsic cues of interest using transfection methods, to which NSC are relatively resistant. In this paper, we show that mouse and human NSC readily take up polystyrene-based microspheres which can be loaded with a range of chemical or biological cargoes. This uptake can take place in the undifferentiated stage without affecting NSC proliferation and their capacity to give rise to neurons and glia. We demonstrate that beta-galactosidase-loaded microspheres could be efficiently introduced into NSC with no apparent toxic effect, thus providing proof-of-concept for the use of microspheres as an alternative biomolecule delivery system.

Guidelines for hypertension treatment: applications for primary care practice--a review of the JNC VI report

The Joint National Committee's report on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure was released in November 1997. With its release, an increased emphasis on "treating the patient, not just the number" has taken place. The report provides a comprehensive review of recent clinical evidence that helps guide clinical decision making in the care of the hypertensive patient. A new disease classification system entitled "risk stratification" is introduced and takes into account comorbid conditions that are present for many hypertensive individuals. This risk stratification is then linked to treatment strategies and provides a concise decision analysis framework to aid in clinical decision making. Community-based prevention strategies are also highlighted and should raise the awareness of clinicians to adopt these recommendations and integrate them more aggressively into daily practice. Increased emphasis on patient compliance to improve overall hypertension control rates is also presented. Maximum efficacy through once-daily dosing and fixed-dose combinations are reviewed in the report. The JNC report is a comprehensive resource for clinicians in primary care practice. Its evidenced-based approach is a wonderful teaching tool for those clinicians who also serve as clinical educators in primary care.

Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of microencapsulated 1,3-dichloropropene in rats

The potential oral toxicity of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) has been evaluated in a number of dietary toxicity studies. The relatively high vapor pressure of 1,3-D, its short half-life in drinking water, and its reactivity with constituents of feed necessitated the use of a microencapsulated formulation (starch-sucrose shell) of 1,3-D in these studies. The bioavailability of ingested microencapsulated 1,3-D was determined by characterizing and comparing the kinetics of 1,3-D in the blood of female F344 rats coadministered microencapsulated 1,3-D and neat 13C-1,3-D (25 mg/kg each) via gavage. Blood concentrations of total or cis- and trans-isomers of 1,3-D in treated rats were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) or in situ membrane extraction MS. Urine was also collected and analyzed by GC-MS for the presence of the mercapturate excretion product of 1,3-D [N-acetyl-S-(3-chloropropenyl-2)-L-cysteine; 1,3-DMA]. Blood levels of 1,3-D and 13C-1,3-D displayed similar kinetics, peaking within 10 min of dosing followed by a rapid biphasic elimination. Higher peak blood levels and greater blood curve areas (AUC) were attained for trans- than cis-1,3-D and 13C-1,3-D and greater amounts of cis- than trans-1,3-DMA and 13C-1,3-DMA were excreted in the urine consistent with the known rapid and disproportionate glutathione conjugation of the cis-isomer in the gastric mucosa. Slightly higher cis-1,3-D than cis-13C-1,3-D blood levels and AUCs were also consistently noted while the reverse was true for urinary excretion of cis-13C-1,3-DMA and cis-1,3-DMA suggesting that 1,3-D derived from microencapsulated test material may be absorbed and/or metabolized in the stomach mucosa at a slightly slower rate than that from neat material. The latter, however, would be of no consequence during the administration of 1,3-D to animals via their diets as competing test materials would not be present and 1,3-D blood kinetics were unaffected. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate the ready bioavailability of microencapsulated 1,3-D and rapid elimination of 1,3-D from the blood of rats.

Reconstitution of protein kinase A regulation of the rat prolactin promoter in HeLa nonpituitary cells: identification of both GHF-1/Pit-1-dependent and -independent mechanisms

Expression of the rat PRL (rPRL) gene is highly restricted to pituitary lactotroph cells and is induced by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. Current data indicate that this PKA effect requires at least one of the redundant pituitary-specific elements of the proximal rPRL promoter, suggesting the involvement of the pituitary-specific transcription factor, GHF-1/Pit-1. To directly determine whether GHF-1 is necessary and sufficient to mediate the PKA activation of the rPRL promoter, we established a cotransfection reconstitution assay whereby the activity of an intact and site-specific mutants of the (-425 to +73) rPRL promoter-luciferase reporter gene was reconstituted by cotransfecting expression vectors encoding for either the PKA beta catalytic subunit, GHF-1, or both, into HeLa nonpituitary cells. Cotransfection of PKA beta alone significantly stimulated rPRL promoter activity in HeLa cells in a GHF-1-independent manner, and this PKA beta effect was mapped to the most proximal GHF-1 site [footprint (FP) I; -67/-36]. Site-specific alterations of either FP II (-130/-120), or of the basal transcription element (BTE; -112/-80), did not significantly affect the PKA beta response. As expected, the transactivation effect of cotransfected GHF-1 mapped to the GHF-1/Pit-1 binding sites, FP I and/or FP III, of the rPRL promoter. Finally, cotransfection of PKA beta and GHF-1 resulted in a marked synergistic response of the rPRL promoter, and this response also localized to the FP I site. These data confirm not only that GHF-1/Pit-1 and the FP I site are involved in mediating the PKA response, but also imply that a distinct and possibly ubiquitous factor is involved by binding to FP I and functionally interacting with GHF-1 to modulate PKA beta regulation of the rPRL promoter.

Relative exposure of children to lead from dust and drinking water

The Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Health Authority, in the North West of England, could be described as a "low-level lead exposure area." Primary sources of lead exposure are atmospheric fallout (both indoors and outdoors) and potable water consumption. Deciduous teeth were collected from children living in this area as were water samples and outdoor dust samples. Both total lead concentrations and 206Pb:207Pb ratios were determined for a defined subset of teeth. Significant differences in the total lead concentrations were found for teeth collected from children resident in different targeted areas (i.e., Blackpool, Fleetwood, and Garstang). No significant differences were found between the total lead concentrations or the 206Pb:207Pb ratios from dust and water samples in these areas. Examination of the 206Pb:207Pb ratios for dust, water, and teeth obtained from each area separately revealed differing patterns of exposure to lead. Determination of 206Pb:207Pb ratios, in addition to total lead concentrations, enabled the differences in sources of exposure to be identified in these communities. The authors conclude that isotopic analyses are an important aspect of community survey work, and these analyses can be helpful in accurately targeting intervention strategies aimed at reducing exposure to lead.

Symptomatology of children in contact with sea water contaminated with sewage

STUDY OBJECTIVE

The aim was to determine whether or not there was a measurable risk of ill health associated with contact with sea water for children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This was a prospective survey carried out on Blackpool beach. Parents of children between the ages of 6 and 11 years were interviewed over a seven week period during July, August, and September, 1990. Respondents were followed up 10-14 d after the original interview by either telephone or post. Water samples were collected on each day of the survey.

PARTICIPANTS

939 interviews with parents or guardians were completed on the beach; 857 (91.9%) of these persons agreed to a follow up interview. The results of this study are based on 703 cases of matched data, of good quality, collected for each child on the beach and during a follow up interview.

MAIN RESULTS

Non-compliance with the European Community microbiological imperative standards for recreational waters at Blackpool Tower and South Pier sampling sites, respectively, ranged between: 6% and 7% for total coliforms; 13% and 25% for faecal coliforms; 69% and 80% for faecal streptococci (Guide standard); 50% and 67% for salmonellae and 73% and 88% for enteroviruses. There was a significant overall increase in the mean number of symptoms reported for each child (p < 0.001). However, the prevalence of certain symptoms increased significantly only in those children who had been in contact with the water on the day of the beach interview. These symptoms included vomiting (p < 0.0009), diarrhoea (p < 0.0001), itchy skin (p < 0.0009), fever (p < 0.0013), lack of energy (p < 0.0007), and loss of appetite (p < 0.0227). None of the other variables investigated could account for the significant increase in the reported symptom experience of those children in contact with sea water contaminated with sewage.

CONCLUSIONS

Children who come into contact with contaminated sea water are likely to develop symptoms as a result.

Protein factors in thyrotropic tumor nuclear extracts bind to a region of the mouse thyrotropin beta-subunit promoter essential for expression in thyrotropes

The beta-subunit gene of TSH is specifically expressed in thyrotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland. To define the particular TSH beta-subunit gene sequences responsible for tissue-specific expression, TSH beta promoter fragments were assessed for promoter activity by gene transfer into TSH-expressing thyrotropic tumor cells (TtT-97). Previous studies have shown that the murine TSH beta gene promoter was more efficiently used in TtT-97 cells compared to other pituitary-derived cells or nonpituitary fibroblasts and that a 191-basepair DNA sequence of the 5' flanking region between -271 and -80 was sufficient for maximal promoter activity in thyrotropes. Further deletional analysis within this region has localized the area responsible for expression in thyrotropes to a 37-basepair region between -117 and -80 up-stream of the major transcriptional initiation site. DNase-I protection assays demonstrated that this functionally defined 5' flanking area, in addition to the adjacent sequences immediately up-stream and down-stream, interacts with protein factors present in nuclear extracts from TtT-97 tumor cells. When fused to a heterologous promoter, fragments derived from the region between -271 and -80 exhibited cell-specific activity, although this was not conferred solely by the TSH beta promoter fragment from -117 to -80. Heterologous promoter activity was further stimulated when fragments containing the areas from -271 or -201 to -77 were used, suggesting combinatorial cis interactions between these regions of the TSH beta promoter. DNase-I protection studies suggest that there are multiple protein-binding domains in the mouse TSH beta 5' flanking sequence. Only the more proximal domains, which encompass important promoter elements, appear to be required for efficient expression in thyrotropes, whereas other more up-stream sites of protein interaction may be involved in regulatory aspects of TSH beta gene expression.

Activation of the murine thyrotropin beta-subunit promoter by GH4 rat pituitary cell-free extracts

Expression of the TSH beta subunit gene is restricted to the thyrotroph cells of the anterior pituitary. Previously we identified several AT-rich DNA elements within the murine (m) TSH beta 5'-flanking region, denoted as D1 (-253 to -227), P4 (-142 to -131), P3 (-126 to -112), P2 (-106 to -98), and P1 (-76 to -68) which bind thyrotroph-specific factor(s). These sites are related to, but distinct from GHF-1 and LSF-1 binding sites, which restrict GH and PRL gene expression to pituitary somatotrophs and lactotrophs, respectively. To determine whether different pituitary cell types contain related factors capable of activating the mTSH beta promoter, cell-free transcription studies were performed using extracts from GH4 rat pituitary somatomammotroph cells. AI-through the endogenous mTSH beta gene is not expressed in GH4 cells, in vitro transcription of the mTSH beta promoter, normalized to the Rous sarcoma virus internal control, revealed faithful transcription initiation from the authentic mTSH beta CAP sites in GH4 but not in HeLa cell extracts. Cell-free transcription analysis of mTSH beta 5'-deletion mutants revealed consistent promoter activity with deletion to position -46 but complete loss of activity when deleted to position -9. To better define the specific factors in pituitary somatomammotrophs which interact with and activate the mTSH beta promoter, DNase I protection and gel-shift studies were performed using extracts from GC rat pituitary somatomammotroph cells and DNA affinity-purified lactotroph-specific transcription factor, LSF-1, required for rat PRL promoter activity, and purified from GC cells. These cells contain a factor(s) which binds to thyrotroph-specific elements of the mTSH beta promoter. These studies also show that LSF-1 binds the D1 and proximal thyrotroph-specific elements of the mTSH beta promoter and is capable of reconstituting the trans-activation of the mTSH beta promoter in HeLa nonpituitary cell extracts in vitro. Conversely, nuclear factors present in TtT-97 murine thyrotrophs bind the proximal lactotroph-specific elements on the rPRL promoter. This in vitro transcription assay provides a means to biochemically dissect the trans-activation of the mTSH beta promoter and to determine the functional overlap of distinct pituitary cell-specific factors in regulating GH, PRL, and TSH beta gene expression.

Identification of thyrotroph-specific factors and cis-acting sequences of the murine thyrotropin beta subunit gene

Pituitary thyrotroph cells specialize in the synthesis of TSH, and thus represent a model to study cell-specific gene expression. We have used the murine TSH beta (mTSH beta) gene promoter and TSH-producing and nonproducing transplantable tumors derived from murine thyrotroph cells, referred to as TtT-97 and MGH 101A, respectively, to identify nuclear factors which selectively interact with the mTSH beta gene. DNase I protection analyses demonstrate that factors present in TtT-97 nuclear extracts bind with high affinity to five separate sites in the TSH beta promoter region, denoted as distal D1 (-253 to -227) and proximal, P1 (-76 to -68), P2 (-106 to -98), P3 (-126 to -112), and P4 (-142 to -131) footprints. By contrast, non-TSH beta expressing thyrotroph cell nuclear extracts and L-cell nonpituitary cell extracts did not appear to footprint the D1 site; whereas the nonpituitary nuclear extracts revealed minimal DNase I protection in the P1-P4 regions. These data show that the distal D1 site is thyrotroph specific and contains a 6 base pair direct repeat sequence (5'-AGATAT-3'). Factor occupancy of the D1 site is protein dependent, occurs rapidly (less than 15 sec), is destabilized by 170 mM KCl, and results in an associated DNase I hypersensitive region. A double-stranded oligonucleotide spanning the D1 footprint competes only the distal factor binding region. Transfection of plasmid constructs containing progressive 5'-deletions of the mTSH beta promoter linked to the reporter gene luciferase into primary TtT-97 cells demonstrate a marked decrease in activity between the regions -270 and -79, which contains the D1 region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)