Influence of dietary fats and an oral contraceptive on plasma lipids, high density lipoproteins, gallstones, and atherosclerosis in african green monkeys.

Twenty-nine African green monkeys were fed diets for 22 months containing 0.79 mg cholesterol/kcal and 40% of calories as either safflower oil or butter with or without the addition of an estrogen- and progestin-containing oral contraceptive. Plasma cholesterol concentrations ranged from 199 to 250 mg/dl. Animals consuming the safflower oil diet had plasma cholesterol concentrations that averaged 61 mg/dl lower than those consuming butter. At least 72% of this lowering was due to a reduction in low density lipoproteins. Triglyceride concentrations were also slightly lower in animals consuming the safflower oil diet. The oral contraceptive lowered total plasma cholesterol concentrations in both diet groups by an average of 41 mg/dl with 54% of this lowering (22 mg/dl) due to a reduction in high density lipoprotein cholesterol. This effect occurred only during the 3 weeks while the contraceptive was being administered and was not apparent 1 week after stopping the drug. Animals consuming safflower oil had bile that was more lithogenic and had more gallstones than did those consuming butter. Addition of the oral contraceptive caused a slight increase in bile lithogenicity, but this increase was not statistically significant. There was no significant interaction between the oral contraceptive and either of the diets to exacerbate cholelithiasis. At the plasma cholesterol concentrations achieved only minimal amounts of atherosclerosis developed and there were no indications of differences due to diet or oral contraceptive in the extent of atherosclerosis.

Inversion (X)(p11.4q22) associated with Norrie disease in a four generation family.

We report on a 4-generation family in which Norrie disease occurs together with a pericentric inversion of the X chromosome in all affected males and carrier females. The breakpoint in the short arm of the X chromosome appears to be at the purported location of the Norrie disease gene. This is the second report of an association between Norrie disease and a chromosome aberration involving Xp11, and the first report of a specific gene disruption, thus physical gene location, due to a pericentric chromosome inversion.

Nuclear multifragmentation, percolation, and the fisher droplet model: common features of reducibility and thermal scaling

It is shown that the Fisher droplet model, percolation, and nuclear multifragmentation share the common features of reducibility (stochasticity in multiplicity distributions) and thermal scaling (one-fragment production probabilities are Boltzmann factors). Barriers obtained, for cluster production on percolation lattices, from the Boltzmann factors show a power-law dependence on cluster size with an exponent of 0.42+/-0.02. The EOS Collaboration Au multifragmentation data yield barriers with a power-law exponent of 0.68+/-0.03. Values of the surface energy coefficient of a low density nuclear system are also extracted.

Surfactant associated protein (SAP-35) in amniotic fluid from diabetic and nondiabetic pregnancies.

We have recently shown that, with the current management of insulin-dependent diabetes during pregnancy, infants of diabetic mothers are at no greater risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) than an appropriately matched control population. A previous study suggested a selective inhibition of surfactant associated protein of 35,000 daltons (SAP-35) in the amniotic fluid of diabetic pregnancies. In order to determine whether a selective inhibition of SAP-35 occurs in well controlled, insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancies, we compared SAP-35 concentration and lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratios in amniotic fluid from 30 well controlled, insulin-dependent women with 30 nondiabetic pregnant women pair-matched for gestational age, race, and indication for amniocentesis. Gestational ages ranged from 30-43 weeks, with a mean of 36.5 +/- 2.5 weeks, in both groups. Surfactant associated protein-35 was measured by an enzyme-linked capture immunoassay specific for SAP-35 and its oligomers. Mean +/- SEM SAP-35 was 3.7 +/- 0.4 micrograms/mL (N = 30) in the diabetic group, not significantly different from 5.0 +/- 1.1 micrograms/mL (N = 30) in the control group (P greater than .05). Mean L/S ratios were also not different: 2.4 +/- 0.1 (diabetic) compared with 2.3 +/- 0.1 (control); P greater than .05. The rate of RDS was similar in both groups. We conclude that in well controlled diabetic pregnancies, fetal lung maturation, as assessed by the L/S ratio, SAP-35 concentration, and outcome, is not adversely affected.

The delivery room resuscitation of the hydropic neonate.

Hydrops fetalis is a relatively rare disorder that will be encountered occasionally in all obstetric centers. The prognosis for infants with hydrops fetalis is poor, with mortality reported in the range of 50% to 98%. The effectiveness of delivery room resuscitation and the ability to achieve early adequate gas exchange in affected infants may be related to survival. Successful resuscitation requires an understanding of transitional neonatal physiology and the potential impact of hydrops fetalis, an experienced and well-prepared resuscitation team, meticulous attention to technical aspects of resuscitation, and careful assessment and monitoring of the infant during resuscitation.

Comparative testing for weak expression of D antigen: manual tube testing vs. a semiautomated IgG gel system.

Donor RBCs nonreactive in initial tests for D must be tested further for evidence of weak expression of D antigen. Performing this test in test tubes is labor intensive and prone to inconsistencies in readings (relative strength of agglutination) and interpretation (positive versus negative). These inconsistencies can lead to repeat testing, additional documentation, and delay in releasing units. We evaluated use of the Tecan MEGAFlex-ID pipettor to perform this test in anti-IgG gel cards. Results with this semi-automated gel test were compared with results obtained with 37 D- and 99 weak D samples, as determined by previous testing with a manual IAT tube test. Hands-on time was determined for both methods and both methods were evaluated for inconsistency, or nonagreement, between the interpretation of the current weak D test and the results on record for any prior donations. There were no discordant results obtained, with the majority of weak D samples giving stronger reactions with the gel test. The semiautomated gel test required less hands-on time, with an average savings of more than 70 seconds per test. There were no inconsistencies with the gel method, whereas manual tube testing was found to have an inconsistency rate of 0.035 percent of total samples tested. Semiautomated IgG gel is now used for all weak D testing, with a labor savings of more than 10 hours per week. Thus far, more than 70,000 donors have been tested, with no inconsistencies reported.

Postoperative factors contributing to prolonged length of stay in cardiac surgery patients.

In order to provide high quality, cost effective care, nurses need to identify and address factors that prolong the length of stay in various patient populations. The authors identify the postoperative factors contributing to prolonged length of stay in a cardiac surgery patient population and recommend collaborative management strategies to address these factors.

Production of neutrons from interactions of GCR-like particles.

In order to help assess the risk to astronauts due to the long-term exposure to the natural radiation environment in space, an understanding of how the primary radiation field is changed when passing through shielding and tissue materials must be obtained. One important aspect of the change in the primary radiation field after passing through shielding materials is the production of secondary particles from the breakup of the primary. Neutrons are an important component of the secondary particle field due to their relatively high biological weighting factors, and due to their relative abundance, especially behind thick shielding scenarios. Because of the complexity of the problem, the estimation of the risk from exposure to the secondary neutron field must be handled using calculational techniques. However, those calculations will need an extensive set of neutron cross section and thicktarget neutron yield data in order to make an accurate assessment of the risk. In this paper we briefly survey the existing neutron-production data sets that are applicable to the space radiation transport problem, and we point out how neutron production from protons is different than neutron production from heavy ions. We also make comparisons of one the heavy-ion data sets with Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (BUU) calculations.

Complement components C3, C4, and Bf in six nonhuman primate species.

The extent of cross reactivity between antisera to human complement proteins [the third (C3) and fourth (C4) components and factor B (Bf)] and these proteins in the sera of six species of nonhuman primates was examined. Strong cross reactivity was found with these antisera and the specific complement proteins from rhesus monkeys, stumptailed macaques, cynomolgus macaques, patas monkeys, African green monkeys, and squirrel monkeys. Although molecular differences were apparent as indicated by differences in antigenic determinants and electrophoretic mobility, the antisera developed against human C3, C4, and Bf could be used to identify and to characterize these proteins in the nonhuman primate species examined.

Hyaline membrane disease and surfactant protein, SAP-35, in diabetes in pregnancy.

Surfactant-associated protein of Mr 28,000 to 35,000 (SAP-35) is an abundant glycoprotein present in the alveolus of the lung, which imparts both structural organization to surfactant phospholipids and provides regulatory information controlling surfactant phospholipid secretion and metabolism. SAP-35 expression is enhanced by 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate and epidermal growth factor during perinatal differentiation of type II epithelial cells. Its synthesis and RNA are also controlled by a variety of inhibitory factors, which include transforming growth factor and insulin. Glucocorticoids both enhance and inhibit SAP-35 expression in fetal lung explants. There is evidence that fetal hyperinsulinemia or hyperglycemia, or both, inhibit the morphologic differentiation of the type II epithelial cell in association with decreased phospholipid surfactant synthesis or secretion. Insulin is also a potent inhibitor of SAP-35 expression in fetal lung tissue, and decreased SAP-35 was previously noted in amniotic fluid of patients with diabetes during pregnancy. Recent progress in the management of diabetes in pregnancy, characterized by more rigorous metabolic control, has decreased the risk of hyaline membrane disease for the infant of the diabetic mother and is associated with normal levels of SAP-35 in amniotic fluid. Hyaline membrane disease remains a major cause of morbidity in infants of diabetic mothers but may also reflect a higher incidence of premature delivery, cesarean section, and asphyxia at delivery as well as inhibition of pulmonary surfactant phospholipid synthesis or expression of the surfactant protein SAP-35.

A critical analysis of paternity determination using HLA and five erythrocyte antigen systems.

Five hundred and thirty-seven cases of disputed paternity in North Carolina were tested for five erythrocyte polymorphisms, HLA antigens, or both. The data were analyzed to evaluate the ability of the tests to exclude the alleged father or to include the alleged father as the biological father. Incompatibility between the phenotypes of the alleged father, and those of the mother and child, were found in 40.6% of black males and 30.3% of white males (P less than 0.005). The rates of exclusion appeared to vary between countries in which the cases originated, although the significance of the differences could not be determined because of the small sample size. Using a Bayesian approach and 0.5 as the prior probability of paternity, we calculated the posterior probability of paternity for HLA and five erythrocyte systems combined as well as for HLA and erythrocyte systems separately. The probability of paternity values based on the combined HLA and RBC tests exceeded 95% in 299 of the 345 nonexcluded cases as compared to only 218 cases based on HLA tests alone and 36 cases based on erythrocyte tests alone. We conclude that in approximately 10% of paternity cases in the population served by this laboratory, the information obtained is inconclusive. To resolve these cases, additional polymorphisms and/or a panel of genetic tests systems which can provide greater than 95% probability of exclusion is required.

Pregnancy effects on nonhuman primate high density lipoprotein.

The concentration of cholesterol in high density lipoproteins (HDL) has been showed to be dramatically decreased during pregnancy in Macaca nemestrina. HDL were isolated from females of this species at various stages of pregnancy to determine if pregnancy also alters their composition and size. The chemical compositions of the HDL were determined nad found different in pregnant animals; the mass ratio of surface (coat) to center (core) constituents was higher, suggesting that the average size of HDL decreased during pregnancy. When measured chromatographically, the average size of HDL was found to decrease during pregnancy. This change in HDL size was accompanied by a minor alteration in apolipoprotein distribution.

Ontogeny of surfactant proteins A and B in human amniotic fluid as indices of fetal lung maturity.

Surfactant proteins A and B (SP-A and SP-B) were measured in human amniotic fluid by ELISA and correlated with lecithin to sphingomyelin ratio (L/S), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and perinatal outcome. Amniotic fluid SP-A, SP-B, and L/S increased with advancing gestation. SP-A was detected at 19 wk gestation and increased dramatically in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. SP-B was first detectable at 31 wk gestation and increased significantly to term. SP-A was a more specific predictor of nonrespiratory distress syndrome (RDS) than L/S or SP-B; however, the sensitivity of SP-A in predicting RDS was less than L/S less than 2.0 (26.3 versus 82.3%, respectively). In 209 pregnancies assessed within 48 h of delivery, the sensitivity of SP-B in predicting RDS (nondetectable SP-B) was comparable to the L/S, however, SP-B = 0 was frequently observed in mature infants, limiting its specificity for prediction of RDS. The greatest sensitivity and specificity were achieved with the measurement of L/S less than 2.0 and negative PG, which correctly predicted 100% of the infants with RDS and 94% of those who did not develop the disorder. Measurement of SP-A or SP-B did not improve the prediction of RDS. SP-A, SP-B, and L/S were not affected by infant sex, Apgar score, rupture of membranes, size for gestational age, maternal diabetes, hypertension, or exposure to medications. SP-A, SP-B, and L/S were significantly elevated in amniotic fluid from black mothers. SP-A was significantly elevated in amniotic fluid from mothers who smoked during pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)