Unilateral adrenalectomy was used to induce compensatory growth in the contralateral adrenal gland of transgenic mice bearing a steroid 21-hydroxylase promoter/beta-galactosidase reporter (21-OHase/beta-gal) transgene, in which 6.4 kb of 5'-flanking sequence of the mouse steroid 21-OHase A gene are linked to a LacZ reporter gene. 48 hours following removal of the right adrenal gland, the left gland of transgene-positive mice showed a 4.5 fold increase in specific activity of the beta-gal reporter, compared to the right gland, while left glands from sham-operated transgene-positive and unilateral adrenalectomized transgene-negative mice showed no such increase. The increased specific transgene reporter activity, relative to total adrenal gland protein, must result from up-regulation of transgene expression, rather than from the compensatory increase in adrenocortical mass. This suggests that elements regulating trophic hormone-mediated 21-OHase gene expression in vivo are located within 6.4 kb of the 21-OHase gene transcription start site.

Adrenalectomy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in diabetic intravenous drug users.

OBJECTIVE: --To evaluate the association between diabetes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence in a population of intravenous (IV) drug users. DESIGN: --Cross-sectional survey in a cohort of IV drug users. SETTING: --Community-based study clinic. SUBJECTS: --The study included 2921 individuals with a history of IV drug use in the past 10 years; over 90% had injected drugs in the past year and 77% in the past month; only 15% were receiving drug treatment. OUTCOME MEASURES: --The HIV seroprevalence among IV drug users with and without a history of diabetes. RESULTS: --Those IV drug users with a history of diabetes had significantly lower HIV seroprevalence (9.8%) than nondiabetic IV drug users (24.3%; P = .03). Despite similar duration and intensity of drug use and sexual practices, diabetic IV drug users tended not to share injection paraphernalia and were less likely to attend shooting galleries than nondiabetic IV drug users. CONCLUSION: --Our data suggest that the apparent protective effect of diabetes against HIV infection in IV drug users is most likely due to their safer injection practices afforded by their ready access to sterile injection equipment.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Unrealistic expectations?

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Humans↗