The insulin receptor is not the site for the stimulatory effect of copper on glucose incorporation into total lipids by adipose tissue; prewashing of adipose tissue of rats fed a stock diet in an insulin-free medium increases the glucose incorporation into total lipids in the presence of 0.1 unit insulin from 220 above control to 430% in the nondiabetic and from 154 to 230% in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. In contrast, glucose incorporation in the presence of CuCl2 X 2H2O is unaffected by prewashing, being the same in the prewashed as in the unwashed adipose tissue. On the other hand, mild trypsin digestion of adipocytes decreases the glucose incorporation in the presence of 28.5 mU insulin, from 201 to 126% - whereas the effect of copper on glucose incorporation is the same in the trypsin-treated or untreated adipocyte. In order to obtain maximal copper effect the adipocyte has to be preconditioned by insulin; preincubation of diabetic adipose tissue first for one hour with 0.1 unit insulin, and another hour with 100 micrograms CuCl2 X 2H2O added to the medium, results in greater glucose incorporation (230% above control) than when incubated alone with either CuCl2 X 2H2O (125%) or insulin (154%) for two hours. In addition to its previously noted effect on the in vivo insulin release, copper increased the number of the insulin receptor sites in adipocytes.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Filtration characteristics of the dual-mode (Johnson and Johnson) micropore blood transfusion filter.

Stored human whole blood and red blood cells of varying age were passed through dual mode microscope blood transfusion filters. Passage through the filters resulted in markedly decreased screen filtration pressure (SFP) of the blood and increased filter weights. Numerous microaggregates were removed and SFP returned to normal. Filtration resulted in reduced platelet and white cell counts but other blood components were not adversely affected. On the basis of this research, we conclude that this micropore blood transfusion filter is effective in removing microaggregates from stored whole blood and red blood cells. It has a high capacity and rapid flow rate and is reliable during pressure transfusion.

Blood Transfusion↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Experimental pulmonary carcinogenesis with asbestos.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Essential factors for a healthy RN educational mobility program.

There is little research concerning which factors registered nurse (RN) students perceive as constituting a healthy educational mobility program. Because of this, a study was undertaken to identify the factors that RN students perceive as contributing to a healthy educational mobility RN/BSN/MSN program. Findings indicated that the RN students value flexibility, ease in planning, and convenience of course offerings as most important to their program selection. Registered nurse students emphasized the critical factors of faculty sensitivity to students' diverse opinions, faculty respect for students, and faculty expertise as important. These findings highlight the importance of sensitizing faculty members and nurse administrators to the needs of RN students.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The uses of culture in the making of AIDS neurosis in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: AIDS Neurosis is an illness phenomenon in which the person suffering is convinced that he or she is HIV positive, despite negative test results, and a range of nonspecific physical symptoms and phobic and neurotic tendencies, are manifested. To explore the relationship between culture and mental illness, this study examines a) the emergence of AIDS Neurosis as a socially recognized clinical entity in contemporary Japan, and b) the claims by activists, psychiatrists, health officials, and others that AIDS Neurosis is a culturally unique illness phenomenon specific to Japan. METHODS: The data was collected during 12 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Japan, supplemented by readings in popular and clinical literature. RESULTS: The cultural explanations proferred for AIDS Neurosis clearly inform the meanings and practices surrounding this phenomenon, but such cultural stereotypes are too simplistic and are not sufficient for understanding the development of AIDS Neurosis nor the complex attitudes and practices relating to AIDS in Japan. CONCLUSIONS: This study argues for a more critical perspective on culture, which attends to the local contests and practices involved in making an illness category such as AIDS Neurosis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

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Immunosuppressive therapy in the treatment of immune-mediated disease.

Immune-mediated diseases represent some of the most frustrating types of disorders that are diagnosed and treated in veterinary medicine. Drug-induced immunosuppression is an attempt to control the aberrant immune response against self antigens but the immunosuppression can result in sepsis or other unacceptable adverse effects. If the pathophysiology of immune-mediated and autoimmune disease is considered, the immune response can be divided into several components and attempts can be made to selectively deal with each component separately. The components of the immune response that can be manipulated by therapy include antibodies, effector cells, the mononuclear phagocytic system, and the peripheral manifestations of disease. This article reviews the therapy of immune-mediated and autoimmune diseases based on a pathophysiologic approach and discusses conventional as well as current therapies in the treatment of these devastating diseases.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enhanced macrophage uptake of low density lipoprotein after self-aggregation.

Incubation of mouse peritoneal macrophages with native human low density lipoprotein (LDL) did not cause any significant storage of intracellular cholesteryl esters. However, when the LDL was subjected to brief (30-second) vortexing, it formed self-aggregates that were rapidly ingested and degraded by macrophages, converting them to cholesteryl ester-rich foam cells. Such aggregates were as potent as acetyl-LDL in stimulating cholesterol esterification in the macrophages. The degradation of LDL aggregates was strongly inhibited by cytochalasin B (85%), whereas degradation of native LDL was only weekly inhibited (23%), suggesting that uptake occurred by phagocytosis rather than pinocytosis. Several lines of evidence suggest that the phagocytic uptake depends, in part, upon the LDL receptor and not the acetyl-LDL receptor: 1) soluble, native LDL and beta-VLDL (but not acetyl-LDL) competed for uptake and degradation of LDL aggregates; 2) reductive methylation of LDL before vortexing reduced the effect of the aggregates on degradation and cholesterol esterification; 3) heparin, which inhibits binding of native LDL to its receptor, reduced the degradation of LDL aggregates. These studies show that self-aggregation of LDL markedly enhances its uptake by macrophages, probably by phagocytosis and at least, in part, via the LDL receptor. Aggregates of LDL in the artery wall--either self-aggregates or mixed aggregates including matrix components--may induce foam cell formation and favor the formation of the fatty streak.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor effects on gluconeogenesis in the isolated perfused rat liver.

Alterations in metabolism in the tumor-bearing host can be explained by: 1) alterations of metabolic processes in the tumor itself, and/or 2) tumor effects on host metabolism. Tumor effects on host liver metabolism were studied using an isolated perfused rat liver preparation. The livers of fasted female Lewis Wistar rats with and without transplanted subcutaneous mammary tumors were perfused for 1 hr with medium containing 5 mM glucose and physiological levels of amino acids. The rate of gluconeogenesis, as measured by conversion of 14C-lactate to 14C-glucose, showed a significant increase in the rate of glucose production from lactate in tumor-bearing rats (2.40 vs 2.00 mumol/min/100 gm). Hepatic glycogen and 14C-glycogen content were not significantly different between the two groups. In order to evaluate whether this tumor model exhibits characteristic changes in metabolism previously reported in other animal tumor models, serum lactate, triglyceride, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen were measured in non-perfused animals. The serum concentration of lactate and triglycerides were significantly higher in tumor-bearing rats (0.9 mM vs 2.7 mM lactate; 244 mg % vs 365.5 mg % triglycerides). Serum glucose and blood urea nitrogen were not significantly different in the two groups. An effect of tumor on host energy metabolism and serum metabolite levels is demonstrated. A method for the study of host-tumor metabolic interactions is described.

Animals↗