Thirty healthy male volunteers participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate whether mild anterograde memory impairment is found after lorazepam has been taken for 5 days. The study compares the amnestic properties of lorazepam and alprazolam on immediate and delayed recall of word lists under the same conditions. Results suggest that individuals who take benzodiazepines will perform less well on an anterograde memory delayed recall task completed after dosing on the sixth day of treatment, but no similar difference will be found in performance on a similar task completed just before dosing on the sixth day. In addition, results suggest there is no significant difference between alprazolam and lorazepam on anterograde memory task effect. The chronic use of lorazepam 1 mg and alprazolam 0.5 mg had no effect on immediate recall of word lists, on the long-term recall of a word list already committed to memory, or on hand-eye coordination as measured in a standard way.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

The normal and abnormal growth plate.

Skeletal growth is a dynamic process. A knowledge of the structure and function of the normal growth plate is essential in order to understand the pathophysiology of abnormal skeletal growth in various diseases. In this well-illustrated article, the authors provide a radiographic classification of abnormal growth plates and discuss mechanisms that lead to growth plate abnormalities.

Bone Diseases↗

PubMed1987

Rheumatoid and seronegative arthropathies of the foot.

The foot is often involved in rheumatoid arthritis and its seronegative variants. This article presents an overview of the subject and highlights the various distinguishing features of these arthritic disorders in the foot.

Arthritis, Reactive↗

PubMed1986

Alkylacetylglycerophosphocholine stimulates Na+-Ca2+ exchange, protein phosphorylation and polyphosphoinositide turnover in rat ileal plasmalemmal vesicles.

The novel ether phospholipid, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (AGEPC), isometrically contracted helically cut rat ileal smooth muscle strips in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Utilizing an enriched plasma membrane vesicular preparation from rat ileal longitudinal smooth muscle, AGEPC specifically stimulated Na+-Ca2+ exchange in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Concomitant with the AGEPC stimulation of Na+-dependent Ca2+ influx in plasma membrane vesicles is an enhanced turnover of the polyphosphoinositides, an elevated concentration of phosphatidic acid and also an enhanced phosphorylation of an Mr 40,000 plasmalemmal protein. The mechanisms by which AGEPC may regulate ileal plasmalemmal Ca2+ flux and contractility are considered.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1986

Possibility of the simultaneous occurrence of potential minima along two crystallographic directions in an octahedral potential.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1986

Effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine-mediated vasoconstriction and glycogenolysis in the perfused rat liver.

The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol inhibited the glycogenolytic response of platelet-activating factor (AGEPC, 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) in perfused livers derived from fed rats. AGEPC-stimulated hepatic vasoconstriction, measured by increases in portal vein pressure, also was inhibited by prior isoproterenol infusion. Isoproterenol-mediated inhibition of these hepatic responses to AGEPC was not apparent when isoproterenol (10 microM) was coinfused with the beta-receptor antagonist propranolol (75 microM) or when isoproterenol was replaced with the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (10 microM). alpha-Agonist-induced glycogenolysis and vasoconstriction in the perfused liver was unaffected by isoproterenol infusion. Glucagon (2.3 nM) had no effect on the glycogenolytic or vasoconstrictive responses of the liver to AGEPC despite the fact that glucagon increased hepatic cAMP levels to a far greater extent than isoproterenol. Additionally, inhibition of the hepatic responses to AGEPC by isoproterenol occurred in perfused livers from mature rats (i.e. greater than 300 g) in which liver parenchymal cells lack functional beta-adrenergic receptors. The data presented in this study illustrate a specific inhibition of AGEPC-induced hepatic glycogenolysis and vasoconstriction by beta-adrenergic stimulation of the perfused liver. This inhibition appears to be mediated by interaction of isoproterenol with nonparenchymal cells within the liver. These findings are consistent with the concept that AGEPC stimulates hepatic glycogenolysis by an indirect mechanism involving hepatic vasoconstriction.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

The amino acid sequence of the NH2-terminal portion of rat and human vitamin D binding protein: evidence for a high degree of homology between rat and human vitamin D binding protein.

We determined the amino terminal sequence of rat and human vitamin D binding protein (VDBP). The sequences of the two proteins are: Rat VDBP: LeuGluArgGlyArgAspTyrGluLysAspLysValCysGlnGluLeuSerThrLeuGlyLys Human VDBP: LeuGluArgGlyArgAspTyrGluLysAsnLysValCysLysGluPheSerHisLeuGlyLys AspAspPhe GluAspPhe There are 19 matches out of a total of 24 residues sequenced giving a percent match/length of 79.2%. Differences in the composition of the two proteins at residue 10, 14, 16, and 22 can be accounted for by single base changes in the the gene for the proteins. The difference (Thr----His) at residue 18 requires a change in two bases in the respective genes. We conclude that the sequence of the amino terminus of rat and human VDBP is similar with a high degree of homology between the two proteins. Vitamin D sterols, such as 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and 25,26-dihydroxyvitamin D3, are bound with high affinity by a plasma alpha-globulin - VDBP, also known as group-specific component (Gc). Other vitamin D sterols, such as 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and vitamin D3 itself, are bound to this protein with a lesser affinity. VDBP also binds actin with high affinity. Its role in vitamin D physiology is unclear, although it may play a role in the bioavailability of different D sterols. Svasti et al. have shown that human group specific component (Gc) exists as different isoforms that have rapid or slow mobility on gel electrophoresis. The different human Gc isoforms have similar NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal amino acid sequences. The difference in the mobility of the various isoforms is due to post-translational modification of the protein by various carbohydrate residues; treatment of the protein with neuraminidase results in the conversion of the different isoforms to a single isoform. The amino acid sequence of the amino terminus of rat VDBP is not known. Recently, Cooke reported preliminary data from the analysis of cDNA clones showing that rat and human VDBP are partially homologous and that rat and human VDBP exhibit homology with rat and human albumin and alpha-fetoprotein. The NH2-terminal sequence of the rat VDBP, however, has not been reported. In order to learn more about the nature of the NH2-terminal sequence of human and rat VDBP, we isolated these proteins in relatively pure form and determined the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of both of them.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1986

Impact of maternal postnatal depression on cognitive development of young children.

Ninety four women and their first born children took part in a longitudinal study of maternal mental health during pregnancy and after delivery. The children's cognitive functioning was assessed at age 4 using the McCarthy scales, without knowledge of the mothers' psychiatric history or current health. As expected girls performed slightly better than boys and children from middle class and professional families did better than children from working class homes, as did children whose mothers had achieved at least one A level at school. Significant intellectual deficits were found in the children whose mothers had suffered with depression, but only when this depression occurred in the first year of the child's life. Marital conflict and a history of paternal psychiatric problems were independently linked with lower cognitive test scores; together with a working class home background these were the only factors that contributed to the deleterious effect of maternal postnatal depression.

Child Development↗

PubMed1986

A simplified ELISA for anti-receptor antibodies in myasthenia gravis.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) from triton extracts of muscle adsorbed specifically and optimally to microtitration plates at pH 7.4 rather than at pH 9.6. An ELISA for anti-receptor antibodies in myasthenia gravis based on direct adsorption of the receptor at pH 7.4 is described (direct assay). The direct assay compares very well in sensitivity and specificity with an indirect assay, in which the receptor was attached through alpha-bungarotoxin adsorbed on the solid phase (correlation coefficient 0.94).

Absorption↗