Identification of a novel HLA-A24-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope derived from HIV-1 Gag protein.
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Epitopes↗
Biomedical subjects
S Oka
Publications and source records attributed to S Oka.
HTHQ (1-O-hexyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone), an anti-lipid-peroxidative compound: its chemical and biochemical characterizations.
Recently, it has become apparent that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play many important roles in biological systems. For example, relationships between many diseases, such as cancer, cardiac infarction and arteriosclerosis, and ROS have been found. It is also well known that anti-oxidative agents scavenge ROS in biological systems, which in turn prevents ROS-related diseases. In our previous efforts to develop effective anti-oxidative compounds, we found that 1-O-hexyl-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone (HTHQ), which is a hydroquinone monoalkyl ether, is a potent anti-oxidative agent. Here, the scavenging activities of HTHQ against ROS, such as superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals, t-butyl peroxyl radicals and singlet oxygens, were examined by the ESR (electron spin resonance)-spin trapping method. Among ROS, HTHQ scavenged t-butyl peroxyl radicals most effectively (IC50=0.31+/-0.04 mM), showing approximately twice the activity of a well-known lipophilic anti-oxidant, D,L-alpha-tocopherol (IC50=0.67+/-0.06 mM), as measured by IC50 values defined as the 50% inhibition concentration of the generated ROS. In addition, a relatively stable ESR spectrum of free radicals due to HTHQ was observed during the reaction of HTHQ and t-butyl peroxyl radicals, indicating a direct reaction of HTHQ and t-butyl peroxyl radicals. The free radicals due to HTHQ were more stable than those derived from D,L-alpha-tocopherol under the same conditions examined. On the basis of these results, we evaluated anti-lipid-peroxidative activity of HTHQ in three systems involving micelles, liposomes and rat liver microsomes. HTHQ exhibited a similar anti-oxidative activity to that of D,L-alpha-tocopherol against lipid peroxidation in linolate micelles initiated by addition of Fe2+. On the other hand, HTHQ exhibited approximately 4.8-fold higher anti-lipid-peroxidation activity than that of D,L-alpha-tocopherol against the peroxidation in phosphatidylcholine liposomes initiated by addition of Fe2+. Furthermore, HTHQ scavenged the lipid peroxides at a rate approximately 150 times higher than that of D,L-alpha-tocopherol against Fe3+ -ADP-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes, indicating that the anti-lipid-peroxidation activity of HTHQ might be substantially elevated in biological systems in comparison with that of D,L-alpha-tocopherol. Based on these results, we suggest that HTHQ reacts directly with peroxyl radicals, such as t-butyl peroxyl radicals and peroxides of linolate micelles, liposomes and microsomes, by scavenging them to form stable free radicals. The resulting free radicals are presumed to be reduced by several reducing mechanisms in biological systems similarly to those of D,L-alpha-tocopherol, and then the lipid-peroxidation reactions will be terminated. In conclusion, HTHQ was found to be a potent anti-lipid-peroxidative compound and its antioxidation activity to be extremely elevated in biological systems, such as that of liver microsomes via the generation of stable free radicals. We propose that HTHQ is a potent anti-oxidative agent for use in future treatments for lipid-peroxide relevant diseases.
Animals↗
In situ evaluation of esterase stereoselectivity in two-dimensional electropherograms and tissue sections.
Staining with both enantiomers of an alpha-naphthyl ester plus a diazonium salt and comparing the color intensities given by the two enantiomers is a convenient method to evaluate the esterase stereoselectivity for that ester in two-dimensional electropherograms and tissue sections. Application of this method for rat liver has shown that (1) several esterases, e.g., one of pI 6.4 and Mr 118 kDa, are moderately stereoselective against alpha-naphthyl (R)-N-acetylalaninate and (R)-N-methoxycarbonylalaninate but strictly stereoselective against alpha-naphthyl (S)-N-methoxycarbonylvalinate, implying that esterase stereoselectivity may be inverted by changing the ester structure; and (2) these esterases are mainly contained in the hepatocytes around central veins.
Alanine↗
Molecular cloning and expression of glucuronyltransferase I involved in the biosynthesis of the glycosaminoglycan-protein linkage region of proteoglycans.
We isolated a cDNA encoding a novel glucuronyltransferase from human placenta cDNA with the use of the degenerate reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method. Degenerate primers were designed based upon the amino acid sequence alignment of rat glucuronyltransferase (GlcAT-P) involved in the biosynthesis of the carbohydrate epitope HNK-1 with putative proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans and Schistosoma mansoni. The new cDNA sequence revealed an open reading frame coding for a protein of 335 amino acids with a type II transmembrane protein topology. The amino acid sequence displayed 43% identity to the rat GlcAT-P, and the highest sequence identity was found in the COOH-terminal catalytic domain. The expression of a soluble recombinant form of the protein in COS-1 cells produced an active glucuronyltransferase with marked specificity for a glycoserine Galbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Xylbeta1-O-Ser. In contrast, asialoorosomucoid, which contains the Galbeta1-4GlcNAc sequence and is a good acceptor substrate for the GlcAT-P, did not serve as an acceptor. The reaction product was sensitive to beta-glucuronidase digestion and co-chromatographed with authentic GlcAbeta1-3Galbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Xylbeta1-O-Ser in high-performance liquid chromatography, suggesting that the enzyme is a beta1, 3-glucuronyltransferase. These results indicate that this new member of the glucuronyltransferase gene family is the enzyme previously described as glucuronyltransferase I that forms the glycosaminoglycan-protein linkage region, GlcAbeta1-3Galbeta1-3Galbeta1-4Xylbeta1-O-Ser, of proteoglycans.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Rapid formation of the immune complexes on solid phase in the immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassays for HIV-1 p24 antigen and antibody IgGs to HIV-1.
In order to perform the immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassays for HIV-1 p24 antigen and antibody IgGs to HIV-1 p17, reverse transcriptase and gp41 antigens as rapidly as possible, methods for rapid formation of the immune complexes on solid phase are described. HIV-1 p24 antigen was reacted with monoclonal anti-p24 Fab'-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate at a high concentration and subsequently with polystyrene beads coated successively with affinity-purified (anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl group) IgG and 2,4-dinitrophenyl-biotinyl bovine serum albumin-affinity-purified anti-p24 Fab' conjugate. Antibody IgGs to HIV-1 were reacted with polystyrene beads coated successively with affinity-purified (anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl group) IgG and 2,4-dinitrophenyl-HIV-1 antigen conjugates and subsequently with HIV-1 antigen-beta-D-galactosidase conjugates. The periods of time used for the formation of the immune complexes comprising the three components on the polystyrene beads (15-30 min) were much shorter than those used in the previous immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassays (90-300 min), and the sensitivities of the present and previous immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassays were similar. The detection limit of the HIV-1 p24 antigen by the present and previous methods were similar (3 to 10 zmol/assay).
Adult↗
Immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay for antibody IgM to HIV-1 p17 antigen.
The immune complex transfer enzyme immunoassay for antibody IgM to HIV-1 p17 antigen is described. Serum samples containing antibody IgM to HIV-1 p17 antigen were incubated simultaneously with 2,4-dinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin-recombinant p17 (rp17) conjugate and rp17-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate, and the immune complex formed comprising the three components was trapped onto colored polystyrene beads coated with affinity-purified (anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl group) IgG. Subsequently, the immune complex was transferred to white polystyrene beads coated with monoclonal mouse (antihuman IgM) IgG in the presence of excess of epsilonN-2,4-dinitrophenyl-L-lysine. The signal for antibody IgM to p17 antigen was the fluorescence intensity by fluorometric assay of beta-D-galactosidase activity bound to the white polystyrene beads. The periods of time required for the formation, trapping, and transferring of the immune complex comprising the three components were more than 4 hr, 2 hr, and 3 hr, respectively. The immunoassay developed was shown to be specific by inhibition of transferring the immune complex in the presence of excess of nonspecific IgM but not IgG. Signals for antibody IgM to p17 antigen with serum samples of HIV-1 seroconversion serum panels,--that is, with serum samples in early stages of the infection--tended to be higher than those with serum samples from HIV-1 asymptomatic carriers probably long after the infection and patients with ARC and AIDS. In contrast, signals for antibody IgG to p17 antigen with serum samples of HIV-1 seroconversion serum panels tended to be higher than signals for antibody IgM to p17 antigen but were much lower than signals for antibody IgG to p17 antigen with serum samples from HIV-1 asymptomatic carriers and patients with ARC and AIDS.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Sensitive enzyme immunoassay of antibodies to HIV-1 p17 antigen using indirectly immobilized recombinant p17 for diagnosis of HIV-1 infection.
Recombinant p17 (rp17) antigen of HIV-1 and maltose binding protein-rp17 fusion protein (MBP-rp17) were immobilized onto polystyrene beads in different ways: rp17 and MBP-rp17 were immobilized directly onto polystyrene beads by physical adsorption; biotinyl-rp17 and biotinyl-MBP-rp17 were immobilized indirectly onto streptavidin-coated polystyrene beads; and 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-MBP-rp17 was immobilized indirectly onto (anti-DNP) IgG-coated polystyrene beads. These directly and indirectly immobilized antigens were incubated with urine samples containing antibody IgG to p17 antigen and subsequently with rp17-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate or (anti-human IgG gamma-chain) Fab'-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate. Beta-D-galactosidase activity bound to the polystyrene beads was assayed by fluorometry. When rp17-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate was used, signals (fluorescence intensities for bound beta-D-galactosidase activity) were much higher with the indirectly immobilized antigens than those with the directly immobilized antigens. By experiments using (anti-human IgG gamma-chain)Fab'-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate, the binding of rp17-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate to antibodies against p17 antigen bound to directly immobilized rp17 antigen was shown to be seriously limited as compared with that to antibodies against p17 antigen bound to indirectly immobilized DNP-MBP-rp17. When rp17-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate and serum samples were used, serum interference was much less with indirectly immobilized DNP-MBP-rp17 than with directly immobilized rp17 antigen, and the sensitivity of enzyme immunoassay for antibody IgG to p17 antigen using indirectly immobilized DNP-MBP-rp17 was 1,000- to 3,000-fold higher than that of enzyme immunoassay using directly immobilized rp17 antigen and Western blotting for p17 band. This sensitive enzyme immunoassay indicated positivity in HIV-1 seroconversion serum panels as early as conventional methods for antibodies to HIV-1 and earlier than Western blotting for p17 band.
2,4-Dinitrophenol↗
[Pulmonary artery sling with tracheal stenosis--primary repair in infancy].
Between 1984 and 1996 five infants underwent surgical repair of pulmonary artery sling associated with severe congenital tracheal stenosis. All infants had symptoms of severe respiratory distress and three of them required ventilator support preoperatively ages ranged from 2 to 11 months (mean age 6 months). Complete tracheal rings were present in all patients as an associated lesion and right upper lobe tracheal bronchus in 3 patients. The length of tracheal stenosis ranged from 18 to 45 mm (median 40 mm). Three had associated intracardiac anomalies (Scimitar syndrome (1), VSD (1), double-outlet right ventricle with VSD (1), double-outlet right ventricle with pulmonary hypertension (1)). Surgical intervention was carried out through a right thoracotomy (1) or median sternotomy (4). Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used in 3 patients and extracorporeal membrane oxgenator (ECMO). In 1. All infants had reimplantation of the left pulmonary artery into the main pulmonary artery left anterior to the trachea. Four patients underwent simultaneous tracheoplasty using costal cartilage grafts and one had complete resection of obstructed trachea between the right upper lobe tracheal bronchus and carina. The length of resected trachea was about 30% of the entire length of the trachea. Three infants underwent simultaneous intracardiac repair. There was no hospital death. All were weaned from ventilatory support and extubated on 1 to 16 months (mean 4, 5 months) postoperatively. AS an additional procedure, aortopexy, removal of granulation tissue or balloon dilatation of the trachea were carried out in one patient each following tracheoplasty using cartilage grafts. There was one late death at 1 year postoperatively. Three of 4 survivors are doing well with no stridor. We adonostridor. We adovocate 1) early aggressive primary repair of pulmonary artery sling with tracheal stenosis, 2) concomitant repair of tracheal lesion and intracardiac anomalies whenever possible, 3) application of CPB or ECMO to avoid cumbersome intubation technique, and 4) utmost effort to perform tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis.
Anastomosis, Surgical↗
Facilitation of HIV-1 isolation from patients by neuraminidase.
We previously reported that infectivities of human and other non-human lentiviruses including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are activated by desialylation of the virion surface [H. Hu et al., J Virol 70: 7,462-7,470 (1996)]. The present study was designed to determine whether neuraminidase (NA) is useful for isolation of HIV-1 from patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or CD4+ cells isolated from the PBMC of infected individuals were cocultured with PBMC or CD4+ cells from uninfected healthy donors, and the efficiency and frequency of virus isolation in the presence of NA were compared with those by a routine conventional procedure. In a total of 41 isolation trials from 28 individuals, the presence of NA markedly increased the frequency of isolation. Furthermore, both the day when virus was first detected and the day when the virus titer was the highest in the cultures were significantly earlier in the presence of NA than in the absence of NA. The deduced amino acid sequences of the V2 and V3 regions of gp120 were identical or very similar between the isolates obtained in the presence or absence of NA, suggesting that both isolation procedures selected a similar population. NA was thus found to facilitate HIV-1 isolation and its use is recommended particularly when isolation is negative by the conventional procedures.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Adrenocortical and gonadal expression of the mammalian Ftz-F1 gene encoding Ad4BP/SF-1 is independent of pituitary control.
Ad4BP/SF-1 is a transcription factor essential for the development of the adrenal gland and the gonads as well as for the maintenance of their functions through regulating tissue-specific gene transcription. In the whole body, hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal and -adrenal axes are known to play prominent roles in mediating the function of the gonads and adrenal. In this study, the effects of the tropic peptide hormones secreted by the pituitary on the regulation of the rat Ftz-F1 (rFtz-F1) gene encoding Ad4BP/SF-1 were investigated. Immunochemical studies revealed that Ad4BP/SF-1 was expressed even in the adrenal cortex of hypophysectomized rats. Such persistent expression of Ad4BP/SF-1 was also observed in the testes and ovaries of the hypophysectomized animals. In contrast to Ad4BP/SF-1, the expressions of steroidogenic P450s were reduced significantly. The transcriptional activities of the endogenous and transfected rFtz-F1 genes were examined with Y-1 and I-10 cells derived from mouse adrenocortical and testicular Leydig cell tumors, respectively. Neither gene appeared to be activated significantly by cAMP, whereas both endogenous and exogenous CYP11A genes encoding P450(SCC) were activated. Taken together, these observations indicate that the expression of the rFtz-F1 gene is mainly regulated by a mechanism independent of the neuroendocrine axes.
Adrenal Cortex↗
Markedly increased accumulation of Tc-99m DTPA in a patient with neurofibromatosis.
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Adult↗
Detection of HIV-Gag p24-specific antibodies in sera and saliva of HIV-1-infected adults and in sera of infants born to HIV-1-infected mothers.
Secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) is known to play an important role in the mucosal defense against a variety of pathogens. Although the role of IgA antibodies during sexual transmission of HIV is not clear, HIV-specific IgA antibodies have been detected in various mucosal secretions of HIV-infected individuals. Using a monoclonal antibody against human IgA, we established an ELISA system to detect anti-HIV p24 IgA antibodies in sera and saliva. We have analyzed the levels of anti-HIV p24 IgG and IgA antibodies in sera and saliva of 107 and 119 adults, respectively, with HIV infection at different clinical stages, and in the sera of 13 infants born to HIV-infected mothers. The level of anti-HIV p24 IgA antibodies was lower in sera and higher in saliva as compared to that of anti-HIV p24 IgG antibodies. Where the percentage of HIV-specific serum antibody-positive cases decreased with disease progression, that of saliva antibody-positive cases increased in AIDS patients. Among the 13 infants born to HIV-infected mothers, 7 infants were HIV-p24-specific serum IgA positive. These sera were negative for anti-HIV p24 secretory IgA, suggesting that some infants develop their own immune responses against HIV infection. Thus, the detection of HIV-specific IgA antibodies, especially in saliva, could be a simple and reliable test for the diagnosis of HIV infection.
AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
Rapid serodiagnosis of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex infection by ELISA with cord factor (trehalose 6, 6'-dimycolate), and serotyping using the glycopeptidolipid antigen.
Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) is one of the most important opportunistic pathogens, particularly in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The aim of this study was to determine whether an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM) as an antigen can be used for the rapid serodiagnosis of MAC infection. We also identified MAC serotypes by ELISA using serotype-specific glycopeptidolipid (GPL) antigen. To confirm our findings, the thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) behavior of serotype-specific GPL of the strains isolated from MAC-infected patients was also tested. Forty patients infected with MAC and 30 healthy controls were tested. Thirty-two of the 40 MAC-infected patients had higher titers of serum antibodies against MAC TDM than against MTB TDM, while all 30 healthy control sera were unreactive to MAC TDM and MTB TDM. Results of the GPL ELISA indicated that 20 of the 40 MAC-infected patients' sera were reactive against serotype 4 GPL, 3 against serotype 8 GPL, and 1 against serotype 16 GPL. A TLC analysis of the GPL of the 40 MAC isolates showed that 16 strains were of serotype 4, 5 of serotype 8, and 2 of serotype 16. Results of the GPL ELISA were in good accord with those of the TLC analysis for most patients. Our findings suggest that ELISA using TDM is useful for rapid serodiagnosis of MAC infection, and that complementary ELISA testing using serotype-specific GPL gives additional detailed information concerning MAC serotypes.
Adult↗
[Mycobacterial lung infection in 8 patients with AIDS: clinical and radiological features].
The prevalence of mycobacterial infection in AIDS patients has increased in Japan. This report describes details of the clinical and radiological features of eight AIDS patients with mycobacterial disease (6 with M. tuberculosis infection and 2 with M. kansasii infection) in our hospital during the period from October 1995 through February 1997. Six of the 8 were men, and two were women. The mean age was 36.5 years. Six were Japanese, one was from Myanmar, and one was Malaysian. The median CD4 positive T lymphocyte counts (CD4 count) at the time of diagnosis of the M. tuberculosis was 75.5 (range 14-569/microliter, and the M. kansasii was 21.5 (range 19-24)/microliter. Clinical findings and symptoms of all patients were non-specific, but almost all patients had a cough and fever. In the radiographic findings, the patients of the M. tuberculosis group presented multiple hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, miliary shadow, and obstructive pneumonia. Both M. kansasii patients showed a multiple infiltration shadow. There were no drug resistant strains in M. tuberculosis except on isolate with moderate resistant. to Streptomycin. These observations suggest that AIDS-associated mycobacterial disease shows atypical clinical and radiological features in some cases, especially in advanced stages of AIDS. Therefore, we need to recognize the characteristics of the clinical and radiological features of the patients with mycobacterial diseases and AIDS.
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
[Molecular biological approach to functions of telencephalin, a cell adhesion molecule and HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope, which is commonly expressed on cell adhesion molecules in the nervous system].
Cell surface carbohydrates modulate a variety of cellular functions, including recognition and adhesion. The HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope, which is recognized by the monoclonal antibody HNK-1, is specifically expressed on a series of cell adhesion molecules and also on some glycolipids in the nervous system over a wide range of species from insect to mammal. The HNK-1 epitope is spatially and temporally regulated during the development of the nervous system and associated with neural crest cell migration, neuron to glial cell adhesion, outgrowth of astrocytic processes and migration of cell body, as well as the preferential outgrowth of neurites from motor neurons. These observations together with the unusual chemical nature of the HNK-1 epitope, namely a non-reducing terminal 3-sulfoglucuronic acid residue, prompted us to study the biosynthesis of the NHK-1 epitope, in which a unique glucuronyltransferase(s) plays a key role. We found that the respective glucuronyltransferases are involved in the biosynthesis of the HNK-1 epitope on glycoproteins (GlcAT-P) and on glycolipids (GlcAT-L). Then, we isolated a novel glucuronyltransferase (GlcAT-P) specific for glycoprotein substrates and its cDNA from the rat brain. The primary structure deduced from the cDNA sequence predicted a type II transmembrane protein with 347 amino acids. Transfection of the GlcAT-P cDNA into COS-1 cells induced not only expression of the HNK-1 epitope on the cell surface but also marked morphological changes of the cells, suggesting that the HNK-1 epitope was associated with the cell-substratum interaction. The GlcAT-P cDNA obtained in this study will be a useful molecular tool to open the way for further steps in the elucidation of the biological function of the HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope in the development of the nervous system.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Changes of ischemic heart disease in Utsunomiya, Japan, over 10 years: a survey of primary care physicians.
A total of 502 patients presenting in Utsunomiya city and its suburbs during a 10-year period were studied to determine the clinical features of ischemic heart disease and to identify coronary risk factors. The male/female ratio was 1.21, but the ratio decreased with increasing age. The duration of chest pain showed a continuous spectrum between angina and infarction, with a short duration of chest pain not being useful for excluding the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Hypertension was more common than hypercholesterolemia in this study, although the prevalence of the latter increased slightly with time, along with the shift towards a modernized occupational pattern. Smoking was a more important risk factor for ischemic heart disease in younger individuals than in the elderly, and diabetes mellitus was highly associated with the development of myocardial infarction. The incidence of radiologically diagnosed cardiac hypertrophy and aortic calcification decreased over time. These changes may have resulted in part from improved blood pressure control and the development of new anti-hypertensive and cholesterol-lowering agents.
Age Factors↗
Histochemical determination of stereoselectivity of esterases in normal pancreas and pancreatic tubular adenocarcinoma of hamsters.
Esterases in normal hamster pancreas and pancreatic tubular adenocarcinoma of ductal origin induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine were stained in cryostat sections with mixtures of a diazonium salt (fast blue RR) and with each of the enantiomers of alpha-naphthyl N-methoxycarbonylalaninate, N-methoxycarbonylvalinate, and N-acetylprolinate. Azo coupling of alpha-naphthol formed by enzymatic hydrolysis with the diazonium salt gives an azo dye that indicates the presence and amount of the enzyme activity in situ. Comparison between the color intensities obtained with each of the enantiomers of a chiral alpha-naphthyl ester shows the stereoselectivity, or enantiomeric preference, of the enzyme. Esterases in acinar cells of the normal pancreas showed slight stereoselectivity for N-methoxycarbonylalaninate, while esterases in fat cells scattered throughout the exocrine pancreas showed high stereoselectivity for (R)-N-acetylprolinate. These esterase activities were not found in the tumor, but another prominent esterase activity with high stereoselectivity for (S)-N-methoxycarbonylvalinate was found. Similar results were obtained by staining after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showing that the bands of esterases in the adenocarcinoma stained only with the S enantiomer of the N-methoxycarbonylvalinate. The present method is a valuable tool for designing anticancer prodrugs that are activated by tumor-specific esterases.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Stress, emotional support and coping behavior of mothers with disabled pre-school children--mothers at outpatient department.
This study focuses on overt and covert problems experienced by mothers with disabled pre-school children and the resources that are available for coping with them. The aim of this study is to facilitate the coping behaviors of these mothers in order to improve their life-styles and well-being. The scores of the Home Care Resources Inventory (HCRI) of mothers with disabled preschool children were compared with those of a control group of mothers with normal kindergarten-aged children. The results of the HCRI survey indicated the following: 1) The major source of strength for the mothers with disabled children was the availability of a social support network, which consisted mainly of their own mothers and grandmothers, 2) The mothers with disabled children had insufficient time and little respite for themselves, and 3) Emotional support from mothers who shared the same experiences was effective for coping with problems associated with the acceptance of disabled children. The support of health care professionals, however, had little effect in helping the mothers who were under stress, though they could help to change such mothers' attitudes. There was a possibility to facilitate mothers' coping skills if mothers with disabled children could get effective support at appropriate times. These results support the concept of empowerment (Rappaport 1984, Kieffer 1984). Further study is needed on ways to introduce this concept into nursing as well as to systematize procedures in routine nursing practice for releasing maternal behavior.
Adaptation, Psychological↗