A heat-labile, non-dialysable and protease-sensitive endogenous activator (NaAF) capable of stimulating the Na+, K(+)-ATPase system has been demonstrated. The activator (NaAF) activity was partially enriched (about 10 fold) by dialysis (30 kDa cutoff) under negative pressure and pH 4.8 precipitation. The NaAF has been found to occur in the cytosolic fractions of tissues such as the kidney and brain from two different species (rabbit and pig) tested so far. Also, the factor from one tissue stimulates with equal efficacy the Na+, K(+)-ATPase systems of other tissues regardless of the species; thus demonstrating universal nature of the activator. Some degree of cross-reactivity was noted between the activating effects of this activator (for the Na+,K(+)-ATPase) and that for the H+,K(+)-ATPase recently described (J. Biol. Chem. 262:5664-5670, 1987). The purified NaAF obtained from sephacryl S-300 column chromatography activates the pure renal medullary Na+,K(+)-ATPase in a dose dependent manner.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of cotton wool swab and cytobrush for detection of chlamydial infection in women attending a genitourinary medicine clinic.

Endocervical specimens obtained by cytobrush and conventional cotton wool swabs from 90 women attending a genitourinary medicine clinic were compared for their efficiency in detecting chlamydial infection. Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis and detection of the chlamydial lipopolysaccharide antigen were attempted on each specimen. Antigen was detected in 18% of cytobrush and 17% of swab specimens. The cytobrush proved less suitable than swabs for isolation because 8 cytobrush specimens (9%) were toxic to the McCoy cells. Toxicity was significantly associated with an infected endocervix (2P = 0.004). Cytobrush therefore appeared to have little advantage over the much cheaper alternative, the cotton wool swab.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of occult human papillomavirus infection, determined by cytology and DNA hybridization, in heterosexual men attending a genitourinary medicine clinic.

One hundred and five heterosexual men without evidence of clinical anogenital warts and attending a genitourinary medicine clinic were studied. Three separate specimens for cytology were taken from (i) the distal urethra including the perimeatal area, (ii) the penile shaft and glans penis including the sub-preputial area, and (iii) from the anorectal area using a proctoscope. Pooled specimens of exfoliated cells from these sites were also taken for the detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) by DNA hybridization. Twenty-eight (27%) of the men had cytological evidence suggestive of HPV infection. HPV genome was detected in 21 (20%) of the men by DNA hybridization and 95% of them were carrying HPV 16 genotype either alone or in combination with other genotypes. A total of 42 (40%) of patients had evidence of occult HPV infection using cytology and/or DNA hybridization techniques collectively. None of the epidemiological risk factors were significantly associated with occult HPV infection in this study. The significance of this high incidence of sexually transmissible HPV genomes, mostly HPV16 in the anogenital area of heterosexual men attending genitourinary medicine clinics requires further study.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare in a north Indian village.

BACKGROUND: Information on healthcare expenditure at the family or household level is important for the planning and management of health services. It is particularly relevant for health insurance agencies to estimate the amount of premium for initiating a universal health insurance system. METHODS: Of 800 families in a village, 160 were selected by systematic random sampling. Of these, 156 families were followed up for a period of 12 months (September 1998 to August 1999) by making monthly visits. Responses from each family, as given by the head of the family, were recorded with the help of an interview schedule administered in the local language. The interview schedule covered any morbidity among the family members in the past one month and the out-of-pocket expenditure incurred on the same. RESULTS: The private health sector was utilized in 59.4% of total episodes. Utilization of the private sector was directly associated with a higher socioeconomic status (p = 0.002). Of the total expenditure on non-hospitalized cases, 83.6% was incurred in the private sector. The mean per capita annual out-of-pocket expenditure on health was Rs 131. The median expenditure per episode was Rs 15. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that out-of-pocket expenditure is more than the government expenditure on health. There is a need for systems such as health insurance to protect the poor from high medical costs.

Family Characteristics↗

PubMedDate not supplied