In June 1982, sexual and other behavioral patterns were examined in 245 homosexual men in relationship to T-lymphocyte phenotypes that are characteristic of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ...(AIDS). Mean helper T-cell counts in New York City (579 +/- 32 cells/mm3) and Washington, DC, homosexual men with sexual contacts in areas at high risk (endemic) for AIDS (567 +/- 24 cells/mm3) were significantly lower than in Washington, DC, residents without such contacts (672 +/- 36 cells/mm3, p = 0.04 by analysis of variance). Helper T-cell counts in the Washington men were inversely correlated with a greater number of endemic-area homosexual contacts (p = 0.005), even after adjustment for multiple confounding variables (p = 0.02). The 31 Washington men with more than 15 endemic-area partners had a mean helper T-cell count of 517 +/- 44 cells/mm3, and 12 of those 31 men had helper T-cell counts less than 400 cells/mm3. AIDS patients are known to have a marked reduction in the number and function of helper T-lymphocytes. The data suggest that deficits of helper T lymphocytes can be acquired by homosexual contact with men in cities where AIDS is common. This supports the hypotheses that low helper T-cell counts may be caused by a sexually transmissible agent and that frequent homosexual exposure to residents of high-risk areas for AIDS may be an important means of spread of this agent.
Fusarium spp. and Scedosporium spp. have emerged as important fungal pathogens that are frequently resistant to antifungal compounds. We investigated the effects of human interleukin-15 (IL-15) on ...human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) activity against Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum as well as Scedosporium prolificans and Scedosporium apiospermum. IL-15 (100 ng/ml) significantly enhanced PMNL-induced hyphal damage of both Fusarium spp. and S. prolificans after incubation for 22 h (, P<0.01, ) but not S. apiospermum. In addition, IL-15 enhanced PMNL oxidative respiratory burst evaluated as superoxide anion production in response to S. prolificans but not to the other fungi after 2 h incubation. IL-15 increased interleukin-8 (IL-8) release from PMNLs challenged with hyphae of F. solani and S. prolificans (, Pprecedesorequalto0.04, ). Release of tumor necrosis factor- alpha was not affected. The species-dependent enhancement of hyphal damage and induction of IL-8 release suggest that IL-15 plays an important role in the immunomodulation of host response to these emerging fungal pathogens.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a frequent cause of morbidity during the first years of life and may lead to renal insufficiency. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta) is both immunoregulatory ...and an important mediator of interstitial fibrosis. TGF-beta was detected in the urine of 52% of 48 children aged 1-24 months with a first episode of UTI (94% due to Escherichia coli) and no obstructive nephropathy compared with 0 of 20 healthy young children (P<0.001). TGF-beta was detected in the urine only during the early stage (<1 day) after initiation of treatment. It was detected more frequently (P=0.06) and in significantly higher concentrations (P=0.046) in children with a normal (99m )Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scan compared with those with abnormal scans performed 3-14 days after the diagnosis of UTI, suggesting a regulatory role in fibrogenesis and outcome of pyelonephritis in childhood.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
A retrospective review of two years' experience with radionuclide screening to detect lower gastrointestinal bleeding sites was conducted at New York's Montefiore Medical Center. Of 82 studies ...performed in 63 patients, 13 identified active bleeding sites. Only three of eight angiograms obtained in these 13 patients were positive. Thirteen contrast angiograms were performed in the group of 50 patients with negative radionuclide studies of which ten were negative and one was equivocal. The results of this study suggest that the Tc-99m sulfur colloid study for active lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is an effective screening procedure. Positive studies help determine which vessel to catheterize selectively if an angiogram is to be performed. If vascular ectasis is still suspected following a negative radionuclide study, contrast angiography can be more efficaciously performed on a nonemergent basis.
Confusion in 91 hospitalized patients over 60 years of age who had sustained hip fracture and undergone subsequent surgical repair was examined in seven hospitals in five states. The relationship of ...nursing activities, patient, surgical, and environmental variables to the extent of confusion apparent in the sample was explored. Data were gathered by record review, patient testing, observation, and interview. Patient testing and interview were carried out on the first, third, and fifth postoperative days; the patientʼs caregiver on those days was also interviewed. The major dependent variables used in multiple regression analysis were memory (immediate and recent), observed behavior, and patientʼs self-report of mental clarity. Results showed that the most consistent predictors of postoperative confusion were the presence of confusion on admission to the hospital or confusion during the preoperative period. Greater postoperative mobility and freedom from urinary problems resulted in less confusion. Being male and of increased age were risk factors. The presence of timepieces and patientsʼ use of television were associated with higher levels of mental clarity. Patients in private rooms tended to do better on memory testing than patients in rooms shared with others. Nursing personnelʼs major action in response to patient confusion was that of conscious attention to orientation, explanation, or reassurance. Use of restraints was relatively frequent.
Discussions in representative bureaucracy literature have tacitly assigned the responsibility of representing the interests of blacks to individual black administrators. The possibility that black ...members of organizations have a group interest to be represented is not considered in the literature. Assigning the representation responsibility to individual black administrators is rejected because of barriers that can be created by racial roadblocks. It is argued that solidarity groups are a more effective means of representing the interests of blacks. Assigning the responsibility to solidarity groups should: 1. neutralize the effects of racial roadblocks, 2. limit individual representation activities and thus permit each black administrator to concentrate on job performance, and 3. shift the focus in the representative bureaucracy literature away from the individual and begin concentrating on the representation activities of solidarity groups.
Endothelins (ET) are 21-amino acid peptides that bind to membrane receptors to initiate a wide range of pathophysiological effects. PD-156707, L-749329, Ro-470203, and A-127722 are potent non-peptide ...ET receptor antagonists developed recently. When tested in human and rat plasma, both ET-1 and -3 and the four aforementioned antagonists exhibited a high degree (>98%) of plasma protein binding. When ET-1 binding to the receptors was examined, 5% (v/v) of human plasma inhibited ET-1 binding to both ET
a Mid ET
B receptors by 80 – 90%. Similarly, 5% (w/v) of human serum albumin inhibited ET-1 binding by 82%, suggesting that the major protein component in plasma which interfered with ET-1 binding to the receptors was serum albumin. Competition studies show that, in the absence of human serum albumin, the IC
50 values of PD-156707, L-749329, Ro47-0203, and A-127722 were 0.37, 0.29, 5.7, and 0.22 nM, respectively. Addition of increasing doses of human serum albumin incrementally decreased the potency of the antagonists; in the presence of 5% of human serum albumin, the IC
50 values increased to 62.8, 50.2, 122.7, and 6.72 nM for PD-156707, L-749329, Ro-470203, and A-127722, respectively. In conclusion, ET and ET receptor antagonists exhibit a high degree of binding to plasma proteins, especially serum albumin. Consequently, serum albumin inhibits ET binding to its receptors, and also decreases the potency of ET receptor antagonists. Our findings may explain the discrepancy observed for ET receptor antagonists between in vitro and in vivo potencies.
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IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Some scholars have assigned the responsibility for ethical conduct in the public sector to individual administrators. Supporters of this perspective contend that individuals are able to introduce ...ethics into the administrative process by assuming personal responsibility for ethical action. The inference is that organizations cannot be expected to assume responsibility for ethical conduct.
Conversely the contention that individual ethics are inadequate in organizations is posed as a counter argument. Supporters of this contention argue that individual integrity does not mean that organizations will act ethically. They argue that organizational ethics are independent of individual ethics. Hence, they are treated as separate entities that do not compliment each other.
An argument that organizations and individuals engage in complimentary actions which lead to ethical conduct is largely absent in the literature. I argue that there is a reciprocal relationship between individuals and organizations. Thus, individual and organizational ethics are not separate but interactive entities
