Plasma amino acids and the insulin/glucagon ratio as an explanation for the dietary protein modulation of atherosclerosis.

The amino acid composition of the diet influences the postprandial levels of plasma amino acids along with the hormones insulin and glucagon in humans fed single test meals identical in composition except for protein source. Soy protein (hypocholesterolemic), vs. casein (hypercholesterolemic), contains a higher amount of arginine and glycine and induces an increase in postprandial arginine and glycine. Soy protein induces a low postprandial insulin/glucagon ratio in both hypercholesterolemic and normocholesterolemic subjects. Casein induces a high postprandial insulin/glucagon ratio among hypercholesterolemic subjects. Amino acids such as arginine and glycine are associated with a decrease, while lysine and branched-chain amino acids are associated with increased serum cholesterol levels. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the control of cholesterol by insulin and glucagon is regulated by dietary and plasma amino acids. From this hypothesis the insulin/glucagon ratio is proposed as an early metabolic index of the effect of dietary proteins on serum cholesterol levels, a risk factor and a common mechanism through which dietary and lifestyle factors influence cardiovascular disease.     

Mapping brain size and cortical gray matter changes in elderly depression.

BACKGROUND: In elderly depression, volumetric brain imaging findings suggest abnormalities of the frontal lobe, particularly the orbitofrontal cortex, and the hippocampus. No studies to date have mapped cortical abnormalities over the entire brain surface in major depression. Here, we conducted detailed spatial analyses of brain size and gray matter within the cortical mantle in elderly patients with major depression. METHODS: High-resolution, three-dimensional, structural magnetic resonance imaging data and cortical pattern matching methods were used in 24 depressed elderly patients and 19 group-matched controls to measure local brain size and proportions of gray matter at thousands of homologous cortical surface locations. RESULTS: Prominent brain size reductions were observed in the depressed subjects in the orbitofrontal cortex bilaterally. Cortical gray matter measurements revealed significant gray matter increases in the orbitofrontal cortex, adjacent to focal trend level significant decreases of gray matter in the same region. Depressed patients also exhibited significant gray matter increases in parietal cortices, as well as the left temporal cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Complex cortical changes may contribute to the brain size reduction of the orbitofrontal cortex and to the gray matter abnormalities detected in orbitofrontal cortex and temporoparietal cortices, thereby providing a potentially new window into the pathophysiology of elderly depression.     

Co-localization of SCPB-like and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivities in crustacean nervous systems

A monoclonal antibody to the molluscan small cardioactive peptide SCPB and a polyclonal antibody to FMRFamide were used to localize antigens in the stomatogastric nervous system and brain of two species of Cancer. Both antibodies labeled cell bodies, axons, and neuropilar processes in the brain and in the stomatogastric nervous system. All of the SCPB immunoreactive neurons were co-labeled with antibody to FMRFamide. However, antibody to FMRFamide labeled additional neurons of the commissural ganglion and the brain that were not immunoreactive to the monoclonal SCPB antibody.     

Fusion of genes encoding Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin and outer membrane protein OmpC.

The OmpC outer membrane protein of Escherichia coli was used as a carrier molecule for the nonimmunogenic heat-stable enterotoxin STa. Two fragments of different lengths of the gene encoding STa were fused in vitro to the 3' terminus of the truncated ompC gene. The resulting OmpC-STa hybrid proteins could be detected by L-[35S]cysteine labeling, and they were processed and thus exported. All synthesized hybrid protein remained cell bound and was found by fractionation mainly in the periplasm. Immunoblot analysis showed that the hybrid proteins reacted in vitro both with anti-OmpC and anti-STa antibodies, and immunization of rabbits evoked an antibody response to either of these proteins.     

Rate of PSA rise predicts metastatic versus local recurrence after definitive radiotherapy

: A rising prostate specific antigen (PSA) following treatment for adenocarcinoma of the prostate indicates eventual clinical failure, but the rate of rise can be quite different from patient to patient, as can the pattern of clinical failure. We sought to determine whether the rate of PSA rise could differentiate future local versus metastatistic failure.

: Two thousand six hundred sixty-seven PSA values from 400 patients treated with radiotherapy for localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate were analyzed with respect to PSA patterns and clinical outcome. Patients had received no hormonal therapy or prostate surgey and had ?4 PSA values post-treatment PSA rate of rise, determined by the slope of the natural log, was classified as gradual (< 0.69 log (ng/ml)/year, or doubling time (DT) > 1 year), moderate (0.69-1.4 log (ng/ml)/year, or DT 6 months-1 year), or rapid [>1.4 log (ng/ml)/year, or DT < 6 months].

: SIxty-one percent of patients had non-rising PSA following treatment; 25% of patients with rising PSA developed clinical failure, and 93% of patients with clinical failure had rising PSA. The rate of rise discerned different clinical failure patterns. Local failure occurred in 23% of patients with moderate rate of rise versus 7% with gradual rise (p = 0.0001). Metastatic disease developed in 46% of those with rapid versus 8% with moderate rise (p < 0.0001). By multivariate analysis, in addition to rate of rise, PSA nadir and rate of decline predicted local failure; those with post-treatment nadir of 1–4 ng/ml were five times more likely to experience local failure than nadir < 1 ng/ml (p = 0.0002). Rapid rate of rise was the most significant independent predictor of metastastic failure.

: The rate of PSA rise following definitive radiotherapy can predict clinical failure patterns, with a rapidly rising PSA indicating metastatic recurrence and moderately rising PSA local recurrence. This information could potentially dirent therapy; if the rise predicts metastatic failure hormonal therapy could be cosidereed, while aggressive salvage therapy may benefit subclinical local recurrence identified by a moderate rate of PSA rise.     

Integration: Quality in care and education for the young disabled child

The presentation aims to examine the criteria of quality for care and education programmes for young disabled children in integrated early childhood settings. The conceptual and practical issues which influence quality programmes will be discussed with particular reference to the Integration Programmes operated throughout South Australia in early childhood centres.

The Integration Programmes, developed to enable and support the integrated or normalised development of young children has as its specific 'target' group individual children who are 'too delayed or disabled' to be able to fully participate or participate without direct assistance in community based early childhood programmes. Some of these children are extremely disabled and others' handicapping conditions are exacerbated by severe lack of other available community resources, isolation and other factors.

Integration is more than 'being there'—it is a complex process based upon the recognition of human value and human rights. For greater insight into the Integration Programmes an appraisal of the following aspects will be provided.

• the principles of integration

• the goals of integration

• the dimensions of integration.

The dimensions of integration will be placed in relation to the indicators of quality in early childhood programmes. The juxtaposing of these parameters of quality will lead to the emergence of guidelines for practical goalsetting and evaluation hallmarks of excellence in integration.