Beam transport and space charge compensation strategies (invited).

The transport of intense ion beams is affected by the collective behavior of this kind of multi-particle and multi-species system. The space charge expressed by the generalized perveance dominates the dynamical process of thermalisation, which leads to emittance growth. To prevent changes of intrinsic beam properties and to reduce the intensity dependent focusing forces, space charge compensation seems to be an adequate solution. In the case of positively charged ion beams, electrons produced by residual gas ionization and secondary electrons provide the space charge compensation. The influence of the compensation particles on the beam transport and the local degree of space charge compensation is given by different beam properties as well as the ion beam optics. Especially for highly charged ion beams, space charge compensation in combination with poor vacuum conditions leads to recombination processes and therefore increased beam losses. Strategies for providing a compensation-electron reservoir at very low residual gas pressures will be discussed.

Changes in the activity of acid glycosidases during posthatch development and regression after light reduction of Japanese quail testes and epididymides.

In this study specific activities of four acid glycosidases: beta-N-acethylhexosaminidase (beta-HEX), beta-galactosidase (beta-GAL), alpha- and beta-mannosidase (alpha- and beta-MAN) were investigated in Japanese quail testes and epididymides during posthatch development and regression after light reduction. The specific activity of testicular beta-HEX and beta-GAL increased steadily during posthatch development and assumed maximum values for testes weighing 200-400 mg, when numerous spermatocytes appear in the testes of quail, and then decreased slowly. These enzymes showed much higher specific activity after 15 days of light reduction, and decreased to the control level after 30 days. Activity of alpha- and beta-MAN remained rather constant during testicular development and involution. The epididymal activity of the acid glycosidases was very low in immature individuals, whereas in sexually mature birds it was found to increase several-fold. Short photoperiod resulted in a decreased activity of these enzymes after 30 days to the values found in immature birds. A marked increase in the activity of acid glycosidases in the epididymides of sexually mature animals and a decrease in this activity during epididymidal regression indicate that these enzymes take part in reproductive processes. It is concluded that the activities of beta-HEX, beta-GAL, alpha- and beta-MAN in the development and regression of Japanese quail testes and epididymides change similarly as in mammals.

Changes in the activity of soluble arylsulphatase during the post-hatch development and regression after light reduction of Japanese quail testes and epididymides.

This study demonstrates that specific activity of soluble arylsulphatase (AS) during post-hatch development of Japanese quail testes is the highest for testes weighing from 20 to 200mg, and then decreases as the weight of testes increases, while AS activity per g of wet tissue decreases steadily for testes weighing over 20 to 30 mg. Total AS activity showed a steady increase with the increasing weight of testes. The highest increments in the enzyme activity concerned testes weighing up to 30 mg and those weighing from 30 to 150 mg. Mature animals with testes weighing from 2 to 4 g showed an equal level of total AS activity. Based on this data it is suggested that the changes found in the enzyme activity concern mainly arylsulphatase from Sertoli cells. Specific activity of AS in epididymides remains low until testes reach a weight of approximately 1g and then increases, reaching maximal values for epididymides from the testes of sexually mature animals. Testicular and epididymal regression induced by a short photoperiod (6L:18D) after 30 days of the experiment increases AS activity in the testes and reduces its activity in the epididymides to the values found in the early stages of development. Testes and epididymides in the earliest stage of post-hatch development are characterized by an elution profile of AS in which the form of the enzyme bound to the strong anion exchanger at pH 6.0 is predominant, while in mature animals the form of the enzyme unbound to the anion exchanger predominates in the testes and epididymides. After 30-day regression of the testes and epididymides, the form bound to the anion exchanger did not increase, which suggests that the organs do not return exactly to the stage before sexual maturity.

Acid glycosidases from hen oviduct and egg albumen.

Activities of seven acid glycosidases: beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (beta-HEX), alpha- and beta-galactosidase (alpha- and beta-GAL), alpha- and beta-mannosidase (alpha- and beta-MAN), alpha-glucosidase and alpha-fucosidase in magnum region of hen (Gallus gallus domesticus) oviduct, and four acid glycosidases: beta-HEX, beta-GAL, alpha- and beta-MAN in egg albumen, were investigated. beta-HEX from magnum and egg albumen hydrolysed 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-N-acetylhexosamine-6-sulphate (4-MeUmbGlcNAc-6-SO(4)) like mammalian beta-HEX form A. Multiple forms of magnum and egg albumen beta-HEX, beta-GAL, alpha- and beta-MAN were separated by strong anion exchange chromatography and chromatofocusing method. Chromatofocusing of the magnum resulted in the appearance of multiple forms for beta-HEX with pI of 6.18, 5.43, 5.55, 5.34, 5.27 and 5.16, for beta-GAL with pI of 4.98, 4.84, 4.77, 4.64 and 4.68-4.63, for alpha-MAN with pI of >or=7.4, 6.75, 6.62 and 6.26, and for beta-MAN two forms with pI of 6.37 and 5.77. Chromatofocusing of egg albumen yields multiple forms for beta-HEX with pI of 6.24, 6.08, 5.55 and 5.35, for beta-GAL two forms with pI of 5.10 and 4.86-4.80 for alpha-MAN multiple forms with pI of >or=7.4, 6.80, 6.60 and 6.30, and for beta-MAN forms with pI of 6.30 and 5.77. In conclusion, this study was the first to show beta-HEX activity against 4-MeUmbGlcNAc-6-SO(4) in the magnum and albumen of bird eggs, corresponding to beta-HEX A activity in mammals. Main multiple forms of beta-HEX, beta-GAL, alpha- and beta-MAN occurring in the magnum were revealed in the egg albumen. Comparison with a cock of the same breed showed that hen egg magnum and albumen has the same multiple forms of the enzymes that are found in the epididymides and seminal plasma of the cock.

Sesonal changes in acid glycosidases from gander testes.

The goal of this study was to assess the contributions of the most important acid glycosidases to the processes connected with testes involution (in the summer) and spermatogenesis during the reproductive season (the spring) in ganders. Statistically significant increases in the specific activity of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase, alpha-D-galactosidase, beta-D-galactosidase, and alpha-L-fucosidase during the period of testes involution were detected. Alpha-D-galactosidase, beta-D-galactosidase, and alpha-D-glucosidase showed an increase in the relative contribution of those multiple forms which are characterized by less acidic values of the pI during the reproductive season. It is suggested that the observed increases in the specific activity of beta-HEX, alpha-GAL, beta-GAL and alpha-FUC may be connected with the catabolism of glycoconjugates, when the spermatogenic activity of the testes declines. The increases in the relative contribution of less acidic forms of alpha-GAL, beta-GAL, and alpha-GLU during the reproductive season may be linked to the rise in the number of spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa during spermatogenesis.

Effectiveness and costs of inpatient versus day hospital cocaine rehabilitation.

We compared the effectiveness and costs of day hospital (DH) versus inpatient (INP) rehabilitation for cocaine dependence. The research subjects were 111 inner city, lower socioeconomic, primarily African-American male veterans who qualified for a diagnosis of cocaine dependence and presented no acute medical or psychiatric conditions requiring inpatient treatment. Fifty-six men were randomly assigned to 1 month of DH rehabilitation (27 hours of weekday treatment weekly), and 55 were assigned to 1-month INP rehabilitation (48 hours of scheduled treatment weekly). Treatment outcome was evaluated 7 months after admission into treatment (92% of the subjects), and a cost analysis was performed. A significantly greater proportion of INP subjects (89.1%) completed treatment than did DH subjects (53.6%). Significant improvements in substance use, psychosocial functioning, and health status were found 7 months postadmission for both groups, but there was little evidence of differential improvement between groups. Urine toxicology findings were consistent with the self-report data in showing improvement from baseline, but no group differences in cocaine use. The groups did not differ significantly in post-rehabilitation aftercare participation or in relapse to additional treatment. DH treatment costs were 40% to 60% of INP treatment costs, depending upon the measure used.

Amantadine may facilitate detoxification of cocaine addicts.

The effectiveness of amantadine hydrochloride was evaluated in a double-blind placebo controlled drug trial. The subjects were 42 cocaine dependent men enrolled in a day hospital program. Twenty-one patients were prescribed 100 mg/bid of amantadine to be taken over 10.5 days and 21 were prescribed an equivalent amount of placebo. The primary outcome measures were the Addiction Severity Index at 1 month after study entry and urines during the drug trial (end of weeks 1 and 2) and 1 month after study entry. Urines obtained at the end of the drug trial (2 weeks) indicated that the subjects receiving amantadine (93%) were more likely (P = 0.040) to be free of cocaine than the placebo (60%) subjects. Urine toxicology data at 1-month follow-up again indicated that more of the amantadine subjects (83%) were free of cocaine than the placebo (53%) subjects (p = 0.049); although no differences were found in self-reports of cocaine or other substance use in the past 30 days. The urine findings provided preliminary indication that amantadine may have some effectiveness in reducing cocaine use in cocaine dependent patients.

Properties of acid beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from cock semen.

Two forms (I and II) of beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase from cock seminal plasma and one form (III) from spermatozoa were separated by chromatofocusing. The active enzyme forms I and II had pI values of 6.6 and 6.3, respectively, while form III had two subforms with pI values of 6.3 and 6.1, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrofocusing. The molecular weights were 76,000 for forms I and III and 32,000 for form II. The optimum pH of enzyme forms I and III ranged from 3.6 to 4.0. In contrast, form II showed one distinct maximum at pH 3.7. The Km values obtained with p-nitrophenyl-beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide as substrate were 0.35, 0.28, and 0.39 mM for forms I, II, and III, respectively. It is assumed that both cock spermatozoa and cock seminal plasma contain a common, enzymatically active beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase subunit with M(r) about 32,000 and pI 6.3.

The detection of depression by patient self-report in women with gynecologic cancer.

We examined the utility of patient self-report forms in identifying those gynecologic oncology patients who would be diagnosed by an experienced consultation-liaison psychiatrist as suffering from major depression. Sixty-five women with gynecologic tumors were evaluated by a consultation-liaison psychiatrist, using standardized (DSM-III) criteria. Each patient also completed a Carroll Rating Scale for Depression (CRS). The CRS demonstrated sensitivity and specificity of 87 percent and 58 percent, respectively. Used as a screening instrument to rule out depression, the CRS yielded a negative predictive value of 94 percent. We identified a priori forty items from the CRS which should not be influenced by the non-psychiatric biologic effects of gynecologic tumors, and compared the performance of this non-cancer related symptoms subscale (NCSG) to that of the CRS. The NCSG did not significantly outperform the CRS; its sensitivity and specificity were 87 percent and 62 percent, respectively. Because our study population was relatively homogeneous (i.e., non-ovarian gynecologic oncology patients without severe debilitation who were not receiving chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other invasive procedures), the findings should not be generalized to other oncologic populations at this time. Our results suggest that patient self-report forms can be effective screening devices for identifying those non-ovarian, gynecologic oncology patients who should then be carefully evaluated for coexisting clinical depression.

Properties of acid beta-galactosidase from fowl spermatozoa.

1. Two forms, I and II, of beta-galactosidase [EC 3.2.1.23] from fowl spermatozoa were separated by Blue-Sepharose CL-6B chromatography. 2. The two forms of the enzyme yielded different pI values (4.1 and 4.7 for form I and 5.3 for form II). 3. Their gel filtration patterns were also different: form I resolved into two peaks with Mr about 65,000 and 80,000, whereas form II resolved into a single peak with an Mr of about 65,000. 4. Both forms had similar optimum pH, pH stability, thermal stability and Km values. 5. Differences between the characteristics of beta-galactosidase forms from spermatozoa and from seminal plasma suggest that the beta-galactosidases investigated in this study are spermatozoa-specific.

Treatment of depression in cancer patients is associated with better life adaptation: a pilot study.

Major depression occurs in a significant number of cancer patients, and there is evidence that cancer patients with depression do not receive adequate antidepressant treatment. In an uncontrolled pilot study, the authors assess the degree of depression and the quality of life after the initiation of antidepressant medication treatment in 12 depressed cancer patients who received adequate antidepressant drugs and in 10 depressed cancer patients who received inadequate antidepressant treatment. These preliminary findings suggest that cancer patients with major depression benefit from antidepressant medication treatment and may experience an improved psychosocial adjustment to cancer. Controlled clinical trials will be necessary to verify these preliminary findings.

The ACTH stimulation test before and after clinical recovery from depression.

Excessive cortisol secretion after cosyntropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone; ACTH) infusion in some depressed patients has suggested the possibility that the adrenal cortex may have heightened responsiveness to ACTH, and that this may contribute, in part, to activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. We administered an ACTH test and dexamethasone suppression test (DST) to 32 patients before and after treatment. Maximal cortisol response to ACTH demonstrated a significant decrease after treatment in the subgroup of melancholic/DST nonsuppressors (p = 0.04). When the cumulative cortisol response (CCR) to ACTH was examined, the DST nonsuppressors had a greater CCR decrease than suppressors (p = 0.03), and the melancholics a greater decrease than nonmelancholics (p = 0.02). The melancholic/DST nonsuppressor subgroup had the largest CCR decrease after treatment (p = 0.03), and these patients may represent a group of depressives with altered adrenocortical function that tends to "normalize" with clinical recovery.

Purification and properties of beta-galactosidase from chicken seminal plasma.

1. beta-Galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) from chicken seminal plasma was purified approx. 111-fold to homogeneity. 2. pH optimum of the enzyme ranged from 3.6 to 4.0 and its Km was 0.65 mM with p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside as substrate. 3. The enzyme was unstable at its optimal activity pH and was activated by Cl- ions. 4. The enzyme had pI value of 4.0. 5. The active enzyme had Mr approx. 100,000 by Sephacryl S-300 chromatography. SDS electrophoresis in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol showed four bands corresponding to Mr of approx. 90,000, 75,000, 65,000 and 13,000.

Depression in women treated for gynecological cancer: clinical and neuroendocrine assessment.

To determine the prevalence of major depression in cancer patients and assess the usefulness of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test for diagnosing major depression in these patients, the authors studied 83 women hospitalized for gynecological cancer. Nineteen (23%) had major depression according to DSM-III criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the DST were 40% and 88%, respectively. No relationship between DST and TRH test results was found. These findings indicate a high prevalence of depression in cancer patients, but further research on these tests in cancer patients is needed; their routine use with cancer patients is premature at this time.

Autoproteolytic activity in the seminal plasma of the domestic fowl.

Acid and neutral proteolytic activity was found in chicken seminal plasma. This proteolytic activity can markedly change the plasma polypeptide pattern due to partial protein degradation.