Effect of nicotine on fibroblast beta 1 integrin expression and distribution in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Integrins are a family of transmembrane cell surface glycoproteins, and those with the beta 1-subunit function in both cell-to-cell and cell-to-substrate adhesion. The purpose of this study was to determine nicotine's effect on the expression and distribution of the beta 1 integrin subunit on the human gingival fibroblast cell surface. METHODS: Pure nicotine was diluted in medium to the following concentrations: 0 (control), 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 microM. Human gingival fibroblasts (HFG) were grown for 24 hours in each concentration and fluorescein-labeled with a mouse monoclonal anti-human beta 1 antibody and secondarily incubated with a urease-labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody. After a final wash, the cells were incubated with urea/bromcresol blue substrate for 15 minutes at 37 degrees C and measured in a microplate reader at 570 nm. RESULTS: The integrin beta 1-subunit was detected on the HGF surface membrane by fluorescence labeling, and cell-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing demonstrated its decreased expression with increasing nicotine concentrations that were statistically different at the concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4 microM versus controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4 microM significantly decrease beta 1 integrin expression in human gingival fibroblasts that may affect cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion during wound healing.

Drug-induced urolithiasis.

Diagnostic and therapeutic drugs may enhance urolithiasis in one or a combination of ways, including: (1) alteration of urine pH in such fashion as to create an environment that increases the solubility of some lithogenic substances, (2) alteration of glomerular filtration rate, tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion of drugs of endogenous substances so as to enhance promoters or impair inhibitors of urolithiasis, and (3) precipitation (e.g., drugs or their metabolites) to form a portion or all of a urolith.

Indinavir crystalluria: identification of patients at increased risk of developing nephrotoxicity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the protease inhibitor indinavir sulfate, which is extremely insoluble at physiologic pH levels and which is known to be associated with nephrolithiasis, is associated with crystalluria at a usual therapeutic dose. METHODS: Freshly voided urine from 27 male human immunodeficiency virus patients being treated with indinavir at a dose of 800 mg, tid, in an outpatient setting and from 20 healthy subjects undergoing routine physical examination was subjected to dipstick urinalysis and microscopic examination of urinary sediments. RESULTS: Three (11%) of 27 patients treated with indinavir developed highly characteristic crystalluria during the course of therapy. No such crystals were observed in the urine of the 20 healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: Indinavir crystalluria was identified in asymptomatic patients treated with usual therapeutic doses of the drug. Screening urines of patients taking indinavir may be useful in identifying patients at risk for developing nephrotoxicity.

Validation studies of a multifactor cognitive-behavioral Anger Control Inventory.

Two studies are reported on a new Anger Control Inventory based on a cognitive-behavioral person-situation interaction model. In Study 1, the inventory responses of 118 clinical subjects and 190 normal subjects were correlated with an anger problem criterion based on observable signs. Factor analyses were conducted to clarify the construct base of the inventory. In Study 2, comparisons were made between the inventory responses of 100 spouse batterers and 96 normal subjects. Significant differences between the pretreatment and posttreatment scores of 65 batterers given treatment in anger control were obtained on the inventory scales, which were found to be correlated with the problem criterion and discriminating between the clinical and normal groups. The construct validity and clinical utility of the Anger Control Inventory are discussed.