Effect of Li+ upon the Mg2+-dependent activation of recombinant Gialpha1.

Although lithium salts have been used in the treatment and prophylaxis of manic-depressive or bipolar patients for 50 years, the mechanism of the pharmacologic action of Li+ is unknown. Based on activity studies of inhibitory and stimulatory guanine-binding (G) proteins in rat cortical membranes, it was proposed that Li+ inhibition of G-proteins may account for its pharmacologic action. We used the purified alpha subunit of the recombinant inhibitory G-protein, rGialpha1, and found that Li+ at therapeutic levels significantly inhibited the formation of the GDP.AlF4-.rGialpha1 complex. Because our studies were conducted with a purified, metal-reconstituted G-protein rather than with cell membrane suspensions, our Li+ inhibition results lend additional support to the G-protein hypothesis for Li+ action.

[The instruction for undergraduate graduation at the Ribeirao Preto Nursing School of Sao Paulo--its prospects]. / O ensino de graduação na escola de enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo-suas prospectivas.

Authors focused the undergraduate education at the College of Nursing, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Campus, through its historical and conceptual mark since its establishment in the 1950's. In the 1980's, a study of curriculum modification originated from a wide process of discussion, culminated in a proposal of formation of generalized nurses and the introduction of a new curriculum in 1989. According to authors' version, the prospectives to nursing education depend on the schools' reflection about the University's role in the reorientation of health services and formation of students aiming at political, scientific and technical competence to actuate at different levels of community health assistance. A new educational model will require a curriculum reorientation and the insertion of schools in the health services as a strategic component of the integration of education with professional practice.

[The scientific production of nurses in São Paulo State in the triennium of 1985-1988]. / A produção científica do enfermeiro do Estado de São Paulo no triênio 1985-1988.

An exploratory study of the research carried out by nurses belonging to the Brazilian Nursing Association from 1985 to 1988 was conducted with following objectives: to analyze the characteristics of the scientific production of nurses; to identify the forms of dissemination of these studies, and to determine the expectations of nurses with respect to the Center of Nursing Studies and Research "Centro de Estudos e Pesquisas em Enfermagem" (CEPEn). Scientific papers, reports of experience, theses and monographs predominated in the production identified. The forms of dissemination most frequently mentioned were scientific events and publication in Brazilian journals. The suggestions presented to CEPEn point at the need of promoting events, courses, research meetings, research dissemination and consulting on projects.

Lanthanide complexes of aminophosphonates as shift reagents for 7Li and 23Na NMR studies in biological systems.

A systematic NMR characterization of various Dy(III) complexes of linear and macrocyclic aminophosphonates as 7Li and 23Na NMR shift reagents for biological systems was undertaken. Their efficacy as shift reagents (SR) was tested under constant aqueous solution ionic strength conditions at pH 7.5 as a function of rho = [SR]/[M+]. Further characterization of the two best SRs, Dy(PcPcP)2(7-) and Dy(DOTP)5-, led to the conclusion that, although quite sensitive to solution pH and the presence of alkali metal ions and Mg2+ and Ca2+, these complexes were stable towards hydrolysis by phosphatases. The lack of precipitation of its solutions in the presence of Ca2+, allowed the choice of Dy(DOTP)5- as the best overall SR for biological studies. Other SRs, like Dy(TTHA)3-, although less sensitive to pH and to divalent ions, require significantly higher concentrations to yield the same shifts, leading to large bulk susceptibility artifacts in perfused tissues and organs.

Competition between Li+ and Mg2+ for ATP in human erythrocytes. A 31P NMR and optical spectroscopy study.

We have investigated the influence of Li+ on free intracellular Mg2+ concentration in human erythrocytes by 31P NMR and optical absorbance spectroscopies. In red cells loaded with 3 mM intracellular Li+, the chemical shift separation between the alpha- and beta-phosphate resonances of MgATP2- was approx. 0.9 ppm larger than that observed in Li+-free red cells. By analyzing the interaction of each red cell component with Mg2+ and Li+, we found that Mg2+ is displaced in part from MgATP2- upon addition of Li+ and that the released Mg2+ is bound to the red cell membrane causing an overall decrease in free intracellular Mg2+ concentration.

[Nutritional hygiene in the neonatal period: a review of the literature]. / Higiene alimentar no período neonatal: revisão da literatura.

The present study makes a bibliographic review about the alimentary hygiene of children in the neonatal period. It describes the advantages of maternal milk by attending the basic principles that should govern the children's feeding, the importance of free scheme breast-feeding to emotional development, as well as ventral and right side-lying position and belching to the prevention of accidents.