Attitudes Toward Weight Gain in Pregnancy

Recently, there has been increased interest in the influence of maternal prenatal nutrition on the course and outcome of pregnancy. Evidence has accumulated that a woman''s weight before pregnancy and the weight gained during pregnancy directly affect infant birth weight, incidence of neonatal mortality, and growth and development of the infant during the first year of life. Although recent recommendations for weight gain in pregnancy have been liberalized, a survey of 195 pregnant women who had prenatal visits in both clinic and private offices showed deficiencies in their understanding of the subject. Some 37 percent of women believed they should gain 20 pounds (9 kg) or less during pregnancy. Eight percent admitted to dieting before at least one antenatal visit and 54 percent thought their doctor would not be concerned about too little weight gained during pregnancy. This suggests that many women and some doctors are still ignorant of current concepts of proper nutrition during pregnancy. Apparently, increased lay and professional educational efforts are needed.     

Effects of stream-crossing by a pipeline on the benthic macroinvertebrate communities of a small mountain stream

Aquatic environmental impact associated with stream-crossing by a pipeline was monitored at Archibald Creek, B.C. for two years. Water chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrates were used as monitoring tools. Results indicated that impacts arising from stream-crossing were short-term and non-residual.Funded by a contract from Canadian Arctic Gas Study Limited, calgary, to Aquatic Environments Limited, Calgary.Aquatic Environments Limited, Calgary.Aquatic Environments Limited, Calgary.     

Bcl-2 phosphorylation is required for inhibition of oxidative stress-induced lysosomal leak and ensuing apoptosis.

B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) blocks oxidant-induced apoptosis at least partly by stabilizing lysosomes. Here we report that phosphorylation of Bcl-2 may be required for these protective effects. J774 cells overexpressing wild-type Bcl-2 resist oxidant-induced lysosomal leak as well as apoptosis, and this protection is amplified by pretreatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (which promotes protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent phosphorylation of Bcl-2). In contrast, cells overexpressing the Bcl-2 mutant S70A (which cannot be phosphorylated) are not protected in either circumstance. Transfection with Bcl-2(S70E), a constitutively active Bcl-2 mutant which does not require phosphorylation, is protective independent of PKC activation. In contrast, C(2)-ceramide, a putative protein phosphatase 2A activator, abolishes the protective effects of wild-type Bcl-2 overexpression but does not diminish protection afforded by Bcl-2(S70E). Additional results suggest that, perhaps as a consequence of lysosomal stabilization, Bcl-2 may prevent activation of phospholipase A2, an event potentially important in the ultimate initiation of apoptosis.