Children and marital satisfaction in a non-Western sample: having more children increases marital satisfaction among the Igbo people of Nigeria

Previous research has demonstrated that having more children decreases marital satisfaction among parents. However, the universality of these findings is limited since the vast majority of the studies have been conducted in Western countries. In the present study, 374 people from the Igbo ethnic group (Nigeria) were assessed for levels of marital satisfaction and the number of children. In contrast to almost all previous findings, we found a positive relationship between the number of children and marital satisfaction among parents. Number of children was the strongest predictor of marital satisfaction even when compared to other variables like wealth and education. Our results suggest that the negative relationship between the number of children and marital satisfaction is not culturally universal and probably only characterizes developed, individualistic Western countries. We discuss our findings from a sociocultural and evolutionary perspective.     

The Redox Biochemistry of Protein Sulfenylation and Sulfinylation

Controlled generation of reactive oxygen species orchestrates numerous physiological signaling events (Finkel, T. (2011) Signal transduction by reactive oxygen species. J. Cell Biol. 194, 7–15). A major cellular target of reactive oxygen species is the thiol side chain (RSH) of Cys, which may assume a wide range of oxidation states (i.e. −2 to +4). Within this context, Cys sulfenic (Cys-SOH) and sulfinic (Cys-SO₂H) acids have emerged as important mechanisms for regulation of protein function. Although this area has been under investigation for over a decade, the scope and biological role of sulfenic/sulfinic acid modifications have been recently expanded with the introduction of new tools for monitoring cysteine oxidation in vitro and directly in cells. This minireview discusses selected recent examples of protein sulfenylation and sulfinylation from the literature, highlighting the role of these post-translational modifications in cell signaling.     

Modelling ultraviolet exposures in a school environment.

A technique has been developed to represent erythemally effective ultraviolet radiation exposure within a school environment. The technique models the erythemally effective exposure onto a horizontal plane representation of a mapped school environment located in Hervey Bay (25 degrees S, 153 degrees E), Australia. The input parameters used to model the ultraviolet exposures received within the school playground included the measured sky view, ground albedo and standing surface albedo. Estimates of the erythemally effective ultraviolet exposure received within the school playground during morning tea and lunch time meal breaks during a winter and summer school day are presented. The influence of tree shade and building structure was found to vary significantly with solar zenith angle modelled over the winter and summer school meal break times with horizontal plane exposures predicted to vary from between 0 and 7 SED at different locations within the playground. The technique presented provides a method that can be followed to examine the effect of surrounding buildings and surface structures of real environments on the predicted horizontal plane ultraviolet exposure.     

The actions of Ca2+ ionophores on rat basophilic (2H3) cells are dependent on cellular ATP and hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids. A comparison with antigen stimulation

Calcium-specific ionophores are used widely to stimulate Ca2+-dependent secretion from cells on the assumption that permeabilization of the cell membranes to Ca2+ ions leads to a rise in concentration of cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), which in turn serves as a signal for secretion. In this way, events that precede mobilization of Ca2+ ions via receptor stimulation are bypassed. One such event is thought to be the rapid hydrolysis of membrane inositol phospholipids to form inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol. Accordingly, rat leukemic basophil (2H3) cells can be stimulated to secrete histamine either with the ionophores or by aggregation of receptors for IgE in the plasma membrane. We find, however, that ionophore A23187 stimulates secretion of histamine only at concentrations (200-1000 nM) that stimulate hydrolysis of membrane inositol phospholipids. The extent of hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids was dependent on the concentration of ionophore and the presence of external Ca2+ ions and correlated with the magnitude of the secretory response. A similar correlation between secretion and hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids was observed in response to the Ca2+-specific ionophore, ionomycin. Although this hydrolysis (possibly a consequence of elevated [Ca2+]i) was less extensive than that induced by aggregation of receptors, it may govern the secretory response to A23187. The studies revealed one paradox. The rise in [Ca2+]i depended on intracellular ATP levels, when either an ionophore or antigen was used as a stimulant irrespective of whether hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids was stimulated or not. The concept of how the ionophores act, therefore, requires critical reevaluation.     

Binding and precipitating activities ofErythrina lectins with complex type carbohydrates and synthetic cluster glycosides. A comparative study of the lectins fromE. corallodendron,E. cristagalli,E. flabelliformis,andE. indica

Erythrina lectins possess similar structural and carbohydrate binding properties. Recently, tri- and tetra-antennary complex type carbohydrates with non-reducing terminal galactose residues have been shown to be precipitated as tri- and tetravalent ligands, respectively, with certainErythrina lectins [Bhattacharyya L, Haraldsson M, Brewer CF (1988) Biochemistry 271034-41]. The present work describes a comparative study of the binding and precipitating activities of fourErythrina lectins,viz. E. corallodendron, E. cristagalli, E. flabelliformis, andE. indica, with multi-antennary complex type carbohydrates and synthetic cluster glycosides. The results show that though their binding affinities are very similar, theErythrina lectins show large differences in their precipitating activities with the carbohydrates. The results also indicate significant dependence of the precipitating activities of the lectins on the core structure of the carbohydrates. These findings provide a new dimension to the structure-activity relationship of the lectins and their interactions with asparagine-linked carbohydrates.Abbreviations EAL, ECorL, ECL, EFL, and EIL represent the lectins from the seeds ofErythrina arborescens, - E. corallodendron, E. cristagalli, E. flabelliformis, andE. indica respectively - AFOS thetri-antennary complex type oligosaccharide from asialofetuin - AFGP the tri-antennary glycopeptide from asialofetuin - MeGal methyl -d-galactopyranoside Unless stated otherwise all sugars are in thed-configuration.     

Hexose transport in human myoblasts.

The present investigation reports on the hexose transport properties of human myoblasts isolated from normal subjects and from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Similar to rat myoblast L6, normal human myoblasts possess a high- (HAHT) and a low- (LAHT) affinity hexose transport system. The non-metabolizable hexose analogue, 2-deoxyglucose, is preferentially taken up by HAHT. The transport of this analogue is the rate-limiting step in the uptake process. This human myoblast HAHT is also similar to that of the rat myoblast in its substrate specificity and in response to the energy uncouplers, cytochalasin B and phloretin. The human myoblast LAHT resembles that of rat myoblast in its insensitivity to energy uncouplers, and in its transport affinity and capacity for 3-O-methyl-D-glucose. Although DMD myoblasts resemble their normal counterpart in their ability to differentiate, they differ significantly in their hexose transport properties. In addition to HAHT and LAHT present in normal human myoblast, DMD myoblasts contain a super-high-affinity hexose transport system (SHAHT). SHAHT can be detected only at very low substrate concentrations. It differs from HAHT not only in its much higher transport affinity, but also in its response to the traditional hexose transport inhibitors. For example, SHAHT can be activated by cytochalasin B and phlorizin, whereas it is more sensitive to inhibition by phloretin. Unlike HAHT, energy uncouplers are found to be ineffective in inhibiting SHAHT. It should be mentioned that SHAHT cannot be detected in myoblasts isolated from patients with other types of myopathy. The present study serves to demonstrate that more than one hexose transport system is operating in human skeletal muscle cells, as found in other cell types.     

Immunophenotyping of acute myeloid leukaemia: relevance of analysing different lineage-associated markers

The immunophenotype of 135 previously untreated patients with FAB defined acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) was studied at diagnosis. The panel of reagents included monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) recognising myeloid-associated determinants (CD11, CD13, CD14, CD33 and others) as well as MoAb directed towards lymphoid antigens (CD7, CD10, CD19) and TdT. The results indicate that CD13 and/or CD33 are consistently expressed in AML and only rarely in ALL blasts (131/135 + ve cases, versus 4/130 in ALL). Lymphoid antigen expression was rarely detected when CD10 and CD19 were investigated in AML (0.9% and 2% + ve cases, respectively), whereas significant positivities were found for TdT and CD7 (20% and 10% respectively). Concerning FAB subtypes, two new MoAb (LAM3 and LAM7) proved very useful in the specific recognition of AML with monocytic features. The phenotype CD13+ and/or CD33+, CD9+, HLA-DR- was found to be almost exclusive for M3 AML. The response to induction chemotherapy was analysed in CD7+ and in TdT+ patients. In the latter group a statistically significant lower response rate was found with respect to TdT-ve-AML patients.     

Intrinsic potential for high fetal hemoglobin production in a Druze family with β-thalassemia is due to an unlinked genetic determinant

Summary The mechanism for elevated production of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) in a Druze patient with °-thalassemia intermedia was investigated. Heterozygous family members exhibited normal Hb F levels, suggesting that the increase in -gene expression in the propositus may be partly due to anemic stress. Erythroid progenitors of these family members cultured in vitro [burst forming units (erythroid); (BFUe)] showed elevated synthesis of Hb F, indicating the existence of a genetically determined intrinsic capacity for high Hb F production in this family. The propositus was found to be homozygous for a IVS2-position 1 mutation, on the background of Mediterranean haplotype I, which is not known to be linked to high Hb F production. Moreover, extensive molecular studies of the -globin gene cluster, including sequence analysis of the promoter regions of the -globin genes, did not reveal any cisacting mechanism that could account for the high Hb F production in the propositus. A young niece of the propositus with °-thalassemia major was recently discovered, who was homozygous for the same -globin allele and haplotype as the propositus. However, unlike her uncle, she does not have a high Hb F level and presents with a severe clinical course. Her inability to produce high Hb F suggests that the genetic determinant for increased -gene expression in the propositus is unlinked to the -globin gene cluster.