Expression of a human hT17M mutant rhodopsin transgene in mice is associated with photoreceptor apoptosis in response to moderate exposure to light. This phenotype was not observed in nontransgenic littermates or in mice expressing an hP23H mutant human rhodopsin transgene. The results suggest that elimination of the glycosylation site at N15 is associated with increased sensitivity to light-induced damage.

Patterns of memory performance were examined for 9 participants with HIV-associated dementia (HAD), 15 HIV-seropositive participants without dementia, and 15 HIV-seronegative controls. Episodic and semantic memory were assessed using the California Verbal Learning Test, the Boston Naming Test, and Verbal Fluency tests. The HAD group showed deficits in episodic memory, with relative sparing of semantic memory. In addition, results suggest a retrieval deficit in HAD rather than a deficit in retention of information. This pattern is consistent with the presence of a subcortical dementing process and supports findings from previous neuropathological, neuroimaging, and neuropsychological studies suggesting that subcortical brain dysfunction is frequently associated with HIV disease (e.g., Navia, Jordan, & Price, 1986).

The Golden Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) has been shown to be a useful model of both human lipoprotein metabolism and the development of atherosclerosis. We report the effects of dietary lipids on the progression and regression of atherosclerosis in this model. In the first study, hamsters fed on coconut oil (150 g/kg diet) and cholesterol (30 g/kg diet) developed lipid-rich lesions in the ascending aorta (0⋅28 (SD 0⋅14) mm 2 ) and aortic arch (0⋅01 (SD 0⋅01) mm 2 ) after 4 weeks that continued to progress over the next 8 weeks (0⋅75 (SD 0⋅41) mm 2 and 0⋅12 (SD 0⋅11) mm 2 for the ascending aorta and aortic arch respectively). Removal of cholesterol from the diet halted this progression. Furthermore, in animals fed on olive oil in the absence of added cholesterol, plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations were lower (P Ͻ 0⋅05) and the extent of atherosclerotic lesions was reduced (P Ͻ 0⋅001 for both regions of the aorta) compared with animals fed on coconut oil (with no added cholesterol). In a second study, animals were fed on the atherogenic diet for 10 weeks, transferred to diets containing either coconut oil (150 g/kg diet) or olive oil (150 g/kg diet) without added cholesterol and monitored for up to 16 weeks. In the ascending aorta, lesion size doubled in animals fed on coconut oil but stabilized in those fed on olive oil. In the aortic arch, lesion size decreased linearly (P Ͻ 0⋅05, P Ͻ 0⋅001 for coconut oil and olive oil respectively) with the greatest reduction being seen in the olive-oil-fed animals (P Ͻ 0⋅05). Again, progression and regression of atherosclerosis appeared to reflect the relative concentrations of LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in the plasma. We conclude that the male Golden Syrian hamster represents a useful model of dietary induced regression as well as progression of atherosclerosis. Hamster: Atherosclerosis: Coconut oil: Olive oil: Dietary fatThe Golden Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) has been used extensively in studies of lipoprotein metabolism.

Improvements to conventional treatments indicate that ECMO eligibility criteria may need to be revised to identify accurately those infants who are at extreme risk of mortality if treated conventionally.

No abstract

No abstract