Alterations in Sulfolipid Metabolism in Malathion-Stressed Rats

The effects of malathion stress on, inorganic sulfur metabolism in female rats were investigated by extracting macromolecules containing ester sulfate from cellular lipoprotein. Sulfolipid, mucopoly saccharide, nucleotide, and sulfate transfer fraction were extracted from the lipoprotein prepared from five to seven pooled livers from rats fed diets containing 0.42, 0.10, and 0.0002 percent sulfate. Six groups of rats (two groups per diet) were fed the diets for 21 days. Rats were given either malathion in corn oil or only corn oil by stomach tube every 24 hours for three days and were killed on day 21. Lipoprotein was isolated from liver by exhaustive salt extraction. Determination of the specific activities of the macromolecules from lipoprotein by liquid scintillation counting revealed a statistically significant increase in 35SO4= incorporation into sulfolipid of malathion-stressed rats as compared with controls fed the diet containing 0.10 percent sulfate. In general, malathion stress caused increases in specific activities of liver lipoprotein macromolecules. These increases were generally intensified by decreasing the level of dietary sulfate. An investigation was initiated in order to identify the cellular component and the mechanism causing the increased 35SO4= incorporation into sulfolipid observed in malathion-stressed rats. Total galactose, sulfate, and 35S activity were determined in liver lipoprotein sulfolipid extracted from nuclei, mitochondria, and the residue from groups of 16 and 20 pooled livers from malathion-stressed rats and controls, respectively. These rats were fed the diet containing 0.10 percent sulfate. Data indicated that nuclear sulfolipid was the component of lipoprotein most active in 35SO4= incorporation and probably was responsible for the increased 35S activity previously observed in cellular lipoprotein sulfolipid. The galactose sulfate molar ratio in cellular lipoprotein sulfolipid from the cell particulates indicated that sulfate was being mobilized from sulfolipid. Arylsulfatase activity was estimated in groups of three pooled livers from malathion-stressed rats and controls (five groups each) fed the diet containing 0. 10 percent sulfate. A statistically significant increase in arylsulfatase activity per mg of nitrogen was found in liver homogenates of malathion-stressed rats as compared with controls. This finding provided further evidence for the mobilization of sulfate from sulfolipid from malathion-stressed rats

Alterations of Sulfur Metabolism in Malathion-Treated Rats

: Abbreviated The investigation reported in this thesis was designed to study the effects of malathion administration on sulfate fixation in rats and to determine whether or not these effects are related to the level of inorganic sulfate in the diet

Psychiatric, behavioural and social risk factors for HIV infection among female drug users

Female drug users report greater psychopathology and risk behaviours than male drug users, putting them at greater risk for HIV. This mixed-methods study determined psychiatric, behavioural and social risk factors for HIV among 118 female drug users (27% (32/118) were HIV seropositive) in Barcelona. DSM-IV disorders were assessed using the Spanish Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders. 30 participants were interviewed in-depth. In stepwise multiple backward logistic regression, ever injected with a used syringe, antisocial personality disorder, had an HIV seropositive sexual partner and substance-induced major depressive disorder were associated with HIV seropositivity. Qualitative findings illustrate the complex ways in which psychiatric disorders and male drug-using partners interact with these risk factors. Interventions should address all aspects of female drug users’ lives to reduce HIV