We have recently shown that cigarette smoking is associated with lesser responses to potent antiretroviral therapies. Certain Cytochrome P-450 enzymes activate compounds derived from tobacco smoke into toxic forms that may promote HIV-1 gene expression through promotion of DNAadduct formation by the oxidation of chemical constituents of cigarette smoke, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins. To explore the association between environmental and genetic factors to viral replication in women who smoke and receive highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), we assessed the impact of polymorphisms in a panel of four Cytochrome P-450 genes (CYP1A1, CYP2A6, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1) and two Glutathione S-transferase genes (GSTM1 and GSST1) in 924 participants of the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). Our findings showed that GSTM1 and GSST1 deletions were not associated with HAART effectiveness. By contrast, homozygosity for the CYP1A1-m1 polymorphism, was associated with impaired viral response to treatment among smokers (relative hazard (RH) = 0.54; 95% confidence interval = 0.31-0.94) after adjustment for pretreament viral load, CD4 count, age, hepatitis C infecDavid N. Feldman is with the

The synthesis and biological activities of biarylamide-substituted diaminoindanes as microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitors are described. One of the more potent compounds, 8aR, inhibited both the secretion of apoB from Hep G2 cells and the MTP-mediated transfer of triglycerides between synthetic acceptor and donor liposomes with IC(50) values of 0.7 and 70 nM, respectively. In normolipidemic rats and dogs, oral administration of 8aR dose-dependently reduced both plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol. Moreover, in rats and dogs, 8aR also prevented the postprandial rise in plasma triglycerides following a bolus administration of a fat load. Because MTP inhibitors decrease very low density lipoprotein assembly in the liver, the potential for hepatic lipid accumulation was evaluated. In normolipidemic rats, hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride contents were dose-dependently increased by 8aR. However, hepatic lipid accumulation resulted in negligible change in total liver weight and was reversible after withdrawal of the compound.

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T n I: The Concept of Formula he publication of "The Conce t of Formula in the Study of Popular Literature"P was a milestone in Popular Culture Studies. John Cawelti's essay argued that i t is possible t o ascertain recurrent conventional systems, or "formulas," in popular literature that are peculiar t o a given culture, and suggested that these narrative formulas could tell __ us much about the dreams, values and often otherwise unarticulated needs of that culture. Popular Culture scholars were grateful for any tool that would assist them in beginning to organize and analyze the plethora of popular stories. The concept of formula was especially well received, perhaps, by the variously trained Popular Culture constituency because Cawelti's theory embraced the social scientists' methodology (usually content analysis) while exploring primarily literarylhumanistic concerns (plots, themes, characterizations, etc.). David Soneschein's work with romance magazines' and particularly Morton Cronin's essay o n Currier and Ives prints3 are excellent examples of the compatibility of formula and orthodox content analysis techniques. Most of the extended applications of the concept of formula, however, have used analytical rather than quantitative methods, including Cawelti's own examination of the western formula, The Six-Gun M y~t i q u e .~ Cawelti's influence is evident, and acknowledged, in Horace Newcomb's TI.': The Most Popular Art.' In this first serious attempt at forging a television aesthetic, Newcomb utilizes a formulaic approach.Formula studies have proven, often, t o b e cultural analyses in the best sense; they have told us much about American society without ignoring the artistic context of their subject matter. In my study and teaching of popular culture, however, many questions and problems have developed in applying the concept of formula; it will be the attempt t o outline three major problems 384132