Myocardial hypertrophy, rate of change of free wall thickness and directional components of ventricular power in man

The diastolic (Vd) and systolic volumes, the average free wall diastolic thickness (hd) and left cardiac cavity pressures were determined in 25 subjects using monoplan angiography. Ten subjects presented a normal angiogram (NA), 5 a myocardiopathy with predominant dilatation (MCD), 4 a myocardiopathy with predominant non obstructive hypertrophy (MCH), and 6 a volume overload (VO). All the subjects had a normal coronary-cineangiogram. Myocardial volume (Vw) and systolic thickness were calculated from hd and from end-diastolic and end-systolic internal dimensions. The degree of myocardial hypertrophy was estimated from the value of Vw/Vd. The directional components of the total systolic elemental power due to thickening (average radial power : Pr) and to midwall circumferential shortening (average equatorial power : Pe) were calculated for each subject. Patients with NA, with MCD and with VO presented a positive linear correlation between Pr/Pe and Vw/Vd (r = 0.90). Patients with MCH were clearly below the regression line defined by the other groups. This relationship suggests that the contribution to the total power due to the thickening component is greater with increasing cardiac hypertrophy, except in the case of subjects showing an "inappropriate" hypertrophy.     

Expert consultation for cervical carcinoma smears. Reliability of selected-field videomicroscopy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of videomicroscopy image selection for expert consultation in cervical cytology. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred diagnostically difficult cervical cytologic smears were selected and rescreened by a general pathologist who chose, from each slide, four or five fields featuring abnormal cells. Video images were digitized and stored on a 512 x 512-pixel matrix using an image acquisition and transmission system. Five experts each reviewed 20 of the 100 cases, and a sixth reviewed all 100 cases. Diagnoses based on selected digitized images were compared to those based on conventional examination of whole slides. RESULTS: Intraobserver agreement was fair to excellent for all six experts (kappa value: 0.47-0.81); it was complete or acceptable in 68.4-85% of cases. Compared to the reference diagnosis, interobserver agreement was not significantly different whether cases were examined by screening the entire slide or by videomicroscopy of selected fields. The marked discordance in four cases concerned very small cells the significance of which was misinterpreted on videomicroscopy because of poor image quality due to lack of focus setting. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study showed that selection of videomicroscopy images seems as reliable as conventional examination of slides for expert consultation on diagnostically difficult cervical cytologic smear cases.     

Seed Priming of Bread Wheat Varieties with Growth Regulators and Nutrients Improves Salt Stress Tolerance Particularly for the Local Genotype

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Salt stress is a main factor limiting the production and productivity of wheat in arid and semi-arid zones. The objectives of this study were to compare the...     

Metabolism of arachidonic acid by caruncular and allantochorionic tissues in cows with retained fetal membranes (RFM)

The metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) by caruncular and allantochorionic tissues and its regulation was studied in normal cows (n=13) and those with retained fetal membranes (RFM; n=9). Tissues were taken via the vagina about 6 hours postpartum and incubated for 6 hours in minimum essential medium containing tritiated AA alone or in the presence of oxytocin, platelet activating factor (PAF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) or ionophore calcium (A23187). The metabolites of AA were separated by reverse phase-high pressure-liquid chromatography. Tissue concentrations of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and plasma 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF_2α (PGFM) concentration were also measured by radioimmunoassay. For caruncular tissue, less thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) and more 6-keto prostaglandin F_1α (PGIM) was synthesized in tissue from the animals with RFM than in the controls. Oxytocin, PAF, EGF and A23187 increased only PGIM production in the control animals; A23187 also decreased TBX₂ synthesis. For the allantochorion, more PGE₂, leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) and PGIM and less TXB₂, PGF_2α and hydroxyecosatetranoic acids (HETE) was synthesized in tissue from cows with RFM than from animals that delivered normally. All of the substances used in this study increased PGIM, PGF_2α and LTB₄ and decreased TXB₂ production by the allantochorionic tissue in control animals. The metabolism of AA by the allantochorionic tissue seems quantitatively under hormonal control. The metabolism of AA at the level of both maternal and fetal components of the placenta in cows with RFM differed from that seen in animals that expelled the membranes normally.     

Regional distribution of somatostatin receptor affinity states in rat brain: effects of divalent cations and GTP

In the present work, we have characterized by film radioautography the effects of divalent cations and guanine nucleotide on specific receptor for somatostatin (SRIF) using 125I-TyrO-DTrp8-SRIF14 (125I-ToD8-SRIF) as a ligand. The experiments were performed on coronal 20-microM-thick sections cut at the level of the amygdala, thus allowing to study binding sites in several regions enriched in binding sites (frontal cortex, hippocampus CA1 and dentate gyrus, habenula, basolateral nucleus of the amygdala). In a preliminary set of experiments using brain cortical membranes it was found that 3 mM Mg2+ ions doubled the specific binding of 125I-ToD8-SRIF. However, Mg2+ enhanced equally by a factor of 3 affinities of high- and low-affinity binding sites as evidenced by SMS 201.995 displacement curves without modifying the ratio between high and low affinity sites. In radioautographic studies while SRIF14 and SRIF28 elicited monophasic displacement curves, SMS 201.995 displaced 125I-ToD8-SRIF binding in a biphasic manner in all regions tested but the baso-lateral nucleus of the amygdala. Radioautographic distribution of 125I-ToD8-SRIF binding sites was identical whether the sections were incubated with MgCl2 or with MnCl2 and almost undetectable in the absence of ions. In all structures investigated increasing concentrations of GTP totally inhibited 125I-ToD8-SRIF binding with an IC50 value of 3 microM. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that 125I-ToD8-SRIF-binding sites in brain occur on two different affinity states as assessed by a displacement curve using endogenous ligands and SMS 201.995. According to the comparable effects of divalent cations and GTP, the two subtypes of 125I-ToD8-SRIF-binding sites discriminated by SMS 201.995 are likely to correspond to interconvertible forms of the same receptor coupled to a G protein-transducing system.     

Effect of streptozotocin-diabetes on rat liver asialoglycoprotein receptor turnover: in vivo degradation and in vitro biosynthesis

The metabolic turnover of the Hepatic Binding Protein (HBP) was investigated in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. We have already shown that diabetes induced a decreased ligand binding capacity while the immunoreactive HBP was normal. To explore the eventual modifications due to diabetic state upon the turnover of HBP, we followed the in vivo degradation of HBP and its biosynthesis in vitro. After in vivo labelling with L-[3H] leucine and purification of HBP from rat livers, we found a 20% decrease in diabetic HBP half-life. By in vitro incubations of freshly isolated hepatocytes and a 2 h-pulse in the presence of L-[35S] methionine, we showed that diabetes provokes an increased uptake of L-[35S] methionine in hepatocytes allowing an augmented synthesis of HBP although the L-[35S] methionine incorporation into total proteins was less efficient.     

The effectiveness of two smoking cessation programmes for use in general practice: a randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate a structured, behavioural change, smoking cessation intervention designed for use within general practice. DESIGN--Randomised controlled clinical trial. SETTING--General practices in Newcastle, Australia. PATIENTS--311 Patients identified as smokers by a screening question were enrolled in the study. Of these, 101 were assigned to a structured behavioural change programme, 104 to a simple advice programme adapted from previous research, and 106 to a control group. No significant differences were found between groups for demographic and smoking related variables before the study. INTERVENTIONS--Patients in the simple advice group received a brief statement of advice from the general practitioner as well as three pamphlets; those in the structured intervention group were given strategies which included attitude and behavioural change programmes as well as techniques to aid compliance. The amount of smoking in all groups was assessed by self reports with validation by measurement of salivary cotinine concentrations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Significant increase in cessation rates. CONCLUSIONS--Significant differences between controls and the structured behavioural change group were found at the one month follow up, but only for self reported abstinence. The simple advice programme did not produce any significant differences over the control group. General practitioner evaluation of the structured programme highlighted difficulties in relation to the duration of the intervention. Overall the structured programme in its present form did not appear to be an effective programme for use within general practice.     

Decylubiquinol impedes mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I activity

In this study, indirect immunofluorescence labeling was used to examine the cellular dynamic distribution of Thr11 phosphorylated H3 at mitosis in MCF-7 cells. The Thr11 phosphorylation was observed beginning at prophase at centromeres. Upon progression of mitosis, fluorescence signal was enhanced in the central region of the metaphase plate and maintained till anaphase at centromeres. During telophase, the fluorescent signal of Thr11 phosphorylated H3 disappears from centromeres, but the signal appears again at the midbody during cytokinesis, which suggests that the modified histones may take part in the formation of the midbody and play a crucial role in cytokinesis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was used to confirm that Thr11 phosphorylated H3 is specifically associated with centromere DNA at prophase to metaphase, which is coincident with the results observed by immunofluorescence. In conclusion, there was a precise spatial and temporal correlation between H3 phosphorylation of Thr11 and stages of chromatin condensation. The timing of Thr11 phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in mitosis were similar to that reported for Ser10 phosphorylation of H3. The Thr11 phosphorylated H3 localized at centromeres during mitosis, which was different from the Ser10 phosphorylated H3 localized at telomere regions and Thr3 phosphorylated H3 localized along the chromosome arms. The results suggest that the Thr11 phosphorylation of histone H3 may play a specific role which was different from Ser10 and Thr3 phosphorylation in mitosis.     

Dietary fish oil positively regulates plasma leptin and adiponectin levels in sucrose-fed, insulin-resistant rats

Insulin resistance and adiposity induced by a long-term sucrose-rich diet (SRD) in rats could be reversed by fish oil (FO). Regulation of plasma leptin and adiponectin levels, as well as their gene expression, by FO might be implicated in these findings. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term regulation of leptin and adiponectin by dietary FO in a dietary model of insulin resistance induced by long-term SRD in rats and to determine their impact on adiposity and insulin sensitivity. Rats were randomized to consume a control diet (CD; n = 25) or an SRD (n = 50) for 7 mo. Subsequently, the SRD-fed rats were randomized to consume SRD+FO or to continue on SRD for an additional 2 mo. Long-term SRD induced overweight and decreased both plasma leptin and adiponectin levels without change in gene expression. Dyslipidemia, adiposity, and insulin resistance accompanied these modifications. Shifting the source of fat to FO for 2 mo increased plasma levels of both adipokines, reversed insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, and improved adiposity. These results were not associated with modifications in gene expression. These results suggest that increasing both adipokines by dietary FO might play an essential role in the normalization of insulin resistance and adiposity in dietary-induced, insulin-resistant models.     

HLA polymorphism in type 1 diabetes Tunisians

Several studies of the association between HLA and type 1 diabetes have been carried out revealing differences between ethnic groups. Our study, as part of the studies that should be performed about this association in the rest of the word, aims at elucidating the HLA DRB1, DQB1 polymorphism in Tunisian type 1 diabetes. This study includes 43 unrelated type 1 diabetes patients, and their mean age at onset is less than 15 years. Analysis of the frequency of alleles and haplotypes in these subjects, compared to a reference group (n = 101) led to the following results. 1) The Tunisian insulin-dependent diabetics present similarities as well as differences with other ethnic groups (Caucasians, North Africans). 2) The haplotype DRB1*04 DQ*0302 and DRB1*03 DQB1*0201 is positively associated to type 1 diabetes. 3) The heterozygotic genotype DRB1*04 DQB1*0302 / DRB1*03 DQB1*0201 is strongly associated to type 1 diabetes. 4) The haplotypes DRB1*01501 DQB1*0602 and DRB1*11 DQB1*0301 proved to be protective. In addition, the study of the subtypes DRB1*04 showed that alleles DRB1*0405 predispose to type 1 diabetes, whereas the allele DRB1*0403, which is in linkage disequilibrium with the DQB1*0402 in the Tunisian population, has a protective effect.