Spermatogenesis and the testosterone level in young male silver foxes in their reproductive period

15.7% of spermatozoa were found to be abnormal in silver fox males during their first reproductive season. The total number of spermatozoa and the abnormal spermatogenesis remained unchanged during mating season. Sexual stimulation increased the testosterone level only at the beginning of the mating season.     

Functional analysis of the amino- and carboxyl-termini of streptokinase

1. The classical ATP sensitive K+ (K(ATP)) channels are composed of a sulphonylurea receptor (SUR) and an inward rectifying K+ channel subunit (BIR/Kir6.2). They are the targets of vasorelaxant agents called K+ channel openers, such as pinacidil and nicorandil. 2. In order to examine the tissue selectivity of pinacidil and nicorandil, in vitro, we compared the effects of these agents on cardiac type (SUR2A/Kir6.2) and vascular smooth muscle type (SUR2B/Kir6.2) of the K(ATP) channels heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells, a human embryonic kidney cell line, by using the patch-clamp method. 3. In the cell-attached recordings (145 mM K+ in the pipette), pinacidil and nicorandil activated a weakly inwardly-rectifying, glibenclamide-sensitive 80 pS K+ channel in both the transfected cells. 4. In the whole-cell configuration, pinacidil showed a similar potency in activating the SUR2B/Kir6.2 and SUR2A/Kir6.2 channels (EC50 of approximately 2 and approximately 10 microM, respectively). On the other hand, nicorandil activated the SUR2B/Kir6.2 channel > 100 times more potently than the SUR2A/Kir6.2 (EC50 of approximately 10 microM and > 500 microM, respectively). 5. Thus, nicorandil, but not pinacidil, preferentially activates the K(ATP) channels containing SUR2B. Because SUR2A and SUR2B are diverse only in 42 amino acids at their C-terminal ends, it is strongly suggested that this short part of SUR2B may play a critical role in the action of nicorandil on the vascular type classical K(ATP) channel.     

“中国式”非显形奢华

奢侈品在中国逐渐成为热门产业,建立在精神层面上的“非显形奢华”也渐为众人关注。中国拥有深厚的文化底蕴,足以创造撼动视觉新体验的新“奢华”美学。当创意市场不断推进,变得成熟之后,中国的“非显形奢华”定会有更高的价值,奢华不再是炫耀身份的代名词,而是融合民族特色、具有独特的设计品位,真正意义上的顶级产品或服务,是一种低调、内敛、优雅的“非显形奢华”。     

Palliative chemotherapy with CMF after the same adjuvant regimen for breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Study Group

BACKGROUND: The results of palliative chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) in patients with advanced breast cancer who received adjuvant therapy with the same regimen were investigated. RESULTS: Of 47 patients, 14 (30%) achieved an objective remission (median duration 9.5, range 5-21 months) and 8 (17%) stabilisation of disease (median duration 6, range 3-17 months). Objective remissions were observed in premenopausal as well as in postmenopausal women, in patients with all categories of dominant localisation of disease and regardless of the oestradiol receptor status of the primary tumour or eventual previous endocrine therapy. One of 4 and 13 of 43 patients who started palliative chemotherapy within or later than 12 months after the last adjuvant course obtained an objective remission. The median survival time from start of therapy of all treated patients was 12 (range 1-40) months. Patients with an objective remission or stable disease and patients with progressive disease had a median survival time of 20 (range 6-40) and 6 (range 1-35) months respectively (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Palliative treatment with CMF should not be rejected for patients who have relapsed after adjuvant chemotherapy with the same modality.     

The sanatorium-health resort treatment of children with thyroid hyperplasia

A favourable effect of sanatorium treatment on the key body functions was found in children with thyroid hyperplasia consequent to environmental pollution due to Chernobyl accident. It is emphasized that balneofactors in the above children should be used in sparing regimens.     

Membrane sterol composition modulates the pore forming activity of syringomycin E in human red blood cells

The syndrome of hypoparathyroidism associated with growth retardation, developmental delay, and dysmorphism (HRD) is a newly described, autosomal recessive, congenital disorder with severe, often fatal consequences. Since the syndrome is very rare, with all parents of affected individuals being consanguineous, it is presumed to be caused by homozygous inheritance of a single recessive mutation from a common ancestor. To localize the HRD gene, we performed a genomewide screen using DNA pooling and homozygosity mapping for apparently unlinked kindreds. Analysis of a panel of 359 highly polymorphic markers revealed linkage to D1S235. The maximum LOD score obtained was 4.11 at a recombination fraction of 0. Analysis of three additional markers-GGAA6F06, D1S2678, and D1S179-in a 2-cM interval around D1S235 resulted in LOD scores >3. Analysis of additional chromosome 1 markers revealed evidence of genetic linkage disequilibrium and place the HRD locus within an approximately 1-cM interval defined by D1S1540 and D1S2678 on chromosome 1q42-43.     

Experimental occlusal interferences. Part IV. Mandibular rotations induced by a pliable interference

In 12 subjects, a pliable, yet unbreakable, intercuspal interference (aluminum shim onlay splint; uniform height of 0.25 mm) was placed between either the right or left maxillary and mandibular second premolars and first molars. During brief and forceful biting (dynamic chewing stroke of about 20 kg force) the interference emulated a semisoft food bolus, and at the end of biting (subsequent static clenching stroke of about 20 kg force) it emulated a rigid metal interference. During dynamic/static biting, rotational electrognathography measured maximum frontal and horizontal plane torque of the right and left mandibular condyles. Eleven subjects (92%) showed frontal plane upward rotation (mean of 1.0 degree) of the condyle contralateral to the interference, and one subject (8%) showed frontal plane upward rotation (0.4 degree) of the condyle ipsilateral to the interference. Two subjects (17%) showed no horizontal plane rotation; seven subjects (58%) showed backward rotation (mean of 0.4 degree) of the condyle contralateral to the interference; and three subjects (25%) showed backward rotation (mean of 0.3 degree) of the condyle ipsilateral to the interference. It is suggested that, in the presence of an occlusal interference, mastication may have both short- and long-term detrimental effects.     

基于状态维修过程中的故障预测问题分析

故障预测作为基于状态维修实现的关键,可以有效支持维修管理者的决策。参照国际标准化组织对故障预测的定义,划分故障预测过程,提出预测方法性能评估至少存在的两种方式,在分类和比较现有预测方法的基础上,明确预测方法的适用范围和限制条件,为工程预测系统的构建提供参考。     

Alpha稳定分布随机变量的产生

在实际应用中遇到的大量的非高斯信号或噪声具有显著的尖峰脉冲特性,其概率密度函数的衰减过程比高斯分布要慢,表现出显著的拖尾。而基于广义中心极限定理的Alpha稳定分布描述了信号统计分布的非高斯性和重拖尾性。实现服从Alpha稳定分布随机变量的仿真是开展相关研究的基础。该文由S2参数系下的分布模型的仿真算法导出标准参数系下Alpha稳定分布随机变量的仿真算法。并通过仿真实验证实了该仿真算法的可行性。