Installations for production of polypropylene fibre

Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 4, pp. 66–67, July–August, 1994.     

Effects of hormonal replacement therapy on plasma sex hormone-binding globulin, androgen and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels in postmenopausal women

Plasma sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels are important in the regulation of plasma free and albumin-bound androgens and estrogens. In postmenopausal women associated to the decrease of estrogen production, a decrease of plasma SHBG levels occurs. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women modulates plasma SHBG levels, in relationship with the different regimens and routes of administration. The present study aimed to compare the effect of different HRT on plasma SHBG levels in relationship with the changes of plasma androgen [dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), testosterone (T), androstenedione (A)] and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. In a retrospective study 443 postmenopausal women were studied and divided into 2 groups. The group 1 (n = 170) was subdivided in 4 groups of women as follows: A) treated with transdermal 17-beta estradiol + medroxyprogesterone acetate, B) treated with oral conjugated estrogens, C) treated with sequential HRT (estradiol valerate (EV) + norgestrel), and D) treated with a combined HRT (micronized estradiol (E2) + noretisterone acetate). Women of group 2 (n = 273) did not receive HRT and served as controls. All groups of women treated with different HRT showed plasma estradiol levels significantly higher than controls (p < 0.01), showing the highest values in women treated with oral HRT. Plasma SHBG levels were not significantly different between patients treated with transdermal 17-beta estradiol + medroxyprogesterone acetate and controls. On the other hand, all the groups of patients treated with oral conjugated estrogen with or without progestagens showed plasma SHBG levels significantly higher than controls (p < 0.01). Plasma SHBG levels were higher in the group treated with estrogen alone than in groups of women treated with sequential or combined HRT. Plasma DHEAS, T and A levels in patients treated with different HRT regimens were in the same range of levels as control women. Plasma IGF-1 levels were not significantly affected by the various HRT regimens and remained in the same range as controls. In conclusion, plasma SHBG levels increase following oral HRT while are not affected by transdermal HRT. Plasma IGF-1 and androgen levels are not influenced from oral or transdermal HRT.     

Rifampicin for ulcerative colitis

The public health approach to injury control is now widely accepted. Since the development of this approach, there has been a shift in the perspective of public health programs to include broader definitions of health. There have also been increasing efforts to evaluate public health interventions in terms of health outcomes at the population level. In this context, it might be appropriate to broaden the focus of injury prevention to target more specifically injuries that are not life-threatening. Although they are not responsible for major morbidity at an individual level, they probably account for the greatest decrement in the health of the population as a whole.     

Effect of maternal betamethasone administration at midgestation on baboon fetal adrenal gland development and adrenocorticotropin receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression

Although fetal pituitary ACTH is important to fetal adrenal growth and steroidogenesis in the second half of primate pregnancy, its role in adrenal development and function has not been established in vivo in the first half of gestation. In the present study, therefore, baboons were treated at midgestation with betamethasone to determine the effect of fetal pituitary ACTH on fetal adrenal growth, development, and ACTH receptor and P-450 enzyme messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels. The administration of betamethasone to baboon mothers on days 60-99 of gestation (term = 184 days) decreased fetal pituitary POMC mRNA levels by 54% (P < 0.01) and fetal serum ACTH levels to undetectable values (P < 0.05). The decline in ACTH was associated with decreases in fetal adrenal weight (P < 0.001), cortical cell size (P < 0.05), appearance of apoptosis and cellular disorganization, and a loss of immunocytochemically demonstrable definitive zone-specific delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase expression. The concomitant administration of ACTH and betamethasone restored these aspects of adrenal integrity to normal. Moreover, there was approximately a 95% decrease (P < 0.01) in fetal adrenal expression of ACTH receptor, P-450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage, and P-450 17alpha-hydroxylase 17/20-lyase mRNA levels after betamethasone administration. We conclude that fetal pituitary ACTH is necessary for the growth and development of fetal and definitive cortical zones and the marked coordinated increase in ACTH receptor and maintenance of P-450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage/P-450 17alpha-hydroxylase 17/20-lyase expression in the baboon fetal adrenal gland during the first half of gestation.     

Human herpesvirus 8--the first human Rhadinovirus

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus, also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), is the first known human member of the genus Rhadinovirus. It is regularly found by polymerase chain reaction in all forms of KS, in certain types of Castleman's disease, and in body cavity-based B-cell lymphoma. Other members of this virus group occur in nonhuman primates, ungulates, rabbits, and mice and cause in part fulminant lymphomas and other neoplastic disorders of the hematopoietic system. Rhadinoviruses share a typical genome structure; most characteristically, they contain numerous sequences that appear to be sequestered from cellular DNA. We cloned and sequenced almost the complete genome of HHV-8 from a single KS biopsy specimen. Although this procedure revealed collinear organization and extensive homologies with the open reading frames of herpesvirus saimiri, genes with homology to the known oncoproteins (Stp, Tip) were not identified in the HHV-8 genome. However, HHV-8 reading frame K1, the positional analogue of Stp/Tip, was found to be significantly variable between different strains. We found, in addition, the reading frames for homologues of cellular interleukin 6, macrophage inflammatory proteins alpha and beta (MIP1 alpha and MIP1 beta, respectively), an interferon-responsive factor, and two inhibitors of apoptosis. Several of these cell-homologous genes of HHV-8 have already been shown to code for functional proteins.     

First-principles approach to the calculation of electronic spectra in clusters

We discuss a method for first-principles calculations of photoemission spectra in small clusters, going well beyond a standard density functional theory-local density approximation (DFT-LDA) approach. Starting with a DFT-LDA calculation, we evaluate self-energy contributions to the quasiparticle energies of an electron or hole in the GW scheme, where the self-energy Σ = GW is constructed from the one-particle Green's function G and the RPA screened Coulomb interaction W. The contributions of structural relaxation are taken into account. We show the importance of these effects at the example of the photoemission spectrum of SiH₄. We also briefly discuss results for longer hydrogenated silicon chains, and address the problem of optical absorption.     

Local ice application in therapy of kinetic limb ataxia. Clinical assessment of positive treatment effects in patients with multiple sclerosis

Upper limb ataxia is one of the most disabling symptoms of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). There are some clinically tested therapeutic strategies, especially with regard to cerebellar tremor. But most of the methods used for treatment of limb ataxia in physiotherapy and occupational therapy are not systematically evaluated, e.g. the effect of local ice applications, as reported by MS patients and therapists, respectively. We investigated 21 MS patients before and in several steps 1 up to 45 min after cooling the most affected forearm. We used a series of 6 tests, including parts of neurological status and activities of daily living as well. At each step skin temperature and nerve conduction velocity were recorded. All tests were documented by video for later offline analysis. Standardized evaluation was done by the investigators and separately by an independent second team, both of them using numeric scales for quality of performance. After local cooling all patients showed a positive effect, especially a reduction of intentional tremor. In most cases this effect lasted 45 min, in some patients even longer. We presume that a decrease in the proprioceptive afferent inflow-induced by cooling-may be the probable cause of this reduction of cerebellar tremor. Patients can use ice applications as a method of treating themselves when a short-time reduction of intention tremor is required, e.g. for typing, signing or self-catheterization.     

The role of endothelium and nitric oxide in rat pial arteriolar dilatory responses to CO2 in vivo

Using a closed cranial window system and intravital microscopy/videometry, we studied the rat pial arteriolar (30-60 microns) responses to CO2 before and following a light/dye (L/D) endothelial injury or topical application of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, nitro-L-arginine (L-NA) or its inactive form, D-NA. L/D treatment consisted of intravenous injection of sodium fluorescein and the illumination (for 90 s) of arteriolar discrete segments on the cortical surface with light from a mercury lamp. Functional changes in pial arteriolar endothelium were characterized by evaluating responses to topical application of acetylcholine (Ach, 5 x 10(-4) M) and to intravenous (i.v.) oxotremorine (OXO, a stable blood-brain barrier permeant muscarinic agonist, 1 microgram kg-1 min-1). After the L/D injury, dilation to Ach was absent whereas dilations to the NO donor, S-nitrosoacetyl-penicillamine (SNAP, 10(-5) M) and to CO2 (5%) were unchanged (PaCO2 = 70 mm Hg). Loss of Ach response but intact SNAP response confirmed functional endothelial injury and intact smooth-muscle function. The global endothelium-dependent vasodilation induced by i.v. OXO was markedly attenuated when expanding the L/D injury field from 300 microns to 6 mm in diameter. However, the global vasodilation induced by inhalation of CO2 was still unaffected by this increase in the area of light exposure. This provides evidence that the expanded exposure was capable of impairing global vasodilation resulting from endothelium-dependent stimuli but not from inhalation of CO2. The intact CO2 response despite an endothelial dysfunction suggests that the reported NO dependence of hypercapnia-induced cerebral hyperemia in rats cannot be attributed to an endothelial NO source.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Origin of nondisjunction in trisomy 8 and trisomy 8 mosaicism

OBJECTIVES: This study explores reactions to low-level chemical challenge, aiming at the development of test procedures for assessing individual sensitivity to smells and chemicals. METHODS: Subjects with symptoms and neuropsychological test results compatible with toxic encephalopathy type 2A (TE-2A) and 2B (TE-2B) and unexposed referents (N=12 in each group) were challenged in an exposure chamber. Toluene exposure was started at 11 mg/m3, and it followed a geometric progression scale with a ratio of 2, until reaching 180 mg/m3. In a counterbalanced design, the subjects were similarly exposed to n-butyl acetate starting at a concentration of 14 mg/m3 and increasing to 228 mg/m3. At each exposure level, smell intensity was measured on a 7-step category scale. Mucous membrane irritation and annoyance reactions were rated on visual analogue scales. RESULTS: Both TE groups showed high sensitivity to the low-level solvent challenge, which provoked immediate annoyance and fatigue reactions. In particular the TE-2B group related smell intensity to various annoyance dimensions during exposure to n-butyl acetate, a pattern not observed during toluene exposure. The reference group clearly separated smell intensity and annoyance reactions in both exposure conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The reaction of the TE cases suggests that chemical sensitivity can be distinguished from normal annoyance reactions by the inability to differentiate between smell intensity and an experience of irritation from mucous membranes in air concentrations well below the trigeminal irritation threshold level. Fatigue coreactivity in challenges to single substances below the neurotoxic level may also be important.