SI-units in radiotherapy and radiation protection (author's transl)

A review is given about SI units as they will be used in future in radiotherapy and health physics. The paper includes conversion tables for the units used in these fields and presents some somments on possible difficulties by using these units in practical work.     

Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I, CA-125, estrogen, and progesterone in women with leiomyomas

OBJECTIVE: To determine plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), CA-125, estrone (E1), E2, and P in women with uterine leiomyomas compared with normal women. DESIGN: Women with leiomyomas were compared with normal women (control). SETTING: University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. PATIENTS: Fifty-one premenopausal women with uterine myomas > 14 weeks gestation and 30 normal fertile women (controls) were studied. Peripheral blood samples were obtained before myomectomy or hysterectomy and during the nonmenstruating phase in the controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma levels of E1, E2, P, CA-125, and IGF-I were determined by specific and sensitive RIAs and immunoradiometric assays. RESULTS: Plasma IGF-I levels were 2,006 +/- 185 mU/mL (mean +/- SEM, n = 35) and 2,335 +/- 287 mU/mL (n = 16) in women with leiomyomas during the follicular and luteal phases, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for normal women were 1,702 +/- 120 (n = 30) and 1,774 +/- 239 mU/mL (n = 30). Similarly, plasma CA-125 levels were unchanged in women with leiomyomas (myomas: 18.8 +/- 2.4, 21.5 +/- 3.7 U/mL; normal: 15.9 +/- 1.5, 15.8 +/- 1.3 U/mL during follicular and luteal phases, respectively). Women with leiomyomas had plasma E1, E2, and P levels during the follicular phase (91.9 +/- 11.5 pg/mL; conversion factor to SI unit, 3.699; 94.6 +/- 19.0 pg/mL; conversion factor to SI unit, 3.671; and 1.5 +/- 0.4 ng/mL; conversion factor to SI unit, 3.180, respectively) and the luteal phase (105.8 +/- 11.2 pg/mL; conversion factor to SI unit, 3.699; 128.7 +/- 24.8 pg/mL; conversion factor to SI unit, 3.671; and 9.6 +/- 1.6 ng/mL; conversion factor to SI unit, 3.180) similar to normal women. CONCLUSION: Plasma levels of IGF-I, CA-125, E1, E2, and P are normal in women with leiomyomas.     

Pediatric spinal bone marrow: assessment of normal age-related changes in the MRI appearance

A retrospective study of 100 children (0-15 years) without known bone marrow abnormality, was performed to elucidate the spectrum of the MRI appearance of spinal bone marrow with age on T1-weighted images at 0.5 T. Fatty marrow distribution and vertebral signal intensity (SI) relative to disk SI were noted in each subject, and allowed the identification of distinctive patterns. The spinal marrow patterns and their relative frequency for different age groups were consistent with the known physiologic conversion from cellular to fatty marrow with age. Between the ages of 0 and 1 year, SI of corporeal ossification centers was similar or lower than SI of adjacent cartilage and disk in 87% of cases. Between the ages of 5 and 15 years, vertebral SI was higher than SI of adjacent disks in 90% of cases. A central or basivertebral zone of high SI consistent with focal fatty marrow was found in 16% and 31% of cases respectively. In conclusion, knowledge of these conversion patterns should serve as a practical aid in the interpretation of MRI examinations of the spine in children.     

Evolution of syncytium-inducing and non-syncytium-inducing biological virus clones in relation to replication kinetics during the course of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection

To investigate the temporal relationship between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replicative capacity and syncytium-inducing (SI) phenotype, biological and genetic characteristics of longitudinally obtained virus clones from two HIV-1-infected individuals who developed SI variants were studied. In one individual, the emergence of rapidly replicating SI and non-syncytium-inducing (NSI) variants was accompanied by a loss of the slowly replicating NSI variants. In the other subject, NSI variants were always slowly replicating, while the coexisting SI variants showed an increase in the rate of replication. Irrespective their replicative capacity, the NSI variants remained present throughout the infection in both individuals. Phylogenetic analysis of the V3 region showed early branching of the SI variants from the NSI tree. Successful SI conversion seemed a unique event since no SI variants were found among later-stage NSI variants. This was also confirmed by the increasing evolutionary distance between the two subpopulations. At any time point during the course of the infection, the variation within the coexisting SI and NSI populations did not exceed 2%, indicating continuous competition within each viral subpopulation.     

Suicidal ideation and its recurrence in boys and men from early adolescence to early adulthood: An event history analysis.

Occurrence and recurrences of suicidal ideation (SI) were modeled among boys/men assessed annually from ages 12 to 29 years. Multiple-spell discrete-time event-history analyses permitted (a) determination of whether risk for SI escalates with prior experiences of SI (spell effects), while (b) accounting for changes in risk with time (period effects) and (c) controlling for vulnerability factors. Self-reported SI (presence/absence in past week), depressive symptoms, alcohol/substance use, antisocial behavior, and official arrest records were collected annually from 205 boys recruited on the basis of community risk for delinquency. Parents' self-reported psychopathology and SES were collected in childhood. Period effects supported decreasing risk for SI over time. Spell and time-varying 1-year lagged substance use and depressive symptoms independently predicted increased risk for SI. Models involving SI with intent were explored. Consistent with interpersonal psychological theory, risk for young men's SI increases with past experience of SI, even with key propensities controlled. However, risk also decays over time. Targeting conditions that confer risk for SI is essential. Preventing and delaying SI occurrence and recurrence may represent independent mechanisms by which prevention efforts operate. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Somatic sensory cortex of llama (Lama glama)

The somatic sensory cortex (SI and SII) was mapped in llamas using microelectrode mapping methods developed earlier in a study of SI of the slow loris. Projections to SI from the llama's prehensile browsing lips were differentially enlarged when compared to those reported for sheep. In llama, SII was reversed in its mediolatreal pattern from that reported for SII in most other mammals. Fissural landmarks reliably demarcated different projections within SI, between SI and SII and between SI or SII and other surrounding nonsensory areas. The use of microelectrode mapping methods in different mammals to determine gyral and fissural homologies is discussed.     

Radiographic diagnosis of sacroiliitis--are sacroiliac views really better?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether detailed oblique radiographs of the sacroiliac (SI) joints provide significant diagnostic advantage to a single AP projection of the pelvis in establishing the presence and severity of sacroiliitis. METHODS: Radiographs (both AP pelvis and detailed oblique projections) of 445 right SI joints and 442 left SI joints were obtained from patients with an established diagnosis of a seronegative spondyloarthropathy, and interpreted for severity. Data for the right and left SI joints were analyzed, comparing interpretations of severity based on AP pelvis projections with oblique views. RESULTS: Analysis of these data showed an agreement rate between AP views and SI views of 89.7% for the right SI joint radiographs and 86.4% for the left SI joint. There was no instance in which a patient with "unequivocal abnormalities"of the SI joints on the AP pelvis was read as having "normal" SI views. Similarly, there were no cases in which "normal" SI joints on AP pelvis films were read as having unequivocal abnormalities on SI views. CONCLUSION: In this group of patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies, there was very close agreement between severity score of sacroiliitis from AP pelvis radiographs and SI joint views. We conclude that in most circumstances, the AP pelvis film will yield the diagnosis of sacroiliitis without the additional radiation exposure and expense related to specific SI joint radiographs.     

Effects of caffeine and acetylcholine on glucose-stimulated insulin release from islet transplants in mice

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of image instructions on subjects able to use imagery spontaneously and those unable to use them spontaneously, on the self-control of skin temperature. The subjects were 20 undergraduate students. All subjects were instructed to raise their skin temperatures through four sessions. After the first session, subjects were assigned to one of the following three groups: the spontaneous image group (SI), instructed image group (II), and control group (C). The SI group comprised only of those subjects who used imagery spontaneously in the first session. Before the second session, the subjects in the SI and II groups were instructed to use imagery in the following sessions. The results showed that SI group subjects could raise their skin temperatures to higher levels than those in the other groups. These results suggest that subjects who use imagery spontaneously have a greater ability to control their skin temperatures, than other subjects who cannot raise their skin temperatures well, even if instructed in the use of imagery.     

A meta-analysis of the situational interview: An enumerative review of reasons for its validity.

The premise underlying the situational interview (SI) is that intentions predict behaviour. The distinguishing characteristics of the SI include the depiction of a dilemma in the interview question, the use of an item scoring guide, and summative scoring of items to yield a total interview score. A meta-analysis of SI studies indicated that the weighted mean observed criterion-related validity of the SI is .35 (n?=?1010), and the mean corrected criterion-related validity is .47. An enumerative review of the literature revealed that the SI is applicable across a diversity of jobs, participants, performance criteria, and countries. The criterion-related validation evidence for the SI is explained in terms of content, construct, and incremental validity, freedom from interviewer biases, and practicality. The article concludes with a comparison of the SI to interviews that measure either past behaviours or future intentions where the interview question does not contain a dilemma or scoring guide, and performance dimensions rather than each individual item are scored. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Drink less or drink slower: The effects of instruction on alcohol consumption and drinking control strategy use.

Brief alcohol interventions often involve recommendations to use drinking control strategies. However, little is known about the functional effect of these strategies on alcohol use. This prospective study employed an experimental design to evaluate the relationship between strategy use and alcohol consumption. The differential effects of instructions to increase the use of strategies or to reduce alcohol consumption were compared to self-monitoring (SM) only. Undergraduate drinkers were randomized into 3 conditions: SM plus strategy increase (SI; n = 61), SM plus alcohol reduction (AR; n = 60), and SM control (SM; n = 56). Participants in the AR group reduced their alcohol use over 2 weeks, while those in the SI group did not drink less. Participants in the SI group increased strategy use over time, whereas the AR group increased use of some strategies but not others. These results indicate that increasing use of drinking control strategies does not necessarily result in reduced drinking. Furthermore, all strategies are not equal in their association with alcohol consumption; if the goal is alcohol reduction, type of strategy recommended may be important. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High frequency of allelic imbalance at chromosome region 16q22-23 in human breast cancer: correlation with high PgR and low S phase

PURPOSE: The validity and reproducibility of an instrumented dynamic examination method to measure sacroiliac (SI) joint stiffness was tested in vitro. METHODS: Four embalmed human female pelvises were excitated by a pelvic vibrator. A color Doppler imaging (CDI) scanner was used to image the amplitude of vibrations at different sites of the pelvis. Vibrations were applied to the anterior superior iliac spines unilaterally and were received by CDI all over the ipsilateral SI region. Three different stability conditions were created in the SI joints: no intervention, screwed and ligaments cut. Test results were quantified by taking the minimum threshold levels of the bones. The relative difference of vibration intensity between ipsilateral ilium and sacrum at each stability condition is accepted as the stiffness level for the SI joint. RESULTS: Statistics showed high reproducibility and significant differences between the stability conditions. Dynamic testing based on the use of vibrations provides visible and quantifiable intra- and inter-individual differences between SI joint stiffnesses. CONCLUSIONS: This new method is objective and reproducible. Future in vivo application is promising since there are no technical and safety restrictions.     

CXCR4 as a functional coreceptor for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of primary macrophages

The coreceptors used by primary syncytium-inducing (SI) human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates for infection of primary macrophages were investigated. SI strains using only CXCR4 replicated equally well in macrophages with or without CCR5 and were inhibited by several different ligands for CXCR4 including SDF-1 and bicyclam derivative AMD3100. SI strains that used a broad range of coreceptors including CCR3, CCR5, CCR8, CXCR4, and BONZO infected CCR5-deficient macrophages about 10-fold less efficiently than CCR5(+) macrophages. Moreover, AMD3100 blocked infection of CCR5-negative macrophages by these strains. Our results therefore demonstrate that CXCR4, as well as CCR5, is used for infection of primary macrophages but provide no evidence for the use of alternative coreceptors.     

Social interest as a moderator of life stress.

Tested 3 hypotheses: (1) Social interest (SI) is of value in ameliorating or eliminating many of the unnecessary problems that occur in human relationships; (2) SI moderates the effect of later life stresses on psychological symptoms; and (3) the negative relation between SI and anxiety, depression, and hostility will be stronger in people who recently have experienced greater stress than in those who have encountered little stress. 74 undergraduates were administered the Social Interest Scale (SIS) and the Social Interest Index (SII), and then the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List 1 yr later. It was found that scores on the SII and the SIS were negatively related to the number of stressful experiences encountered during the following year. Stress was correlated with anxiety, depression, and hostility more strongly among low- than among high-SI Ss, and SI was more negatively correlated with these symptoms among high-stress Ss compared with moderate- or low-stress groups. The SII and the SIS showed somewhat different patterns of results, and possible reasons for these differences are discussed. (49 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

AIDS; new developments. V. The role of chemokines and chemokine receptors during infection with HIV

Chemokine receptors appear to be essential coreceptors (next to the CD4 receptor) for viral entry of HIV. Non syncytium inducing (NSI) HIV variants (monocytotropic) use the beta-chemokine receptor CCR5, syncytium inducing (SI) variants (lymphocytotropic) the alpha-chemokine receptor CXCR4. Mutations in CCR5 appear to give protection against HIV infection and to slow disease progression. Blocking of chemokine receptors interrupts HIV infection in vitro and offers new options for therapeutic strategies. Theoretical progress has been made in the development of an animal model for HIV infection owing to the elucidation of the role of chemokine receptors in HIV entry into the cell. In the future HIV variants will be classified according to their interaction with chemokine receptors.     

Localization by indirect immunofluorescence of nitric oxide synthase in mouse and human spermatozoa

OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in the peritoneal fluid of women with and without endometriosis. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care center affiliated with university medical school. PATIENTS: Forty-two women with endometriosis and 34 women without endometriosis confirmed by laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Epidermal growth factor and basic FGF concentrations were determined by highly sensitive enzyme immunoassays using monoclonal antibodies. RESULT: Approximately 50% of the PF samples had EGF concentrations of > 0.4 pg/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 0.17) and 90% had basic FGF concentrations of > 1 pg/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 0.058). Concentrations of EGF or basic FGF in PF did not differ significantly between the two groups. In normal women, there was a significant correlation between EGF and basic FGF during the luteal phase. In women with endometriosis, EGF levels were higher during the luteal phase, but there was no correlation of either EGF or basic FGF levels with the severity of endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of EGF and basic FGF were highly variable in the PF of women with or without endometriosis and did not differ significantly. The concentrations were so low that neither EGF nor basic FGF in PF could bind to its receptor.     

"Peer influence on adolescent drug use": Comment.

Comments on K. E. Bauman and S. T. Ennett's (see record 1995-01311-001) article on peer influence on adolescent drug use, examining their arguments in light of experimental evidence of school-based drug prevention programs based on the social influence (SI) model. The argument that the peer or SI model is overrated and the implication that SI-based prevention programs are misguided are unwarranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Treatment with the oral antidiabetic agent troglitazone improves beta cell responses to glucose in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is associated with defects in both insulin secretion and action and carries a high risk for conversion to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Troglitazone, an insulin sensitizing agent, reduces glucose concentrations in subjects with NIDDM and IGT but is not known to affect insulin secretion. We sought to determine the role of beta cell function in mediating improved glucose tolerance. Obese subjects with IGT received 12 wk of either 400 mg daily of troglitazone (n = 14) or placebo (n = 7) in a randomized, double-blind design. Study measures at baseline and after treatment were glucose and insulin responses to a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, insulin sensitivity index (SI) assessed by a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test, insulin secretion rates during a graded glucose infusion, and beta cell glucose-sensing ability during an oscillatory glucose infusion. Troglitazone reduced integrated glucose and insulin responses to oral glucose by 10% (P = 0.03) and 39% (P = 0.003), respectively. SI increased from 1.3+/-0.3 to 2.6+/-0.4 x 10(-)5min-1pM-1 (P = 0.005). Average insulin secretion rates adjusted for SI over the glucose interval 5-11 mmol/liter were increased by 52% (P = 0.02), and the ability of the beta cell to entrain to an exogenous oscillatory glucose infusion, as evaluated by analysis of spectral power, was improved by 49% (P = 0.04). No significant changes in these parameters were demonstrated in the placebo group. In addition to increasing insulin sensitivity, we demonstrate that troglitazone improves the reduced beta cell response to glucose characteristic of subjects with IGT. This appears to be an important factor in the observed improvement in glucose tolerance.     

Orientation specificity in spatial memory: What makes a path different from a map of the path?

Investigated factors that lead spatial information (SI) to be stored in an orientation-specific vs orientation-free manner. Exp 1 showed that learning paths from a small map vs learning paths directly from viewing a world lead to different functional characteristics of spatial memory. Whether the route display was presented as the path itself or as a large map of the path did not affect how the information was stored. Exp 2 examined effects of size of stimulus display, size of world, and scale transformations on how SI in maps is stored and available for use in later judgments. Exp 3 examined the effect of size on orientation specificity of the spatial coding of paths that are viewed directly. The main determinant of whether SI was stored and used in an orientation-specific manner or orientation-free manner was size of the display. Data support the view that there are distinct spatial representations (1 more perceptual and episodic and 1 more integrated and model-like) that have developed to meet different demands faced by mobile organisms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)