The detection and significance of subtle changes in mixed-signal brain lesions by serial MRI scan matching and spatial normalization

The present study examined whether modified xenobiotic transport, resulting from chlordecone (CD) or dieldrin pretreatment, would alter polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) or organochlorine (OC) target organ doses and subsequent tumor organospecificity or incidence rates in rainbow trout. Additionally, the potential for exposure to dieldrin or CD, following PAH exposure, to enhance tumor incidence was assessed. Evaluation of CD pretreatment effects on [14C]CD disposition in trout was conducted following two i.p. (0-15 mg/kg) and two dietary (0-0.4 mg/kg/d) pretreatment regimes. To assess the influence of OC pretreatment on cancer induced by the PAH 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), juvenile trout were fed control, CD (0.1, 0.4 mg/kg/d), or dieldrin (0.1, 0.3 mg/kg/d) diets for 9 wk, received a waterborne [3H]DMBA exposure (1 mg/L, 20 h), and resumed control, CD, or dieldrin diets for 33 wk. [3H]DMBA disposition and hepatic [3H]DMBA binding were examined immediately and 24 h after exposure. Hepatic and stomach tumor incidences were determined 33 wk after DMBA exposure. CD pretreatment did not influence [14C]CD or [3H]DMBA hepatic concentrations, hepatic [3H]DMBA DNA binding, or hepatic/stomach tumor incidence. It did, however, elevate bile [14C]CD and [3H]DMBA concentrations. Postinitiation exposure to CD weakly enhanced DMBA-induced hepatic tumor incidence at the low but not the high CD dose. Dieldrin pretreatment did not influence stomach [3H]DMBA equivalents or stomach tumor incidence but did cause an elevation in biliary and hepatic concentrations of [3H]DMBA equivalents. [3H]DMBA binding to liver DNA was significantly increased and hepatic tumor incidence was elevated by dieldrin pretreatment. Dieldrin treatment following DMBA initiation did not enhance hepatic or stomach tumor incidence. Ecoepidemiology studies, to date, have reported correlations between the co-occurrence of PAHs and OCs and elevated tumor incidence in feral fish, but cause-and-effect relationships have been difficult to establish. The results of the present study confirm that OCs, such as dieldrin and CD, play a role in modifying PAH-induced carcinogenesis in fish.     

Reducing financial barriers to HIV-related medical care: does the Ryan White CARE Act make a difference?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the CD23 status in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), as defined by serum soluble CD23 (sCD23) and the expression of CD23 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. METHODS: Serum sCD23 levels were measured by ELISA in 22 patients with systemic JCA (s-JCA), in 40 patients with antinuclear antibody positive pauciarticular JCA (ANA+ p-JCA), and in 38 healthy controls. CD23 expression on T cells, B cells, and monocytes was determined by flow cytometry analysis of double fluorescence staining. RESULTS: Serum sCD23 levels were increased in both ANA+ p-JCA and s-JCA; no relation with disease activity or severity was found. In patients with ANA+ p-JCA, serum sCD23 levels were correlated with an increased percentage of B cells expressing CD23, while in patients with s-JCA the serum sCD23 levels were correlated with an increased percentage of monocytes expressing CD23. CONCLUSION: Serum sCD23 levels are elevated both in systemic and ANA+ pauciarticular JCA: different cell subset CD23 expression in s-JCA and ANA+ p-JCA (i.e. monocyte or B cell, respectively) suggests that in pauciarticular JCA CD23 may be implicated in B cell activation and autoantibody production, while in systemic JCA may be involved in monocyte activation and in the release of inflammatory mediators.     

Far-infrared CW Raman and laser gain of14NH3

The FIR Raman and laser gain properties of¹⁴NH3optically pumped by the CO29R(30)and the N2O10P(13)laser lines, respectively, have been measured and calculated using the quantum mechanical theory of three-level systems. The laser gain is about two orders of magnitude higher than for usual FIR laser transitions. The Raman gain shows two features characteristic for the two-photon process: extremely high saturation intensity and high pressure maximum. Very satisfactory agreement between theoretically calculated and experimentally measured gain properties is found.     

A new equation of state for chlorodifluoromethane (R22) covering the entire fluid region from 116 K to 550 K at pressures up to 200 MPa

A new equation of state in the form of a fundamental equation explicit in the dimensionless Helmholtz free energy has been developed for chlorodifluoromethane (R 22). This equation, which contains 22 fitted coefficients, covers the entire fluid region from 116 K (triple point temperature) to 550 K at pressures up to 200 MPa. The mathematical form of the equation was determined with the help of a new method to optimize its structure. New pressure-density-temperature data in the liquid region and especially new vapour pressures and saturated liquid densities, as well as speed of sound data have been incorporated to extend the range of validity and to improve the accuracy of properties calculated with this equation beyond that of previous formulations. Independent equations are also included for the vapour pressure as well as for the saturated liquid and vapour densities. The uncertainty of the new wide-range equation of state can roughly be given as follows: ± 0.1% in density (with the exception of the critical region), ± 1% in heat capacity, ± 0.5% in speed of sound in the liquid and 0.1% in speed of sound in the gas phase. The new equation of state corresponds to the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90).     

EDIF: The Standard for Workstation Intercommunication

The current version of EDIF, an evolving format for data transfer between CAD/CAE workstations, supports gate array and semicustom IC design.     

Retinoid-binding proteins in the cerebellum and choroid plexus and their relationship to regionalized retinoic acid synthesis and degradation

The expression of cellular retinoic-acid-binding protein (CRABP) and cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP), as well as their relationship to retinoic acid (RA) synthesis and degradation were examined in the developing mouse cerebellum and choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle. The choroid plexus, which expresses the RA-synthesizing retinaldehyde dehydrogenase RALDH-2, is likely to represent a diffusion source of RA for the closely apposed cerebellum, regulating its development. We found CRBP to be expressed in the choroid plexus and, in an in-vitro assay, addition of recombinant CRBP to RALDH-2 increased RA synthesis from retinaldehyde, with the amount of increase depending on the CRBP/retinaldehyde ratio. A technique that characterizes RA-binding proteins according to their isoelectric point showed both CRABP I and CRABP II to be present in the cerebellum and P19 cells, and only CRABP II to be present in the choroid plexus. With this technique, CRABP I could also be detected in the HL60 cell line. In addition to the two known acidic RA-binding proteins CRABP I and II, the cerebellum expressed a third RA-binding protein distinguishable by its neutral isoelectric point; the same binding protein was also detected in the olfactory bulb, kidney and testes. We used the RA-binding technique to follow the rate of elimination of bound RA from the cerebellum. A systemic injection of 0.3 micromols RA into postnatal day-1 mice was almost completely removed after 8 hours. These results suggest mechanisms by which the retinoid-binding protein may regulate the equilibrium of RA synthesis and catabolism in the cerebellum and choroid plexus.     

WISC-R factor score profiles and academic achievement: A test of Kaufman's profile analysis procedures.

A. S. Kaufman (1979) suggested that factor score patterns may yield information about achievement that is additional to information contained in WISC-R composite scores. The present study examined the relation between factor score patterns and achievement beyond the well-established relationship between WISC-R composite scores and achievement. The WISC-R, including the Digit Span subtest, and the Reading, Spelling, and Arithmetic subtests of the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) were administered to 272 6–16 yr old academic underachievers referred for psychoeducational assessment. Results of the examination of factor score patterns and WRAT achievement scores indicate that 2 of the 10 patterns present in the data had a statistically significant relationship to achievement. While both patterns were negatively associated with achievement, the size of their contribution to achievement variance was small and in the order of 2%. These results impose limits on the utility of Kaufman's profile analysis procedures. (French abstract) (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of rifamycin oxidase immobilized on alginate gel

Rifamycin oxidase of Curvularia lunata was immobilized on alginate gel. The pH and temperature optima of the immobilized enzyme preparation were 6.5 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Transformation reaction was carried out with the immobilized enzyme preparation. It took 8 h for the complete transformation of rifamycin B (10 g/L) to rifamycin S. The immobilized enzyme preparation was found to be mechanically weak even in the presence of CaCl2 in the reaction mixture. Reusability studies showed that the catalyst can not be repeatedly used very effectively.     

Follow-up of renal function and urinary protein excretion in childhood IgA nephropathy

Homocystinuria is a rare inherited metabolic disease. Arterial and venous thromboembolic events represent frequent and life-threatening complications in homocystinuric patients. It has been suggested that mild homocysteinemia could be a risk factor for vascular disease. We have therefore measured total plasma homocysteine (HCy) concentrations by radioisotopic assay in 50 subjects with venous or arterial thrombosis and studied the relationship between HCy, coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters. Values were considered abnormal if they were higher than 2.7 standard deviations (SD) above the mean, i.e., 14.1 mmol/l. Thus, eighteen of the 50 patients with thrombosis were classified in the hyperhomocysteinemia group. Nine of these subjects had only this isolated risk factor. No correlations were found between HCy and antithrombin III, protein C, protein S and plasminogen levels, or plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor activity. Nevertheless, the correlation between tissue-plasminogen activator antigen and total plasma HCy was significant (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). Increased homocysteinemia seems to be a risk factor for thrombotic events especially knowing that HCy presents a direct cytotoxic effect. Vitamin therapy, already used in homozygote homocystinuric patients, might be beneficial in the prevention of thromboembolic disease in heterozygous patients.