Insertion/deletion polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene associated with macroangiopathy and blood pressure in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In the search for new risk factors for diabetic macroangiopathy the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene was studied in 237 consecutive patients (125 men and 112 women) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The female population showed an excess of ischemic electrocardiographic changes or definite myocardial infarctions in the patients homozygous for the deletion [D/D; odds ratio (OR) 2.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-5.3] and in the insertion/deletion heterozygotes (I/D; OR 1.8; CI 1.1-3.1) compared with the patients homozygous for the insertion (I/I). In the total series coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and claudication were more often observed in the patients with I/D (OR 1.5; CI 1.0-2.2) or the D/D genotype patients (OR 1.7; CI 1.1-2.6) than in those with the genotype I/I. The systolic blood pressure was lower in patients with genotype I/I (138 +/- 19 mmHg) than in those with the genotype I/D (149 +/- 22 mmHg) or D/D (150 +/- 21 mmHg; P < 0.02). The prevalence of hypertension and the median urinary albumin excretion rate also tended to be lowest in the I/I genotype patients. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that in women the angiotensin-converting enzyme D/D genotype is independently associated with coronary heart disease. Our findings suggest that variation at the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene locus is one of the factors involved in the predisposition of diabetic patients to the development of arterial disease and hypertension.     

The lack of long-term detrimental effects on liver allografts caused by donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies

Recent reports indicate a higher incidence of both acute and chronic liver allograft rejection when, at the time of transplantation, the recipients serum contains donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies. From 9/89 to 5/91, 133 liver allografts were performed at our institution. Thirteen liver recipients had donor-specific IgG anti-HLA antibodies (complement-fixing) at the time of transplantation. In eleven patients, antibodies reacted to donor class I antigens while in 1 patient the donor-specific antibody had class II reactivity. Twelve patients have been followed for a minimum of 12 months (median 18 months, range 28-12 months). No hyperacute rejection was seen in any of the cases and four patients had acute rejections. Thus far only one of the twelve patients has biopsy evidence suggestive of chronic liver injury. The remaining have normal liver enzymes and bilirubin. Three of these twelve patients died (one from a myocardial infarction and the others from sepsis) accounting for a one-year graft survival of 75%. There was no significant statistical difference in the one-year graft survival in those recipients without donor-specific antibodies (i.e., 80.5%). In eight of the twelve patients, pretransplant preformed antibody level (PRA) was > 50%. In six of the thirteen patients donor-specific antibody was present at dilutions greater than 1:64. As previously reported, the donor-specific antibody disappeared from the serum posttransplant within hours and did not reappear. In vitro studies demonstrated no factor in portal or hepatic artery blood that could inhibit rabbit complement mediated lysis of anti-HLA antibodies. We conclude that it is not a contraindication to do liver transplants in the presence of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies.     

Enzymatic preparation of heparin oligosaccharides containing antithrombin III binding sites

Two new oligosaccharides were prepared from heparin by its partial depolymerization using heparin lyase I (EC 4.2.2.7) in an attempt to prepare oligosaccharides having intact antithrombin III binding sites. The oligosaccharides were purified by chromatography on the basis of both size and charge and demonstrated a high level of purity by capillary electrophoresis. One- and two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy at 500 MHz revealed the structure of each oligosaccharide. The octasaccharide and decasaccharide are DeltaUAp2S(1-->4)-alpha-DGlcNpS6S(1-->4)-alpha-L-IdoAp (1-->4)-alpha-D -GlcNpAc6S(1-->4)-betaD-GlcAp(1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcNpS 3S6S(1-->4)-alpha- L-IdoAp2S(1-->4)alpha-D-GlcNpS6S (where DeltaUAp is 4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-enopyranosyluronic acid, GlcNp is 2-amino-2-deoxy-glucopyranose, GlcAp is glucopyranosyluronic acid, S is sulfate and Ac is acetate) and DeltaUAp2S(1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcNpS6S(1-->4)-alpha-L-IdoAp++ +(1-->4)-alpha- D-GlcNpAc6S (1-->4)-beta-D-GlcAp(1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcNpS3S6S(1-->4)-alpha- L-IdoAp2S (1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcNpS6S(1-->4)-alpha-L-IdoAp2S(1-->4)-alpha -D-GlcNpS 6S, respectively. A hexasaccharide containing a similar structural motif to that found in the antithrombin III binding site and having greatly reduced anticoagulant activity was also isolated. The structure of the hexasaccharide is DeltaUAp2S(1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcNpAc6S(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcAp++ +(1-->4)-alpha- D-GlcNpS3S6S(1-->4)-alpha-L-IdoAp(1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcNpS6S . The octasaccharide and decasaccharide correspond to the predominant structural motif found in porcine intestinal mucosal heparin. Sufficient quantities of the decasaccharide were obtained to examine its interaction with antithrombin III using microtitration calorimetry. This decasaccharide bound to antithrombin III with similar avidity as heparin and showed comparable anticoagulant activity, as determined using an antithrombin III dependent anti-factor Xa assay. Interestingly, while both decasaccharide and heparin bound to antithrombin with nanomolar affinity, very little heat of binding was observed.     

基于物联网的航空物流查询平台

针对国内航空物流信息化建设方面的问题,提出并设计了一套基于物联网的航空物流查询系统。该系统通过RFID技术完成数据采集,并通过RS232串口将数据传输到ZigBee终端节点,然后利用ZigBee无线网络进行短距离传输到路由节点,最后经过 ZigBee 网关将信息传输出去。实验结果表明该平台可以对航空货物进行智能化、可视化、信息化管理。该设计为航空物流管理提供了新的思路,有良好的应用前景。     

生物浸矿反应器的制作及矿浆质量分数分布特征

以自制的生物浸矿反应器为对象,以反应器内矿浆质量分数分布为评价指标,就搅拌器搅拌方式、外循环流量及曝气大小对矿浆质量分数的分布进行了研究.结果表明:当搅拌速度为1800～2000 r/min,搅拌桨离曝气器顶部2～3 cm,外部循环流量为13 L/min,曝气量为1.2 m3/h时,反应器内矿浆质量分数分布均匀.并对总矿浆质量分数为6 %、10 %、15%和20%的反应器内矿浆质量分数随反应器高度的变化进行了研究.     

一种基于网络表示学习的miRNA-疾病关联预测方法

针对miRNA-疾病关联研究中信息使用不充分、过于依赖网络中节点的相似度信息以及预测准确度较低的问题,提出一种基于网络表示学习的miRNA-疾病关联预测方法(network representation learning miRNA-disease association,NRLMDA)。该方法通过引入长链非编码RNA(lncRNA)构造出miRNA-lncRNA-疾病异构网络,丰富原有网络的生物学信息;采用网络表征学习node2vec算法在上述提出的异构网络中以一定的游走策略获得节点的近邻序列,并通过skip-gram模型进行深度学习,从而获得节点的低维特征向量;最后基于miRNA-miRNA相似性的关联规则推断方法预测miRNA与疾病的关联。该方法能够挖掘出全局网络的拓扑结构特征,并且不需要负样本。NRLMDA在留一交叉验证和五折交叉验证以及进一步的案例研究上的实验结果优于经典方法。     

微小流量pVTt法气体流量标准装置的研制

介绍了20LpVTt法气体流量标准装置的设计原理和方案,并给出了装置中主要参数的测试方法及装置的不确定度评定。     

液晶显示技术及其应用

通过对液晶显示的基本原理、液晶显示常见模块及其几个应用实例的介绍,使人们清楚地认识到液晶显示的应用相当广泛,本文能帮助人们在实际工程应用中根据需要有选择地应用液晶显示技术。     

微机械陀螺在组合导航系统中的应用

介绍了基于iMEMS技术的速率陀螺芯片ADXRS300,研究了以ARM处理器为核心的GPS/SINS组合导航系统的结构及其各部分功能,给出了基于角速度测量、加速度测量和GPS定位的组合导航系统设计方案。     

Body thiamine level in acute alcohol psychoses

PURPOSE: To compare admission data and academic performances of medical students younger and older than 25, and to qualify older students' experiences and perceptions in medical school. METHOD: The authors reviewed 1988-1991 data for applications to the McGill University Faculty of Medicine. Data included GPAs and MCAT scores, as well as ratings for reference letters, autobiographical statements, and interviews. For those same years, the authors measured students' academic performances in the preclinical and clinical years. The authors compared the data by students' age: "younger" students, aged 17 to 24; and "older" students, aged 25 and above. All enrolled students took the Derogatis Stress Profile, and the older students participated in focus groups. RESULTS: The older applicants had lower GPAs and MCAT scores, but higher interview and reference letter ratings. For older accepted students, basic science course scores were lower than those of younger students, but clinical scores did not differ significantly between the groups. The two groups had similar stress levels, although older students tested lower in driven behavior, relaxation potential, attitude posture, and hostility. In focus groups, the older students spoke of learning style differences, loss of social support, and loss of professional identity. CONCLUSION: Different scores in admission criteria suggest that McGill uses different standards to select older medical students. Older students admitted under different criteria, however, do just as well as do younger students by their clinical years. A broad-based study of admission criteria and outcomes for the older student population is warranted.