Catch me if you can: are catechol- and indoleamine genes pleiotropic QTLs for common mental disorders?

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a short-term ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel medication on blood flow in the uterine arteries in postmenopausal women in a prospective placebo-controlled double-blind study. Twenty-one healthy postmenopausal woman at least 2 years after menopause received 60 micrograms ethinyl estradiol (EE) for 14 days followed by 40 micrograms EE plus 125 micrograms levonorgestrel (LNG) for 12 days (total treatment period 26 days). Sonographically, uterine volume, endometrial thickness, and blood flow in the uterine arteries [as reflected by pulsatility (PI) and resistance indices (RI)] were measured. Uterine size increased from 44 to 80 mL (day 14, p < 0.001) and 87 mL (day 26, p = NS). Endometrium grew from 3 to 8 mm (day 14, p < 0.001) and 11 mm (day 26, p = NS). Uterine arterial PI fell from 2.76 to 1.37 (day 14, p < 0.001) and 1.34 (day 26, p = NS), whereas RI fell from 0.9 to 0.68 (day 14 and day 26, p < 0.001). In conclusion, short-term treatment with LNG does not antagonize the vascular effect of EE on the uterine arteries as reflected by PI and RI. This result might have clinical significance in the selection of the progestin used in hormonal replacement therapy.     

Sub-Tenon's anaesthesia: an efficient and safe technique

AIM: To evaluate sub-Tenon's anaesthesia as an alternative to peribulbar anaesthesia. METHODS: 109 consecutive patients listed for various eye operations (including cataract, trabeculectomy, and vitrectomy) under peribulbar anaesthesia were operated on under sub-Tenon's anaesthesia instead. After topical anaesthesia a buttonhole was fashioned through the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule 10 mm posterior to the limbus. 1.5 ml of lignocaine 2% was then delivered to the posterior sub-Tenon's space using a blunt cannula. The surgical procedure was performed immediately after the completion of the anaesthetic procedure. Chemosis, conjunctival haemorrhage, degree of akinesia, and pain scoring were analysed. RESULTS: There were no anaesthesia related complications. The administration of the block was painless for 99.1% of the patients. In all, 97.3% reported no pain during surgery. There was no akinesia when assessed just after the completion of the block and akinesia was limited when assessed after surgery. Chemosis and conjunctival haemorrhage were frequent but caused no intraoperative problems. CONCLUSION: Sub-Tenon's anaesthesia is an efficient and safe anaesthetic technique. It is a good alternative to peribulbar anaesthesia.     

The impact of cardiology on the collective effective dose in the North of England

Two cardiology X-ray rooms were monitored with dose-area product meters as part of a Regional Patient Dosimetry Programme. Dose-area product measurements on over 2000 patients undergoing examinations in the cardiology rooms are presented. The data have been corrected according to patient size where possible. In room A mean dose-area product values for coronary angiography, coronary angioplasty, radiofrequency ablation and mitral valvuloplasty were found to be 47.7, 72.2, 91.1 and 161.9 Gy cm2 respectively. In room B mean dose-area product values for coronary angiography and coronary angioplasty were found to be 23.4 and 51.6 Gy cm2 respectively. Observational studies were used to deduce the typical projections and technique factors. This typical examination was used to simulate an angiogram from which it was possible to derive factors to convert measured dose-area product values into estimates of effective dose. In room A, the effective doses were estimated to be 9.4, 14.2, 17.3 and 29.3 mSv for coronary angiography, coronary angioplasty, radiofrequency ablation and mitral valvuloplasty, respectively. The effective doses during coronary angiography and coronary angioplasty, performed in room B, were found to be 4.6 and 10.2 mSv, respectively. A regional survey of the frequency of these cardiac procedures was performed. It was deduced that the annual collective effective dose from these cardiac procedures in the North of England, the former Northern Region, was 45.7 manSv.     

Dependence of mesenchymal cell responses on duration of exposure to bone morphogenetic protein-2 in vitro

Murine Leydig (TM3) and Sertoli (TM4) cell lines were studied as nonprofessional antigen-presenting cells using the antigen model of human choriogonadotropin (hCG alpha/beta) and specific T-cell hybridomas. Both cell lines were treated with IFN-gamma to induce I-A(d) and I-E(d) molecules expression. Only the TM3 cell line, which expressed MHC-class II molecules upon IFN-gamma stimulation, was able to uptake, process, and present the human choriogonadotropin beta subunit to related T-cell hybridomas. Interestingly, the TM3 cell line was incapable of presenting the human choriogonadotropin alpha subunit, the presentation of which, by classical APC, is highly efficient. Using T-cell hybridomas directed against the immunogenic regions of hCG alpha/beta previously described in BALB/c mice, we showed that the TM3 cell line generated a narrower peptide repertoire than classical APC (i.e., B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells). This experimental system suggests that Leydig cells could initiate, in vivo, an autoimmune process directed against gonadal tissues. In particular, such a mechanism has been evoked in experimental autoimmune orchitis.     

西藏地区需水量预测分析

通过对西藏水资源的现状分析,摸清了西藏水资源的基本状况。根据西藏地区过去分行业的用水情况及未来社会经济发展的预测,分析了西藏地区需水量预测的影响因素,应用灰色系统理论建立西藏地区需水预测模型,对西藏自治区2010年和2020年需水进行了预测分析,有助于西藏地区采取合理的用水规划措施,减少成本开支,促进西藏经济社会的可持续发展。2010～2020年,随着经济发展逐步进入稳定时期,社会总体科技水平将有较大发展,节水政策、节水技术和设施得到较好的实施,全社会用水水平也逐渐趋于平稳,年需水增长速度减缓,并逐步达到基本平稳,平均年递增率为1.5％。     

基于序关系法的建筑企业技术创新风险灰色聚类评价

目前我国建筑行业竞争激烈,技术创新作为提高建筑企业核心竞争力和可持续发展能力的重要渠道,得到越来越多企业的重视。针对建筑企业技术创新风险影响因素不确定和风险环境复杂的特点,建立了建筑企业技术创新风险的评价指标体系。选用序关系法对指标赋权,结合灰色聚类法进行评价分析,得到建筑企业的技术创新风险值。并通过实证研究证明其有效性,为建筑企业技术创新管理提供良好的指导。     

黄水沟水文站月水量预报方案的编制

黄水沟位于新疆巴音郭楞蒙古自治州和静县境内,发源于中天山的天格尔山南坡,是一条雨雪混合补给性河流。黄水沟水文站(位于山口处)以上集水面积4311km2,流域面上的降水经过10余条一级支流、10余条二级支流及若干条三级支流的汇集调蓄,自北向南汇集于山口。山口以上河段至今没有修建控制型水利工程。利用黄水沟站49年的水文资料,运用数理统计方法,分析月水量要素自身的统计规律或月水量要素与其他有关因子之间的统计关系,进行黄水沟月水量的预报方案编制,提高未来可能来水量的预报精度,为当地防洪抗旱、水量调度与管理部门在进行河流(流域)水资源统一规划与可持续利用时提供比较准确的未来可能来水量预报。     

汽车零部件表面强化技术研究现状及展望

在传统渗碳、渗氮及表面淬火工艺的汽车零部件表面强化技术基础上,简单综述了传统工艺在汽车零部件表面强化上应用的工艺优缺点及研究现状,重点阐述了新型表面形变强化、高能束流表面强化、表面冶金强化、表面复合强化及表面纳米强化的汽车零部件表面强化技术,详细介绍了目前广泛使用的新型表面形变强化中的喷丸强化工艺、高能束流表面强化中的激光表面淬火与电子束表面淬火工艺及表面冶金强化中等离子喷涂工艺的技术特点和应用现状,分析了国内外汽车零部件表面复合强化技术和表面纳米强化技术的工艺特点和研究现状,尤其是将表面复合强化技术中的传统工艺与传统工艺、传统工艺与新型工艺、新型工艺与新型工艺的多种复合工艺的相互结合及QPQ盐浴复合处理技术在汽车零部件表面强化上的应用,最后展望了未来汽车零部件表面强化技术的发展方向。