The role of oncostatin M in animal and human connective tissue collagen turnover and its localization within the rheumatoid joint

OBJECTIVE: To study the interaction of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) and oncostatin M (OSM) in promoting cartilage collagen destruction. METHODS: Bovine, porcine, and human cartilage and human chondrocytes were studied in culture. The levels of collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase 1 [MMP-1]) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) were measured by bioassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of OSM in rheumatoid synovial fluid were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: When combined with OSM, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha released proteoglycan and collagen from cartilage. OSM was the only member of the IL-6 family to have this effect. Human tendon also responded to IL-1alpha and OSM. OSM increased the production of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 but when combined with IL-1alpha, synergistically promoted MMP-1 production in human chondrocytes and synovial fibroblasts. High levels of OSM were found in human rheumatoid synovial fluids, and confocal microscopy showed that OSM was produced by macrophages in rheumatoid synovial tissue. CONCLUSION: These results highlight an important new mechanism by which there is irreversible loss of collagen from cartilage.     

Variations of cardiac cycle length in patients with coronary heart disease before and after aortic coronary bypass surgery

It is well known that variations in cardiac cycle length or heart rates may be used for noninvasive evaluation of autonomic cardiovascular control. The investigation uses an original procedure. The data for analysis of cardiac cycle length variations (CCLV) are those obtained regularly at follow-up intervals, random 24-hour Holter 2-lead ECG recordings for 5 sec, and simultaneously calculated continuous sequence of mean heart rate. With the procedure, the correlations of CCLV with the parameters reflecting the early postoperative status of patients with CHD, including acute myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, rhythm and conduction disturbances, as well as age, operative stress, concurrent diseases. The findings are of both diagnostic and predictive value at subsequent stages of CHD treatment.     

Recurrent Meesmann''s corneal epithelial dystrophy after penetrating keratoplasty

Endoscopic treatment of chronic pancreatitis has drawn benefits from endoscopic procedures previously described for the main bile duct. Endotherapy is developing throughout the world. Cyst drainage procedures certainly represent the largest step forward in that non-surgical approach, whatever it is either direct (through the stomach or the duodenum) or indirect through the papilla in the duodenum. This procedure gives similar results to surgery with a lower morbidity. Pancreatic duct drainage associated with stone clearance is feasible and provides good results which have not yet been compared with those obtained thanks to surgery. Nonetheless, when the duct is not widely dilated it has been proven to be a satisfactory alternative to surgery. By contrast, chronic cholestasis does not appear to be a good indication of endotherapy.     

Spin injection in n-type resonant tunneling diodes

We have studied the polarized resolved photoluminescence of n-type GaAs/AlAs/GaAlAs resonant tunneling diodes under magnetic field parallel to the tunnel current. Under resonant tunneling conditions, we have observed two emission lines attributed to neutral (X) and negatively charged excitons (X⁻). We have observed a voltage-controlled circular polarization degree from the quantum well emission for both lines, with values up to −88% at 15 T at low voltages which are ascribed to an efficient spin injection from the 2D gases formed at the accumulation layers.     

Influence of Barium Dissolution on the Electrokinetic Properties of Colloidal BaTiO3 in an Aqueous Medium

Hysteresis in the electrokinetic behavior of colloidal hydrothermal BaTiO₃ occurs during sequential acid and base titrations. Ba dissolution during acid titration results in an oxide-rich surface. When the acid-treated BaTiO₃ is titrated back to pH 10, dissolved Ba is specifically adsorbed and/or precipitated onto the particle surface. The combined effects of dissolution and subsequent adsorption–precipitation results in titration hysteresis. Most of the labile Ba can be removed by multiple acid treatments, which result in a TiO₂-like surface layer composition. Barium dissolution increases with decreasing pH but levels off below pH 4 due to diffusion through the surface oxide layer as predicted previously. A phenomenological model is offered to explain the electrokinetic behavior as a function of pH. It is suggested that inherent BaCO₃ contamination is not the primary source of dissolved Ba from hydrothermal BaTiO₃ in acidic solution.     

Aqueous Processing of Sintered Reaction-Bonded Silicon Nitride: I, Dispersion Properties of Silicon Powder

An aqueous-based system (Si-Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃-Fe₂O₃) for processing sintered reaction-bonded silicon nitride (SRBSN) was investigated with an emphasis on chemical control of suspension component interactions. Chemical stability and dispersion properties of a commercial silicon powder were characterized using electroacoustic, adsorption isotherm, and rheological measurements. The interactions of silicon with nitriding agent, sintering aids, dispersants, and binder were considered. The effects of pH, electrolyte, aging, particle size, and solids loading were examined. The suspension properties of the silicon powder were influenced by the native oxide film and powder treatment history. The silicon-oxide composite particles exhibit dispersion behavior similar to silica, characterized by a negative surface potential above pH 2. A method to improve the dispersion and homogeneity of suspension components based on the use of quaternary amine dispersants is proposed.     

High J Pure Inversion Spectrum of ND3 in the v2 = 1 State

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the efficacy of intramuscular flunitrazepam compared with intramuscular haloperidol for the immediate control of agitated or aggressive behavior in acutely psychotic patients. METHOD: Twenty-eight actively psychotic inpatients, aged 20-60 years, who were under treatment with neuroleptic agents were selected for the study. Each was randomly assigned on a double-blind basis to receive either 5 mg i.m. of haloperidol (N=13) or 1 mg i.m. of flunitrazepam (N=15) during an aggressive event. Verbal and physical aggression was measured over time with the Overt Aggression Scale. Patients were also rated with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impression scale. RESULTS: Both flunitrazepam and haloperidol exhibited acute antiaggressive activity. This beneficial effect, as assessed by the Overt Aggression Scale, was obtained within 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Intramuscular flunitrazepam may serve as a convenient, rapid, safe, and effective adjunct to neuroleptics in reducing aggressive behavior in emergency psychiatric settings.     

Identification of 130 kDa cell surface LDL-binding protein from smooth muscle cells as a partially processed T-cadherin precursor

Atypical cell surface lipoprotein-binding proteins of 105 kDa and 130 kDa are present in membranes of vascular smooth muscle cells. We recently identified the 105 kDa protein from human aortic media as T-cadherin, an unusual glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored member of the cadherin family of cell adhesion proteins. The goal of the present study was to determine the identity of 130 kDa lipoprotein-binding protein of smooth muscle cells. We applied different approaches that included protein sequencing of purified protein from human aortic media, the use of human T-cadherin peptide-specific antisera, and enzymatic treatment of cultured cells with trypsin and GPI-specific phospholipase C. Our results indicate that the 130 kDa protein is a partially processed form of T-cadherin which is attached to the membrane surface of smooth muscle cells via a GPI anchor and contains uncleaved N-terminal propeptide sequence. Our data disclose that, in contrast to classical cadherins, T-cadherin is expressed on the cell surface in both its precursor (130 kDa) and mature (105 kDa) forms.     

The influence of Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster on the erythropoietic cells in the microenvironment of the liver

Erythropoesis activation, realizing by microenvironmental cells, was noted in hepar of the tailless amphibians R. Lessonae and R. Ridibunda, living in the Chernobyl AES alienation zone. Destructive changes, and the ribosome-protein complexes, fibrillar structures synthesis intensification was revealed in hepatocytes. Ribosome-protein complexes and fibrillar-granular material of hepatocytes enter the blood stream, where they incorporate into the erythroblasts cytoplasm. Focal hyperplasia and macrophages hypertrophy were revealed. Macrophages, transporting the hepatocytes cytoplasm components into erythroblasts and supplementing them with their cytoplasm synthesis products, take an active part in supply of differentiating red blood cells with different materials.