Clinical chemistry of common apolipoprotein E isoforms

Apolipoprotein E plays a central role in clearance of lipoprotein remnants by serving as a ligand for low-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein E receptors. Three common alleles (apolipoprotein E(2), E(3) and E(4)) give rise to six phenotypes. Apolipoprotein E(3) is the ancestral form. Common apolipoprotein E isoforms derive from nucleotide substitutions in codons 112 and 158. Resulting cysteine-arginine substitutions cause differences in: affinities for low-density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein E receptors, low-density lipoprotein receptor activities, distribution of apolipoprotein E among lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein formation rate, and cholesterol absorption. Accompanying changes in triglycerides, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein may promote atherosclerosis development. Over 90% of patients with familial dysbetalipoproteinaemia have apolipoprotein E(2)/E(2). Apolipoprotein E(4) may promote atherosclerosis by its low-density lipoprotein raising effect. Establishment of apolipoprotein E isoforms may be important for patients with diabetes mellitus and several non-atherosclerotic diseases. Apolipoprotein E phenotyping exploits differences in isoelectric points. Isoelectric focusing uses gels that contain pH 4-7 ampholytes and urea. Serum is directly applied, or prepurified by delipidation, lipoprotein precipitation or dialysation. Isoelectric focusing is followed by immunofixation/protein staining. Another approach is electro- or diffusion blotting, followed by protein staining or immunological detection with anti-apolipoprotein E antibodies and an enzyme-conjugated second antibody. Apolipoprotein E genotyping demonstrates underlying point mutations. Analyses of polymerase chain reaction products are done by allele-specific oligonucleotide probes, restriction fragment length polymorphism, single-stranded conformational polymorphism, the primer-guided nucleotide incorporation assay, or denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis. Detection with primers that either or not initiate amplification is performed with the amplification refractory mutation system. Disparities between phenotyping and genotyping may derive from isoelectric focusing methods that do not adequately separate apolipoprotein E posttranslational variants, storage artifacts or faint isoelectric focusing bands.     

Enantioselective antiplatelet actions of nipecotamides

This investigation retrospectively examined changes in marital satisfaction following stroke. The relationship between such changes and other pertinent factors were also examined, including severity of aphasia, knowledge of aphasia, number of months after stroke, and length of the marriage. The subjects were 40 spouses of patients with aphasia grouped according to severity of the aphasia (mild, moderate, severe). Spouses completed two different measures of marital satisfaction--the Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS) and the Marital Comparison Level Index (MCLI). These measures were completed in both a prestroke (retrospective reporting) and a poststroke format to allow for change to be assessed. In addition, a Knowledge of Aphasia questionnaire was completed by the normal spouses to evaluate their understanding of the disorder of aphasia. There was a significant difference between prestroke and poststroke scores on both the MSS and the MCLI, indicating a lower level of satisfaction following the stroke. The amount of change between prestroke and poststroke MSS and MCLI scores was not related to either number of months poststroke or number of years married. Although there was no relationship between changes in prestroke and poststroke scores on the MCLI and Knowledge of Aphasia scores, there was a significant correlation between changes in these scores on the MSS and Knowledge of Aphasia scores. Hence, the more knowledge spouses had regarding aphasia, the less the negative impact the stroke had on marital satisfaction, as measured by the MSS. Results are discussed in terms of the interdisciplinary treatment needs of aphasic patients and the implications for future investigations.     

Early patterning of prelimbic cortical axons to the striatal patch compartment in the neonatal mouse

The striatum receives excitatory input from virtually the entire cerebral cortex. In the adult, this input is segregated into two functionally distinct compartments of the striatum, the patch (striosome) and matrix regions. This study determined whether the patterning of corticostriatal afferents from the prelimbic cortex to the striatal patch compartment develops during the early period of collateral formation or instead at the time of peak synaptogenesis. Initial formation of corticostriatal axon collaterals was observed by embryonic day (E) 19. Quantification of corticostriatal collaterals revealed a significant increase in the number and complexity of collateral branches at postnatal day 6 as compared to E19. Concomitant with the increase in collateral branching, a heterogeneous pattern of collateralization consisting of parallel rows of corticostriatal collaterals was observed in the medial striatum. In addition to the rows, clusters of corticostriatal axons occurred more laterally. These clusters colocalized with patches of dense tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibers, a marker for the striatal patch compartment in the neonatal mouse. Together, these data indicate that corticostriatal patterning occurs during the period of early axon collateralization resulting in a segregation of corticostriatal axon collaterals from the prelimbic cortex to the striatal patch compartment.     

冲裁模CAD／CAM结构库之原型法

本文首先给出了一种新的2.5D 实体表示法,然后在此基础上提出了“原型”的概念。原型法的思想运用在结构库的管理中主要体现在它将模具结构与构成这种结构的零件之间的强联系变成弱联系,结构库面向的对象是一个具有整体性和可运算性的结构原型。这样的原型结构库基本上达到了通用性与开放性的要求。     

顶封封隔管柱的研制与应用

中原油田近年来注水压力不断升高，井况恶化严重，为此开发了顶封封隔管柱，主要阐述了管柱工况受力特点、结构、工作原理及现场使用效果。经现场较大面积的应用证明，各项性能、技术指标达到了现场要求。     

提高自蔓延高温合成陶瓷内衬钢管性能的研究

在概括了自蔓延高温合成陶瓷内衬钢管的制备原理基础上，从降低陶瓷层孔隙率，减少陶瓷层裂纹和提高陶瓷层结合强度等方面，论述了提高自蔓延高温合成陶瓷内衬钢管性能的措施，对自蔓延高温合成陶瓷内衬钢管的应用现状及展望进行了评述。     

中国陶瓷业如何与国际市场对接——访中国建筑卫生陶瓷协会秘书长缪斌

我国是陶瓷生产大国,近几年发展速度很快.2001年,我国的建筑陶瓷产量约20亿平方米,卫生瓷5000万件以上,全年全行业出口额超过2亿美元,创历史最好水平.加入WTO给我国陶瓷行业带来了很多机遇和挑战,但我们究竟与意大利、西班牙等陶瓷强国差距在哪里呢?记者最近走访了中国建筑陶瓷协会秘书长缪斌先生.恰逢秘书长刚从欧洲考察回来,便聊起这次欧洲之行……