Treatment with the oral growth hormone secretagogue MK-677 increases markers of bone formation and bone resorption in obese young males

The effect of 2 months of treatment with the oral growth hormone (GH) secretagogue MK-677 on markers of bone metabolism was determined in healthy obese male subjects. This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study. Twenty-four healthy obese males, 19-49 years of age, with body mass index > 30 kg/m2 were treated with MK-677 (25 mg/day; n = 12) or placebo (n = 12) for 8 weeks. MK-677 increased markers of bone formation; a 23% increase in the carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen levels and a 28% increase in procollagen III peptide levels were seen with as little as 2 weeks of MK-677 treatment (p < 0.01 and p = 0.001 vs. placebo, respectively) while a 15% increase in serum levels of osteocalcin was not detected until 8 weeks of treatment (p < 0.01 vs. placebo). Markers of bone resorption were induced within 2 weeks of treatment with MK-677; serum levels of the carboxy-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen were increased 26% at 8 weeks (p = 0.001 vs. placebo), and urine hydroxyproline/creatinine and calcium/creatinine ratios at 8 weeks were increased by 23% (p < 0.05 vs. placebo) and 46% (p < 0.05 vs placebo), respectively, MK-677 increased serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) by 43-44% after 2-8 weeks of treatment (p < 0.01 vs. placebo). Serum IGFBP-4 was increased by 25% after 2 weeks of treatment (p < 0.001 vs. placebo) but no significant change from baseline was observed after 8 weeks of treatment. Plasma interleukin-6 was not significantly changed by active treatment. In conclusion, short-term treatment of healthy obese male volunteers with the GH secretagogue MK-677 increases markers of both bone resorption and formation. Large increases in serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-5 and a transient increase in serum IGFBP-4 were found. Future long-term studies are needed to investigate if prolonged treatment with MK-677 increases bone mass.     

Constrained length minimum inductance gradient coil design

A gradient coil design algorithm capable of controlling the position of the homogeneous region of interest (ROI) with respect to the current-carrying wires is required for many advanced imaging and spectroscopy applications. A modified minimum inductance target field method that allows the placement of a set of constraints on the final current density is presented. This constrained current minimum inductance method is derived in the context of previous target field methods. Complete details are shown and all equations required for implementation of the algorithm are given. The method has been implemented on computer and applied to the design of both a 1:1 aspect ratio (length:diameter) central ROI and a 2:1 aspect ratio edge ROI gradient coil. The 1:1 design demonstrates that a general analytic method can be used to easily obtain very short gradient coil designs for use with specialized magnet systems. The edge gradient design demonstrates that designs that allow imaging of the neck region with a head sized gradient coil can be obtained, as well as other applications requiring edge-of-cylinder regions of uniformity.     

E1A second exon requirements for induction of target cell susceptibility to lysis by natural killer cells: implications for the mechanism of action

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) at a dose of 1 to 300 micrograms/kg/day was administered intravenously to rats daily for 13 weeks. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity increased dose-dependently with leukocytosis. Most of the increased leukocytes were segmented neutrophils, and neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) scores were elevated markedly. Serum ALP activity correlated very well with the segmented neutrophil counts, and the coefficient of correlation was more than 0.97 in both sexes. Pathological examinations revealed splenomegaly and a marked increase in neutrophils in the red pulp of the spleen. In the spleen, phagocytosis of neutrophils by macrophages was observed. These data indicate that the increased ALP was of neutrophil origin. Serum ALP activity may be increased by the direct release of ALP from the high number of neutrophils into the blood, or by the leakage of ALP into the blood mainly from the spleen where many neutrophils are pooled and destroyed by the macrophage system.     

Effect of a direct magnetic field on the interfacial microstructure between molten aluminium and solid iron

Many processing techniques, such as hot dip aluminizing, bimetal formation, liquid metal corrosion, cementing, welding and diffusion bonding, are basically dependent on interfacial reactions [1-3]. It is therefore important to investigate the formation and growth of intermetallic layers at the interface. There have been several studies carried out to examine chemical compositions and growth kinetics of intermetallic layers in the Al-Fe system [4-9]. Most authors have come to an agreement that…     

Effects of branching upon some surfactant properties of sulfated alcohols

A study was undertaken to determine the surfactant properties of various sulfated alcohols. Most notably, the Krafft point and the ability to emulsify decane were studied. A series of sulfated Guerbet alcohol and Guerbet alcohol alkoxylate sulfates with 16 carbon atoms and an analogous series based upon cetyl alcohol, a linear C₁₆, were studied as hydrophobes.     

A comparison of the ethoxylation of a fatty alcohol,fatty acid,and dimethiconol

Knowing that dimethiconols or silanols condense under acid or alkaline catalysis, a study was undertaken to determine if these compounds could be successfully ethoxylated under conditions similar to those used to ethoxylate fatty alcohols and acids. It was anticipated that the condensation reaction would take precedent over ethoxylation reaction. We determined that ethoxylation reaction occurs preferentially to condensation reaction. In addition, kinetics of ethoxylation are similar to kinetics observed when fatty alcohols are ethoxylated. This reaction gives rise to a new class of hydrolyzable silicone compounds that have applications in industrial as well as in personal-care products.     

海洋潮差区混凝土表面微生物16S rDNA分子鉴定

针对目前海洋混凝土工程的腐蚀现状,进行了海洋微生物对潮差区混凝土的作用机理及完善海工混凝土的腐蚀机理探索.通过海工混凝土潮差区部位取样,对暴露于潮差区中部22 y的混凝土试样表面进行FE-SEM、EDAX分析,结果表明:潮差区混凝土表面腐蚀严重,结构疏松,表面覆盖有有机物质和微生物.并将暴露于潮差区中部22 y的混凝土试样和该取样位置挂置7 d的混凝土试样表面的微生物群落分别分离,克隆了其中30株和12株细菌的16S rDNA基因,测定其序列且进行比对,其分别属于15个和7个种属中.优势种属均为假交替单胞菌,但随着暴露时间的增加,总细菌株数和总菌属数分别增大到2.5和2.14倍,且种属的变化也很大.同时,建立了海洋混凝土工程表面细菌鉴定方法,以及分离、鉴定的菌种为后续细菌对混凝土作用的试验提供菌种.     

钢纤维混凝土高温后SHPB试验研究

为了研究钢纤维混凝土(SFRC)常温以及经历400和800℃高温后的动态压缩性能,采用改进的分离式Hopkinson压杆装置,结合应变直测技术对其进行了单轴冲击压缩试验.结果表明:经历400和800℃高温后,未掺钢纤维混凝土的峰值应力分别只有常温时的79.2%和38.9%,弹性模量分别降为常温时的82.8%和56.2%,同时,试件的能量吸收能力大幅度下降;钢纤维混凝土400,800℃对应的峰值应力分别降为常温时的76.8%和39.0%,弹性模量稍有降低,分别为常温的91.8%和82.7%,较基准混凝土有了较大的提高.钢纤维的加入可以增加混凝土的极限应力对应应变,曲线的下降段较为平缓,同时增强了混凝土的能量吸收能力,在20,400和800℃时,分别提高了38.5%,27.5%和25%.     

电化学除氯处理后的混凝土微观结构研究

为了研究电化学除氯对混凝土中离子分布和微观结构的影响规律,采用压汞法、SEM电子显微镜分析等方法对电化学除氯后不同水灰比混凝土试件中钢筋附近和表面层的氯离子和钾钠离子含量、孔隙结构、显微结构进行对比分析.结果显示,电化学除氯后,钢筋附近混凝土与外层混凝土相比,氯离子含量约为1/2,钾离子含量约为5～10倍,钠离子含量约为8～18倍,水化物颗粒间结合不连续、部分水化产物分解.钢筋附近区域混凝土中的氯离子含量明显低于外表层混凝土,钾、钠离子在钢筋阴极附近大量聚集.经过电化学处理后的混凝土试件钢筋附近区域的孔隙率和大孔含量增多,结构疏松;而外表层混凝土结构致密,孔隙细化,水化产物成网络状结合良好.     

新型多单体接枝物增容PP/PVC共混体系的研究

自制了多单体接枝物PP g (St co MMA) ,并利用其增容PP/PVC共混体系。讨论了共混物组成、相容剂用量在不同温度、不同压力下对其流变行为的影响。实验结果表明 ,在所研究的温度和压力范围内 ,加入PP g (St co MMA)增容PP/PVC共混体系后 ,共混物熔体呈典型的假塑性流体特性 ,粘流活化能增加 ,非牛顿性有增大的趋势。共混体系的力学性能提高 ,SEM照片证明了多单体接枝物对PP/PVC的增容作用