Syphilis morbidity in Ukraine in the 20th century (a review of the literature and the author''s own data)

In 1991, the International Registry of Lung Metastases was formed by 18 thoracic surgery departments in Europe and North America. Statistical analysis of combined data from the Registry revealed significant variables in patient selection, which helped to guide treatment modalities for specific patients. A simple system of stage classification is presented in this article as a basis for discussions on future results and for clinical trial design.     

N-Ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) and alpha-soluble NSF attachment proteins (SNAP) mediate dissociation of GS28-syntaxin 5 Golgi SNAP receptors (SNARE) complex

Golgi soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) GS28 and syntaxin 5 can be reciprocally coimmunoprecipitated from Golgi extracts, suggesting that they exist in a protein complex. When Golgi extract is preincubated with soluble NSF attachment proteins (alpha-SNAP) and N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) under conditions that allow ATP hydrolysis by NSF, GS28 and syntaxin 5 become dissociated. GS28 and syntaxin 5 remain in a protein complex when Golgi extract is preincubated with similar amounts of alpha-SNAP and NSF under conditions that prevent ATP hydrolysis by NSF, suggesting that ATP hydrolysis by NSF is necessary for dissociating the GS28-syntaxin 5 complex. Since preincubation of Golgi extract with either alpha-SNAP or NSF alone has no effect on the GS28-syntaxin 5 complex, a concerted action of alpha-SNAP and NSF therefore mediates the dissociation of the GS28-syntaxin 5 complex. Furthermore, GS28 but not syntaxin 5 is capable of binding to immobilized alpha-SNAP when the GS28-syntaxin 5 complex is dissociated.     

The optimum intensities for multiple static multileaf collimator field compensation

A method of determining the optimum beam intensities for compensation using multiple static multileaf collimator fields is presented. In this method a histogram of the number of beam pixels against beam intensity is generated for the intensity-modulated beam (IMB). The intensity of each beam to be used is chosen to minimize the mean square deviation between each bin in the histogram and the closest beam intensity. This method has been applied to sample IMBs possessing one maximum and two maxima. For both cases, the use of uniform beam intensity increments is shown to be close to optimal. In the case with two maxima, the efficacy of irradiating both peaks simultaneously, rather than separately, has been studied and shown to be of potential benefit. The optimum intensities for an IMB for breast radiotherapy are also presented.     

Transport of fatty acids in the bloodflow as the major function of lipoproteins

System of lipoproteins serves for the transport of fatty acids in the blood. Triacylglycerols are the transport form of saturated (mono-unsaturated and trans-forms) fatty acids forming crystal phase. Phospolipids and cholesterol ethers are transport forms of polyunsaturated acids in the polar and crystal phases, respectively. Even in the forms of complex lipids saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids are transported in the blood by various apoproteins. ApoB-48 transports saturated fatty acids to hepatocytes in the form of chilomicrons. ApoA-1 transports transports polyunsaturated fatty acids directly to cells including hepatocytes. ApoA-100 contains two lipid binding domains. It transports saturated fatty acids and their cholesterol ethers associated with the third and fifth domains, respectively. For the structural function polyunsaturated fatty acids are transported by ApoA-1 high density lipoproteins in the polar phase and they penetrate into cells via phospholipid re-esterification.