Stain therapy and reduced incidence of stroke. Implications of cholesterol-lowering therapy for cerebrovascular disease

Three recent large clinical trials-the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study, the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study, and the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial-have all confirmed that cholesterol lowering with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors is safe and effective therapy to prevent an initial or recurrent coronary event in patients at high risk for coronary heart disease. However, a number of questions related to the treatment of lipid disorders and risk reduction for coronary heart disease remain, including the cholesterol concentration at which treatment would best be initiated, the optimal cholesterol reduction or goal to be attained, and the mechanisms by which HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors reduce the risk for clinical events.     

The catalytic domain of protein kinase C chimeras modulates the affinity and targeting of phorbol ester-induced translocation

Emerging evidence suggests important differences among protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in terms of their regulation and biological functions. PKC is regulated by multiple interdependent mechanisms, including enzymatic activation, translocation of the enzyme in response to activation, phosphorylation, and proteolysis. As part of our ongoing studies to define the factors contributing to the specificity of PKC isozymes, we prepared chimeras between the catalytic and regulatory domains of PKCalpha, -delta, and -epsilon. These chimeras, which preserve the overall structure of the native PKC enzymes, were stably expressed in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Their intracellular distribution was similar to that of the endogenous enzymes, and they responded with translocation upon treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). We found that the potency of PMA for translocation of the PKCalpha/x chimeras from the soluble fraction was influenced by the catalytic domain. The ED50 for translocation of PKCalpha/alpha was 26 nM, in marked contrast to the ED50 of 0.9 nM in the case of the PKCalpha/epsilon chimera. In addition to this increase in potency, the site of translocation was also changed; the PKCalpha/epsilon chimera translocated mainly into the cytoskeletal fraction. PKCx/epsilon chimeras displayed twin isoforms with different mobilities on Western blots. PMA treatment increased the proportion of the higher mobility isoform. The two PKCx/epsilon isoforms differed in their localization; moreover, their localization pattern depended on the regulatory domain. Our results emphasize the complex contributions of the regulatory and catalytic domains to the overall behavior of PKC.     

Primary vitrectomy for bullous rhegmatogenous retinal detachments due to complex breaks

Sixty-five patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy were compared with 55 breast conservation patients, all of whom were in stage I, II or III of breast cancer and were under treatment at an oncology clinic in northern Israel. The main findings indicate no differences between the groups in physical, psychosocial, marital or medical interaction, according to the CARE scale. These findings reflect the results of similar comparative studies conducted during the 1980s and 1990s as documented in the literature. Sexual interaction showed statistical differences favoring the women who had undergone mastectomies.     

SEASONAL CHANGES IN PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF ANCHOVY AND STORAGE STABILITY OF ANCHOVY OIL

Changes in proximate composition of anchovy were investigated during the catching season from October to March. In addition, stability of anchovy oil depending on storage temperature and time were studied. During the recent study, water, fat, protein and ash content of anchovy varied between 65.9–74.0%, 9.0–15.3%, 12.8–16.4% and 1.7–2.2%, respectively. The anchovy oil stored at 4C was found to be unacceptable for consumption at the end of the 90th day of storage according to peroxide, acid, unsaponifiable matter and thiobarbituric acid values. An identical sample stored at − 18C was acceptable for 120 days of storage, but eventually became unacceptable after that.

PRACTICAL APLICATIONS

Anchovy has a great economic importance for the Turkish fishery industry. Approximately 42% of the annual catch of anchovy is used in fish meal and oil production in Turkey ( SIS 2002 ). Therefore, the proximate composition of anchovy and seasonal changes have fundamental importance for consumers, manufacturers and wholesalers, because it is important for consumers to know what they eat, for manufacturers to figure out how they manage long storage stability for their products, and for wholesalers to buy equivalent of their payment. An important issue that has attracted attention of the manufacturers is the storage life of fish oil. Therefore, the results presented in this study are expected to be useful for the fish oil industry in Turkey or even in other countries processing anchovy into fish oil.     

Nurse and patient reactions to social displays of depression.

Examined the interpersonal responses of 27 nurses and 27 hospitalized patients with chronic medical conditions to a target who appeared either to have a chronic physical impairment or to be able-bodied, and who enacted either a depressed or nondepressed role. It was predicted that while nurses and patients would have negative reactions to the depressed targets, patient reactions to the depressed target with a physical impairment would be less negative than nurse reactions on the basis of perceived similarity. Results indicated that both groups had negative perceptions of the depressed targets. The similarity hypothesis, however, was not explicitly supported. The reactions of health-care staff to depressed medical patients may reinforce the patients' depressive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender, the state, and constructing the old as dependent: lessons from the economic transition in Poland

Emotional state affects the physiological mechanism involved in phonation. Differences in acoustical parameters of the voice under stress have been attributed to the coping mechanism used, which is based on the individual's perception of the situation. This study examines the relationship between coping strategies, personality, and voice in female subjects, ranging in age from 19.3-55.7 years, diagnosed with vocal nodules or polyps. The differences between coping strategies and personality are examined and compared with another group with no history of voice pathology. The relationship of personality and coping strategies to voice quality variables is reported. Results show that patients use emotional coping strategies more and cognitive coping strategies less than the comparison group. Type of voice pathology was found to be related to dominance, and a number of coping and personality variables were found to correlate significantly with voice quality.     

Effect of a three month training period on the maximal oxygen deficiency in high level performance sprinters

We investigated in vivo expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms, 17 kDa myosin light chain (MLC17), and phosphorylation of the 20 kDa MLC (MLC20) as well as mechanical performance of chemically skinned fibers of normal and hypertrophied smooth muscle (SM) of human myometrium. According to their immunological reactivity, we identified three MHC isoenzymes in the human myometrium: two SM-MHC (SM1 with 204 kDa and SM2 with 200 kDa), and one non-muscle specific MHC (NM with 196 kDa). No cross-reactivity was detected with an antibody raised against a peptide corresponding to a seven amino acid insert at the 25K/50K junction of the myosin head (a-25K/50K) in both normal and hypertrophied myometrium. In contrast, SM-MHC of human myomatous tissue strongly reacted with a-25K/50K. Expression of SM1/SM2/NM (%) in normal myometrium was 31.7/34.7/33.6 and 35.1/40.9/24 in hypertrophied myometrium. The increased SM2 and decreased NM expression in the hypertrophied state was statistically significant (P < 0.05). MHC isoform distribution in myomatous tissue was similar to normal myometrium (36.3/35.3/29.4). In vivo expression of MLC17a increased from 25.5% in normal to 44.2% in hypertrophied (P < 0.001) myometrium. Phosphorylation levels of MLC20 upon maximal Ca(2+)-calmodulin activation of skinned myometrial fibers were the same in normal and hypertrophied myometrial fibers. Maximal force of isometric contraction of skinned fibers (pCa 4.5, slack-length) was 2.85 mN/mm2 and 5.6 mN/mm2 in the normal and hypertrophied state, respectively (P < 0.001). Apparent maximal shortening velocity (Vmax(appt), extrapolated from the force-velocity relation) of myometrium rose from 0.13 muscle length s-1 (ML/s) in normal to 0.24 ML/s in hypertrophied fibers (P < 0.001).     

Why Barbie is perceived as beautiful

The long-term acceptance and success of the Barbie doll suggests the physical characteristics of the doll are perceived as attractive. When viewed in the context of universal attractiveness, response to the doll raises the question why Barbie is perceived as attractive. Published paleontological data on hominid fossils indicate how the shapes and anatomical proportions of humans have evolved. Included in the fossils are phenotypic traits no longer prevalent in humans (primitive) and phenotypic traits that have become increasingly prevalent (derived). It is noted that the anatomical proportions of the Barbie doll are exaggerated and emphasize derived characteristics. It was proposed that in the perception of human form, derived traits are perceived as attractive while primitive traits are perceived as unattractive. Drawings and photographs were utilized to survey reactions to a comparison of primitive vs derived traits by 495 subjects, instructed to select the shape or proportion they considered more attractive. There was significant agreement among the subjects that derived anatomical traits were perceived as more attractive than primitive ones. The Barbie doll is illustrative of how human beauty has evolved and indicates elements of human form that appear beautiful. The doll emphasizes our derived evolutionary traits and, possibly, that is why the doll is perceived as attractive.     

Doublecortin May Play a Role in Defining Chondrocyte Phenotype

Embryonic development of articular cartilage has not been well understood and the role of doublecortin (DCX) in determination of chondrocyte phenotype is unknown. Here, we use a DCX promoter-driven eGFP reporter mouse model to study the dynamic gene expression profiles in mouse embryonic handplates at E12.5 to E13.5 when the condensed mesenchymal cells differentiate into either endochondral chondrocytes or joint interzone cells. Illumina microarray analysis identified a variety of genes that were expressed differentially in the different regions of mouse handplate. The unique expression patterns of many genes were revealed. Cytl1 and 3110032G18RIK were highly expressed in the proximal region of E12.5 handplate and the carpal region of E13.5 handplate, whereas Olfr538, Kctd15, and Cited1 were highly expressed in the distal region of E12.5 and the metacarpal region of E13.5 handplates. There was an increasing gradient of Hrc expression in the proximal to distal direction in E13.5 handplate. Furthermore, when human DCX protein was expressed in human adipose stem cells, collagen II was decreased while aggrecan, matrilin 2, and GDF5 were increased during the 14-day pellet culture. These findings suggest that DCX may play a role in defining chondrocyte phenotype.