Placental 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in normotensive and pre-eclamptic pregnancies

Apparent mineralocorticoid excess and licorice induced hypertension, both hypertensive disorders, have been attributed to a defect in the enzyme 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD), which interconverts cortisol to cortisone. Therefore, we undertook this study to determine the role of human placental 11 beta-HSD activity in preeclampsia, which is a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy. 11 beta-HSD activities were determined in placentas of 17 normotensive and 11 preeclamptic patients matched for gestational age at 34-42 weeks. Cortisol levels in umbilical venous and arterial sera were also determined for both groups. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, significance at p < 0.05. 11 beta-dehydrogenase (oxidation activity of 11 beta-HSD) activity was significantly lower in placentas of preeclamptic compared to normotensive patients (0.19 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.08 mmoles/min/placenta, p = 0.02). Cortisol level in umbilical cord blood was significantly higher in the preeclamptic group (14.99 +/- 14.08 vs. 6.71 +/- 3.69 g/dL, p = 0.02). The decreased 11 beta-HSD activity is accompanied by an expected increase in umbilical cord blood cortisol level and decrease in fetal weight. This enzyme may play an important role in influencing fetal growth.     

Flavonoid Compounds in the Strawberry Fruit

SUMMARY— The flavonoid compounds of the strawberry fruit were studied by paper chromatography, spectrophotometry and color reactions, Catechin, quercetin–3-glucoside, kaempferol–3–glucoside and leucocyanidins of varying degrees of polymerization were found besides the two anthocyanins, pelargonidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-glucoside.
When the leucocyanidins were fractionated into water and methanol insoluble, ethyl acetate–soluble and water–soluble fractions, the latter fraction, generally representing glycosylated leucoanthocyanidins, was found to be the largest of the three in both ripe and unripe strawberries.     

论燃气工程施工质量控制管理——实施上海康城门站扩容安装

文章简单叙述了工程项目管理中的质量控制管理,并以上海康城门站扩容安装施工方案为例说明。     

世界最大起吊船将交付

由美国A．K．Suda股份有限公司设计、越南Saigon船建造的起吊船SUDA450-L3T将交付船尔新加坡EMASOllLshore公司。     

关于“结合”的哲学思考与企业实践

"结合"是哲学的范畴,"结合"的方法在唯物辩证法中具有极其重要的地位和作用。结合论是解决企业发展全过程中问题"具体化"的系统方法,是企业转变发展模式和调整创新升级"科学化"的实践路径。做好"结合"是坚持马克思主义的认识论、辩证法和方法论,就是坚持党的思想路线,就是坚持落实科学发展观的路径要求。     

发动机气道稳流试验流动过程的相似分析

通过对发动机气道内气体流动过程的相似分析，在雷诺Re准则数足够大的前提下，非定性准则欧拉Eu数和相似不变量无因次涡流NR保持不变。这就证实通过稳流试验来测量气道的流通性能是可行的。通过数理推导，评价参数流量系数μσ真实就是欧拉Eu准则数的一种表现形式。     

海上风力发电技术

风力发电是一种清洁的能源利用方式。随着风力发电技术的发展,海上风力发电已逐渐成为风电发展的新领域。因为海上风资源丰富,而且不会受土地使用的限制。目前,一些欧洲国家已成功建立了自己的海上风电场,证实了海上风力发电是可行的。中国具有很长的海岸线,邻近海域具有丰富的风资源,如能充分利用这些风能,将有助于解决我国的能源和环境问题。我国的海上风力发电技术刚刚起步,开发设计适合我国海域特点,并具有自主知识产权的海上风力发电设备,对我国的风力发电技术及能源战略具有重大意义。