Polymerase chain reaction typing of D21S11 short tandem repeat polymorphism by capillary electrophoresis. Allele frequencies and sequencing data in a population sample from central Italy

One component of the mechanism by which imidazoline compounds promote insulin secretion involves closure of ATP-sensitive K+ channels in the beta-cell plasma membrane. Recently, however, it has also been proposed that these compounds may exert important effects on more distal effector systems. In the present work, we have investigated the contribution played by protein kinases A and C to the insulin secretory responses of isolated rat islets of Langerhans treated with efaroxan and RX871024 (1-phenyl-2-(imidazolin-2-yl) benzimidazole). Removal of extracellular Ca2+ or blockade of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels prevented stimulation of insulin secretion by efaroxan, confirming a critical role for increased Ca2+ influx in the secretory response. By contrast, inhibition of protein kinases A or C failed to alter efaroxan-induced insulin secretion. RX871024 dose-dependently increased insulin secretion from cultured islets incubated with 20 mM glucose. This effect was unaffected by modulation of protein kinase C, but was significantly attenuated by a selective inhibitor of protein kinase A (Rp-cAMPs). Measurements of cAMP revealed that RX871024 increased the islet cAMP content by more than 3-fold; reaching values similar in magnitude to those elicited by 50 microM 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine. The results reveal that neither protein kinase A nor protein kinase C is obligatory for stimulation of insulin secretion by imidazolines. However, they suggest that a rise in cAMP may contribute to the amplified secretory response observed when cultured islets are incubated with RX871024 in the presence of a stimulatory glucose concentration.     

Documented home apnea monitoring: effect on compliance, duration of monitoring, and validation of alarm reporting

The objectives of this study were to: (1) measure patient compliance with monitoring, (2) validate parental reports of alarms at home, (3) examine monitoring duration, and (4) compare documented monitor records with the traditional pneumogram to evaluate patients for monitor discontinuation. During the 1-year period from January through December, 1992, 114 infants were followed up with documented monitoring. Simultaneously, 113 infants were followed up with conventional monitors. Infants were premature, or victims of apparent life-threatening episodes (ALTE), or siblings of SIDS victims. Monitors recorded all episodes of apnea greater than 15 seconds and bradycardia less than 80 beats per minute. All families were contacted biweekly by telephone. Downloads were performed at regular intervals. Monitor downloads were compared with simultaneous pneumograms to assess the accuracy of a long-term, intermittent event-recording system versus short-term (6- to 12-hour) continuous recording. All families were highly compliant with the use of home monitoring. Although Caucasian families used the monitors more often than non-Caucasian families, all groups used the monitor > 75% of the time. True episodes were verified in 38% of patients by monitor downloads. Only 7.4% of all recorded events were true events. Of the real events, 51.2% were apneas of 16-20 seconds. No significant differences were found in overall duration of monitoring between documented and nondocumented monitors. In the premature infants, the duration of monitoring was significantly reduced in those infants found to have no true episodes over those with real events at home. Readmission for ALTE was reduced in infants with documented monitors. Premature infants without events were monitored an average of 24 fewer days (P = 0.03). Computerized monitor downloads were found to be equally, if not more, sensitive than pneumograms in evaluating infants for monitor discontinuation. Documented monitoring offers a viable alternative to traditional monitoring and pneumograms in assisting clinicians and families in evaluating their infant's progress. By accurately assessing compliance, distinguishing true from false alarms, and decreasing the need for pneumograms, these devices provide valuable information to clinicians and families.     

High-resolution ultrasound associated with aspiration biopsy in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

A previous study showed that recombinant leptin markedly affects the body fat content and thermoregulatory energy expenditure of lean (+/+ and +/fa) suckling-age rats, and we wanted to find out whether leptin in doses that halved body fat of cold-reared lean pups had any effect in thermoneutrally reared lean pups. When +/+ pups were artificially reared from 4 to 16 days of age at thermoneutrality and treated as before with leptin from day 7, their total metabolic rate throughout the treatment period was only 4% higher than that of the control littermates and their final body fat content only 4% lower (both P>0.05). We conclude from comparisons of the results in +/+ pups at cold and thermoneutral conditions that leptin does not stimulate, but rather disinhibits, sympathetically mediated thermoregulatory thermogenesis.     

关于两起工程机械设备早期疲劳失效的分析及探讨

通过宏观分析、扫描电镜、光学显微镜等手段对装载机车架及液压挖掘机的液压泵驱动轴的早期断裂进行了综合分析，结果表明均为制造工艺不当而诱发的疲劳断裂失效，同时对有关防范措施作了探讨。     

Characterisation of an arc xenon lamp and its application to titanium nitride synthesis

Concentrated solar energy offers unknown possibilities on surface modification of materials. The characterisation of 7 kW arc xenon lamp is presented as a solar simulator. The lamp has a maximum net power density of about 220 Wcm⁻² with a spot of 8 mm diameter. With this equipment it is possible to treat steels and even melt of materials up to 2000K. Results are presented for the surface nitriding of Ti alloys performed in a nitrogen reaction chamber at atmospheric pressure. The good quality of the TiN coating is demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Vickers hardeness (hardness about 1000 HV). Treating times could be as short as 30 s because the growth rate is about 4 μm/min. This rate is higher than many other nitriding processes. These results are a previous experimental work to direct nitriding of Ti alloys in real solar concentrating equipment.     

Perforin-dependent neurologic injury in a viral model of multiple sclerosis

In this study we demonstrate perforin-mediated cytotoxic effector function is necessary for viral clearance and may directly contribute to the development of neurologic deficits after demyelination in the Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) model of multiple sclerosis. We previously demonstrated major histocompatability complex (MHC) class I-deficient (beta2m-deficient) mice with an otherwise resistant genotype develop severe demyelination with minimal neurologic disease when chronically infected with TMEV. These studies implicate CD8(+) T cells as the pathogenic cell in the induction of neurologic disease after demyelination. To determine which effector mechanisms of CD8(+) T cells, granule exocytosis or Fas ligand expression, play a role in the development of demyelination and clinical disease, we infected perforin-deficient, lpr (Fas mutation), and gld (Fas ligand mutation) mice with TMEV. Perforin-deficient mice showed viral persistence in the CNS, chronic brain pathology, and demyelination in the spinal cord white matter. Perforin-deficient mice demonstrated severely impaired MHC class I-restricted cytotoxicity against viral epitopes, but normal MHC class II-restricted delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to virus antigen. Despite demyelination, virus-infected perforin-deficient mice showed only minimal neurologic deficits as indicated by clinical disease score, activity monitoring, and footprint analysis. Perforin- and MHC class II-deficient mice (with functional CD8(+) T cells and perforin molecules and an H-2(b) haplotype) had comparable demyelination and genotype, however, only the latter showed severe clinical disease. Gld and lpr mice demonstrated normal TMEV-specific cytotoxicity and maintained resistance to TMEV-induced demyelinating disease. These studies implicate perforin release by CD8(+) T cells as a potential mechanism by which neurologic deficits are induced after demyelination.     

Bilateral hyperplastic nephromegaly, nephroblastomatosis, and renal dysplasia in a newborn: a variety of universal nephroblastomatosis

A preterm boy was born at 34 weeks. Prenatal ultrasonography showed oligohydramnios, fetal ascites, large kidneys, and small thorax. He died 21 h after birth of respiratory insufficiency. Autopsy revealed Potter's-like facies, hypoplastic lungs, ascites, and bilateral nephromegaly (renal weight almost 10 times normal). The kidneys were finely nodular externally, solid, and cerebriform on cut section. Histologically, they showed a diffusely distorted architecture of jumbled lobules, hyperplasia of cortical-type tissue with inconspicuous proximal tubules, relative hypoplasia of medullary tissue, tubulointerstitial dysplasia, and perilobar nephrogenic rests. The renal features represent a variety of the universal or panlobar (also called pancortical or infantile) type of nephroblastomatosis. To our knowledge, this is only the third such case reported. In the brain, each lateral ventricle contained a yellow gelatinous mass. Histologically, the masses consisted of a pseudomyxoid matrix with delicate fibers and focal adipocyte clusters, all confined within choroid plexus. We consider these lesions fibrolipomatous hamartomas.     

过硫酸钾—脲氧化还原引发的甲基丙烯酸乙酯基三甲基氯化铵反…

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