Homeostatic changes in monkeys in a model of glanders

Some aspects of homeostasis impairment in monkeys infected with Pseudomonas mallei were investigated. The levels of the hormonal shifts, complement components, beta 2-microglobulin and prostaglandins evident of the infection severity were estimated. The pathomorphological profiles of various forms of malleus in the primates were studied.     

Effects of pravastatin on thoracic aortic atherosclerosis in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

Data regarding the effects of plasma lipid lowering on the evolution of thoracic aortic atherosclerosis (TAA) are scarce. In this study, we performed transesophageal echocardiography to characterize TAA in 16 newly diagnosed patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and to follow its evolution after 2 years of statin treatment. TAA was graded as follows: grade I = normal intima; grade II = increased intimal echo density without thickening; grade IIIA = increased intimal echo density with single atheromatous plaque < or = 3 mm; grade IIIB = multiple plaques < or = 3mm; grade IV = > or = 1 plaque >3 mm; and grade V = mobile or ulcerated plaques. Baseline aortic intimal morphology was grade I in one patient, grade II in 4, grade IIIA in 6, grade IIIB in 3, and grade IV in 2 patients. Hypolipidemic treatment resulted in significant reductions in plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Follow-up aortic morphology was grade I in 5 patients, grade II in 2, grade IIIA in 3, grade IIIB in 3, and grade IV in 3 patients. TAA remained stable in 7 patients, progressed in 3, and regressed in 6 patients. TAA evolved in a uniform manner in the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta. Patients with TAA regression were younger (39+/-14 vs 52+/-8 years, p=0.038) and had a greater decrease in plasma LDL cholesterol as a result of treatment (138+/-56 vs 73+/-55 mg/dl, p=0.036) than patients with TAA stability or progression. These observations support the hypothesis that hypolipidemic treatment may favorably affect the course of TAA in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.     

随机模拟预测夹层分布方法在平湖油气田的应用

夹层的空间分布研究 ,对于精细油藏描述而言是一个难题 ,目前还没有一种行之有效的解决方法。本文针对平湖油气田H3 2 油藏开发实际 ,先采用随机建模方法建立油藏的三维夹层模型 ,再用确定性建模方法建立油藏的三维孔隙度模型 ,并依此对夹层模型进行校正 ,然后用于生产动态预测。钻井结果证实 ,夹层预测结果与油藏实际情况吻合     

Opinion of alumni about the teaching of nursing diagnosis according to North American Nursing Diagnosis Association

Family members who care for chronically ill relatives at home are subject to demands beyond their usual daily responsibilities. These demands can develop into a pattern that disrupts all aspects of the life of the caregiver. The article examines the existing literature on caregiver burden and reconceptualizes the dimensions of caregiver burden within the context of the Roy adaptation model.     

The role of nuclear magnetic resonance monitoring in early clinical-instrumental diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Nucleo-magnetic resonance tomography (NMRT) facilitated considerably early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Yet, there appeared data indicating the existence of NMRT negative forms. These were found in 15 patients of 82 ones examined using NMRT only which failed to defect foci of demyelinization in spite of a clear-cut clinical picture. NMRT monitoring during 3 years (from 2 to 5 NMRT investigations) permitted to visualize the foci of demyelinization located primarily in the periventricular cerebral region. The conclusion was made that a presence of clear clinical symptoms as well as a remitting character of the pathologic process confirmed by visualization of multiple foci of CNS demyelinization by means of NMRT monitoring, gave full chance for a reliable diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. A lack of such confirmation may be explained by the fact, that clinical debut of the disease reflected only the phase of multiple sclerosis and forestalled forming of a focal demyelinizating process, pathognomonic for this disease.     

Differential translocation of rho family GTPases by lysophosphatidic acid, endothelin-1, and platelet-derived growth factor

The small GTPases of the Rho family play a key role in a number of signaling pathways activated by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). However, little is known concerning the mechanism of regulation of these proteins. In this study we demonstrate that in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, LPA induces a sustained, time-dependent relocalization of RhoA to the Triton X-100-soluble low speed membrane fraction, which can be reversed by removal of LPA from the medium. Translocation was only observed with micromolar concentrations of LPA and was inhibited by pretreating the cells with pertussis toxin but not with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. LPA also induced translocation of CDC42Hs to the membranes but had no effect on the distribution of Rac1, RhoB, or Rho-GDI. Translocation of RhoA was also induced by endothelin-1. Conversely, platelet-derived growth factor did not cause the translocation of RhoA to any membrane fraction but stimulated relocalization of Rac1 to the high speed membrane fraction. Significantly, incubation of cell lysates with guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) was sufficient to translocate RhoA, Rac1, and CDC42Hs from the cytosol to the membranes, whereas incubation with GDP had the opposite effect. These data suggest that the translocation of the Rho family proteins to the membrane fraction is controlled by their activation state and that agonists show selectivity in inducing the activation/translocation of these proteins.