The apolipoprotein E allele epsilon 4 is overrepresented in patients with the Lewy body variant of Alzheimer's disease

We determined apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotypes in 122 autopsied demented patients. The frequency of the ApoE epsilon 4 allele was 39.6% in Alzheimer's disease (AD), 29.0% in the Lewy body variant of AD (LBV), and 6.25% in diffuse Lewy body disease. For AD and LBV patients, the epsilon 4 frequency was significantly higher than that reported in nondemented controls (10 to 15%). Therefore, LBV and AD share ApoE epsilon 4 as a genetic risk factor, providing further evidence that these conditions overlap.     

Parathyroid hormone-related protein in patients with primary breast cancer and eucalcemia

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is a causative factor of humoral hypercalcemia in breast cancer and other malignancies. We studied circulating PTHrP levels with three different immunoassays directed against different parts of the PTHrP molecule in 48 patients with breast cancer and eucalcemia. The methods used were: (a) a RIA with antibodies directed toward the midregion (63-78); (b) an immunofluorometric assay with two antibodies against 1-34 and 38-67; and (c) an immunoradiometric assay with antibodies against 1-40 and 1-72. Although most patients had PTHrP levels indistinguishable from normal when measured by all three methods, four patients had increased serum levels in the IFMA. PTHrP was detected by immunohistochemistry in tumors from nearly all patients. One patient with elevated PTHrP in plasma measured by IFMA showed intense staining of tumor by immunohistochemistry; the tumor was histologically graded as III (severe) and was the largest of all tumors in this patient group. The IFMA can identify increased serum PTHrP in some patients with breast cancer who are not hypercalcemic. This assay may be especially useful in screening patients for this tumor during a relative early phase of the disease.     

Synthesis and antiplatelet, antiinflammatory, and antiallergic activities of substituted 3-chloro-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and related compounds

2-Amino (6), 2-alkylamino (7-8), 2-methoxy (9), 2-acetamido (10), and 5,8-diacetoxy (11) derivatives of the lead compound 2,3-dichloro-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (4) were synthesized, together with 6,7-dichloro-5,8dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (5), a positional isomer of 4. Antiplatelet, antiinflammatory, and antiallergic activities were evaluated, and most compounds were quite potent in all assays. Compounds 5 and 9-11 were especially active; however, 5 was ineffective against neutrophil superoxide formation, and 10 was ineffective against mast cell degranulation.     

Open-heart correction of tetralogy of Fallot in an acyanotic dog

Tetralogy of Fallot was diagnosed in an acyanotic 11-month-old dog. Predicted pressure gradient across the pulmonic valve, as assessed by use of continuous wave Doppler echocardiography, was 94.5 mm Hg. Bidirectional shunting was identified by means of selective angiography. Open-heart correction was performed, using a transatrial approach with limited ventriculotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. The hypertrophied infundibulum was resected, the ventricular septal defect was closed primarily, and a transannular pericardial patch graft was applied. Pressure gradients across the pulmonic valve were 52.9 and 22.8 mm Hg 2 weeks and 4 months after surgery, respectively. Advances in cardiopulmonary bypass, anesthetic management, and use of the transatrial approach may improve the success of open-heart correction of tetralogy of Fallot in dogs.     

Potentially avoidable hospitalizations: inequalities in rates between US socioeconomic groups

OBJECTIVES: The National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) was used to evaluate potentially avoidable hospital conditions as an indicator of equity and efficiency in the US health care system. METHODS: With the use of 1990 data from the NHDS, the National Health Interview Survey, and the census, national rates of hospitalization were calculated for avoidable conditions by age, race, median income of zip code, and insurance status. RESULTS: An estimated 3.1 million hospitalizations were for potentially avoidable conditions. This was 12% of all hospitalizations in 1990 (excluding psychiatric admissions, women with deliveries, and newborns). Rates of potentially avoidable hospitalizations were higher for persons living in middle- and low-income areas than for persons living in high-income areas, and were higher among Blacks than among Whites. These class and racial differences were also found among the privately insured. Differences among income and racial groups for persons aged 65 and over were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Inequalities in potentially avoidable hospitalizations suggest inequity and inefficiency in the health care delivery system. Avoidable hospital conditions are a useful national indicator to monitor access to care.     

Vasopressin in the forebrain of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus): studies with in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry and receptor autoradiography

The distribution of vasopressin (AVP) producing cells, their projections and AVP receptors was examined in the brain of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) using in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry and receptor autoradiography. Clusters of cells labeled for AVP mRNA or stained for AVP immunoreactivity (AVP-ir) were found in the paraventricular (PVN), supraoptic (SON) and suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Scattered AVP producing cells were also found in the lateral hypothalamus and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST). Neither AVP mRNA-labeled nor AVP-ir cells were detected in the amygdala. Although AVP-ir fibers were evident outside of the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal tract, a plexus of fibers in the lateral septum, as observed in the rat brain, was not detected. Receptor autoradiography using 125I-linear-AVP revealed specific binding for AVP receptors in the nucleus accumbens, diagonal band, lateral septum, the BST, SCN, PVN, amygdala, anterodorsal and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, indicating sites for central AVP action in the marmoset brain. Together, these data provide a comprehensive picture of AVP pathways in the marmoset brain, demonstrating differences from rodents in the distribution of cell bodies, fibers and receptors.     

STRESSES IN VISCOELASTIC PLATE DRIED CONVECTIVELY

ABSTRACT

The deformations and drying-induced stresses in a saturated porous plate insulated on one side and dried convectively on the others were analysedPlate material is assumed to be elastic and viscoelastic. A rigorous solution of the problem is presented using Laplace transformations and the method of variable separation. The results are presented in the form of a series resulting from the solution of a Sturm-Liouville problem. The shrinkage stresses in the plate are caused by non-uniform distribution of the moisture content. The thermal stresses are not included as the consideration were confined to only constant rate drying period.     

CORRELATION BETWEEN MICROSTRUCTURE AND STRESS CORROSION CRACKING SUSCEPTIBILITY OF 2091 ALLOY

The stress corrosion cracking(SCC) susceptibility of an Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloy(2091),heat-treated under different regime,has been investigated hy means of tensile tests atslow strain rate.The microstructure has been examined with TEM.The deformationcharacteristic has also been analysed.The stress corrosion resistance of the alloy wasrevealed to be mainly affected by the covering rate of T_2-phase over grain boundariesand by the average distance between T_2-phase particles.SCC resistance can be obviously improved by predeforming the alloy at room temper-ature to reduce the precipitation of T_2-phase along grain boundaries.