Age- and sex-related differences in nuclear lipid content and nucleoside triphosphatase activity in the JCR:LA-cp corpulent rat

The putative role of the nuclear nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) is to provide energy to the nuclear pore complex for poly A(+) mRNA export. Previous work has demonstrated that liver nuclear NTPase activity is greater in 6 month old corpulent (cp/cp) female JCR:LA rats, a hyperlipidemic rat model, compared to lean (+/?) animals. This increase appeared to be related to increases in nuclear membrane cholesterol content. The current study extended these initial data to compare NTPase activity as a function of age and sex in isolated JCR:LA-cp rat liver nuclei, to further test the hypothesis that nuclear membrane cholesterol may modulate NTPase activity. NTPase activity was increased in cp/cp female animals compared to +/? females at all ages studied, with Vmax values increased by 60-176%. Membrane integrity of cp/cp female nuclei was reduced compared to +/? female nuclei. Nuclear membrane cholesterol levels increased linearly with age by 50, 150 and 250% in 3, 6 and 9 month old cp/cp females over leans. In contrast, nuclei from cp/cp males exhibited only minor, isolated changes in NTPase activity. Furthermore, there were no significant changes in nuclear cholesterol content or membrane integrity in the less hyperlipidemic male animals at any age. These data suggest that altered lipid metabolism may lead to changes in nuclear membrane structure, which in turn may alter NTPase activity and functioning of the nuclear pore complex.     

Hepatic hemangioma. Analysis of 103 cases. Clinical considerations and imaging methods

Hemangiomas are the most common benign vascular tumor found in the liver. In this study, 103 cases of hepatic hemangiomas were analysed in a retrospective manner. Image aspects such as those seen in ultrassonography, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance and arteriography are discussed. The incidence was higher amongst the female sex, between individuals from 40 to 60 years old, which presented predominantly without symptoms (66%) and localized mainly in the right hepatic lobe (74%). The meaning of those aspects, when adopted, permits the clinicians to differentiate benign from malignant nodular lesions in the liver.     

The vestibulo-collic reflex

This study was undertaken to compare the fixation of the semitubular blade plate with that of the AO T plate. Cadaveric humeri (n=12 pairs) from an elderly population (41 to 89 years) had either a blade plate (n=12) or a T plate (n=12) fixed to them, subsequent to which a transverse osteotomy was performed. Mechanical testing in tension was performed in 1 series (n=5, blade plate; n=5, T plate) by applying a single maximal load to failure and in a second series (n=7, blade plate; n=7, T plate) by applying submaximal cyclic loading before failure was induced. Results showed that the fixation provided by the semitubular blade plate was significantly better (P < .05) than that of the T plate in those specimens subjected to submaximal cyclic loading before failure (series 2). This latter testing method contains some component of the clinical situation compared with monotonic distraction to failure. Based on these results plus favorable clinical results reported in the literature, the semitubular blade plate is possibly a better alternative to the T plate in the management of proximal humeral fractures that require open reduction and internal fixation.     

Acute lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus reduce sympathetic activation and thermogenic changes induced by PGE1

Modern research into the needs of intensive care unit visitors was pioneered by Molter in 1979. Much of the published research does not build on the methodology developed by Molter but simply repeats her work with minor modifications. Repetition does not always provide new information and may simply replicate methodological shortcomings. Methods of improving research in the area are described and future directions suggested.     

In vitro drug sensitivity and clinical aspects of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in African children

OBJECTIVE: To compare body mass index (BMI), lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein concentrations according to the Hind III and Pvu II restriction polymorphisms of the LPL gene in obese subjects. DESIGN: Cross sectional study of anthropometric and lipid variables in relation to genetic factors. SETTING: Nutrition Outpatient Clinic of Bichat Hospital in Paris, France. SUBJECTS: 236 unrelated patients (162 women and 74 men) were selected on the basis of 120% of ideal body weight. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometry (body mass index, waist to hip ratio), blood lipids and lipoproteins, determination of LPL Hind III and Pvu II genotypes. RESULTS: Digestion with Hind III generated two alleles, H1 (absence of cutting site) and H2 (presence of cutting site), with frequencies of 0.30 and 0.70 respectively. Digestion with Pvu II generated two alleles P1 and P2 with frequencies of 0.49 and 0.51 respectively. The Hind III polymorphism was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.05). The H2H2 genotype was associated with hypertriglyceridemia: 68% of the hypertriglyceridemic subjects have the H2H2 genotype vs 43% of the normotriglyceridemic group (P < 0.05). Plasma triglyceride levels varied significantly among the Hind III genotypes, H2H2 genotype having the highest total and VLDL-triglyceride levels; the Hind III polymorphism also showed a significant association with HDL2-cholesterol. These associations were only seen in women and were not explained by the variations in BMI and age. No significant associations were found between lipid traits and Pvu II genotype. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that genetic variation in the LPL gene in obese subjects is associated with hypertriglyceridemia and possibly with a predisposition to obesity.     

Santolindiacetylene, a polyacetylene derivative isolated from the essential oil of Santolina canescens

The yield, composition, and some pharmacological activities (hepatoprotective and antioxidant) of the essential oil of Santolina canescens aerial parts have been investigated. The essential oil qualitative data were determined by gc and gc-ms. The main component, santolindiacetylene [1], was isolated and characterized by spectral methods, and the structure assigned as 1-(2'-naphthyl)hexa-2,4-diyne. The protective activities of the essential oil and its main component [1] were evaluated against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in a rat model. In both cases a significant hepatoprotective effect was observed, as evident from the strong decrease of elevated GPT serum levels caused by carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage.