Induction of acute phase gene expression by brain irradiation

PURPOSE: To investigate the in vivo acute phase molecular response of the brain to ionizing radiation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: C3Hf/Sed/Kam mice were given midbrain or whole-body irradiation. Cerebral expression of interleukins (IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6), interferon (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factors (TNF-alpha and TNF-beta), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS), von Willebrand factor (vWF), alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (EB22/5.3), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was measured at various times after various radiation doses by ribonuclease (RNase) protection assay. The effects of dexamethasone or pentoxifylline treatment of mice on radiation-induced gene expression were also examined. RESULTS: Levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, ICAM-1, EB22/5.3 and to a lesser extent IL-1 alpha and GFAP, messenger RNA were increased in the brain after irradiation, whether the dose was delivered to the whole body or only to the midbrain. Responses were radiation dose dependent, but were not found below 7 Gy; the exception being ICAM-1, which was increased by doses as low as 2 Gy. Most responses were rapid, peaking within 4-8 h, but antichymotrypsin and GFAP responses were delayed and still elevated at 24 h, by which time the others had subsided. Pretreatment of mice with dexamethasone or pentoxifylline suppressed radiation-induced gene expression, either partially or completely. Dexamethasone was more inhibitory than pentoxifylline at the doses chosen. CONCLUSIONS: The initial response of the brain to irradiation involves expression of inflammatory gene products, which are probably responsible for clinically observed early symptoms of brain radiotherapy. This mechanism explains the beneficial effects of the clinical use of steroids in such circumstances.     

Effects of animal and soy fats and proteins in the diet on fatty acid concentrations in the serum and skin of dogs

Growing dogs were fed diets containing soy oil or poultry fat as the main fat source and soybean meal or meat meal as the main protein source to examine the effects of types of dietary fat and protein on fatty acid concentrations in serum and skin and on serum cholesterol concentrations. Dogs fed diets containing soy oil had higher serum linoleic acid concentrations and lower serum oleic acid, arachidonic acid, and cholesterol concentrations than dogs fed diets containing poultry fat. The type of dietary protein had marginal effects on fatty acid concentrations and did not affect serum cholesterol. Similar differences were found in cutaneous fatty acid concentrations, with soy oil-fed dogs having significantly (P < 0.05) higher linoleic acid and lower oleic acid concentrations in their skin than had poultry fat-fed dogs. This study suggested that dietary fat source influences serum and cutaneous fatty acid concentrations and serum cholesterol concentrations in dogs, irrespective of dietary protein source.     

Wideband gain flattened erbium fibre amplifier using a photosensitive fibre blazed grating

An erbium fibre amplifier with a highly flattened gain spectrum is demonstrated for the first time using an all fibre photosensitive Bragg grating. An ASE spectrum flattened to within +or-0.5 dB over a bandwidth of 35 nm in the 1550 nm window is achieved with a 3 mm long radiation coupling Bragg fibre grating.<>     

Influence of growth temperatures on the photoresponse of low temperature grown GaAs:As p-i-n diodes

We report a study of the sub-bandgap photoresponse of p-i-n photodetectors with 1 μm low-temperature intrinsic layers, and its dependence on the growth temperature of the intrinsic layer. Diodes with intrinsic layers grown near 250°C exhibit the highest photoresponse. The photoresponse decreases gradually as the growth temperature is raised above 250°C. For growth temperatures at or below 200°C, a drastic drop in the photoresponse is observed, along with degradation of crystal quality in the material. The extracted internal Schottky barrier heights are found to be within the range 0.7–0.8 eV.     

The urinary bladder angiotensin system: response to infusions of angiotensin I and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

The circulating and urinary bladder tissue concentrations of angiotensin I (ANG I) and angiotensin II [ANG-(1-8)] were examined in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley male rats given an intravenous bolus infusion of either ANG I, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors enalaprilat or ramiprilat, or saline. The mean concentrations of ANG I and ANG-(1-8) were markedly higher in the urinary bladder tissue than in whole blood. There was a significant increase in the concentration of ANG I and ANG-(1-8), both in the urinary bladder tissue and the circulation, after the ANG I infusion. Both ACE inhibitors were associated with an increase in the concentration of whole blood ANG I; however, tissue ANG I levels were significantly increased only following ACE inhibition with ramiprilat but not with enalaprilat. Both plasma and urinary bladder tissue ANG-(1-8) levels decreased significantly following ACE inhibition, but only with ramiprilat. The elevated urinary bladder tissue levels of ANG I and ANG-(1-8) at baseline, compared with circulating levels, and the maintenance of ANG-(1-8) in bladder tissue in the face of inhibition of the circulatory renin-angiotensin system with enalaprilat support the presence of an autocrine/paracrine renin-angiotensin system in the urinary bladder. Under the current experimental conditions, ramiprilat appears to have enhanced bladder activity compared with enalaprilat.     

Management of gap non-union of tibia by tibialisation of ipsilateral vascular fibula

Community health, psychiatric, and pediatric nurses who work with young children and their families often assess the family's sleep and rest patterns, especially in relation to children's sleep disturbances. Nurses have traditionally taken a rigid approach on this issue that excludes culturally diverse options. The author uses examples from her own nursing education and from cross-cultural research to demonstrate the cultural bias favoring separation of child from parent. The article explores options for broadening nurses' assessment of family sleeping arrangements and designing interventions that take into consideration culturally diverse values and habits. Implications for nursing practice include greater trust-building and mutual learning.     

Statistical simulation of random dopant induced threshold voltage fluctuations for 35 nm channel length MOSFET

Intrinsic parameter fluctuations have become a very important problem for the scaling and integration of future generations of nano-CMOS transistors impacting on circuit and systems yield and reliability. In this paper random discrete dopant (RDD) induced threshold voltage variations have been studied using the Glasgow 3D atomistic drift/diffusion simulator. For the first time, we have carried out statistical simulation based on groundbreaking sample of 100,000 transistors which may assess more than 4σ of the statistical distribution. In order to correctly access the accuracy and the confidence level of the statistical parameters, we have carried out comprehensive statistical analysis using state-of-art statistical tools amenable to our problem. We use the first four moments to fit distribution of RDD induced fluctuations in the threshold voltage by means of several statistical approaches.     

Methodological innovation to increase the utility and efficiency of psychotherapy research for patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

Psychotherapy research with chronic and difficult-to-treat populations, such as those with co-occurring mental health and addictive disorders, can employ flexible research designs, which allow for a systematic yet nonlinear relationship between efficacy and effectiveness designs. Outcomes research can bypass the efficacy-effectiveness dichotomy through use of a hybrid model (Carroll & Rounsaville, 2003) conducted in the context of community treatment settings in collaboration with community providers. We present the case for using this methodological approach as a means of advancing psychotherapy research and practice, while translating and disseminating empirically supported treatments with more efficiency. A hybrid model study conducted within the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Clinical Trials Network illustrates the application. These findings inform new directions for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpolation modeling of S-parameter data bases for use in Monte Carlo simulations

A statistical interpolation technique is presented for modeling S-parameter measurements for use in statistical analysis and design of circuits. This is accomplished by interpolating among the measurements in an S-parameter data base in a statistically valid manner.     

Anesthesiological support, postoperative care and the results of the surgical treatment of patients with tumors of the base of the posterior cranial fossa

Problems of anesthesiological maintenance, measures of the postoperative management and results of surgical treatment of 76 patients with an oncological process on the base of the posterior cranial fossa are discussed. An analysis of informative-regulatory and adaptational reactions of organism is made on the basis of the intervalogram in the course of operative interventions near by the cerebral trunk. The results are estimated.