Ethnic origin and serum levels of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 are independent predictors of coronary calcium mass measured by electron-beam computed tomography

BACKGROUND: Blacks have been found to have lower amounts of coronary calcium as well as higher levels of the osteoregulatory steroid 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] than whites. We sought to determine if racial differences in coronary calcium mass could be explained by differences in serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D3. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated standard coronary risk factors, quantified coronary calcium mass with electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT), and measured serum 1,25(OH)2D3 with radioimmunoassay in 283 high-risk subjects (51 [180%] black, 232 [82%] white). Black subjects had lower masses of coronary calcium than whites (14 versus 47 mg; P=.003). Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were slightly higher in blacks (41 versus 38 pg/mL; P=.05). Log 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were inversely proportional to log-transformed calcium mass (r=-.19; P=.001) in both races. Multivariate linear regression demonstrated that both black race (P=.02) and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels (P=.007) contributed inversely and independently to coronary calcium mass. However, an interaction term of racex1,25(OH)2D3 did not significantly contribute to coronary calcium mass, indicating that other undetermined factors in addition to 1,25(OH)2D3 are responsible for ethnic differences in coronary calcium mass. CONCLUSIONS: Both black race and serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 are independent negative determinants of coronary calcium mass. Nevertheless, diminished amounts of coronary calcium in blacks are not accounted for by higher 1,25(OH)2D3 levels.     

Towards an automatic method of predicting protein stucture by homology: an evaluation of suboptimal sequence alignments

A major problem in predicting protein structure by homologymodelling is that the sequence alignment from which the modelis built may not be the best one in terms of the correct equivalencingof residues assessed by structural or functional criteria. Auseful strategy is to generate and examine a number of suboptimalalignments as better alignments can often be found away fromthe optimal. A procedure to filter rapidly suboptimal alignmentsbased on measurement of core volumes and packing pair potentialsis investigated. The approach is benchmarked on three pairsof sequences which are non-trivial to align correctly, namelytwo immunoglobulin domains, plastocyanin with azurin and twodistant globin sequences. It is shown to be useful to reducea large ensemble of possible alignments down to a few whichcorrespond more closely to the correct (structure based) alignment.     

Prison inmate characteristics and suicide attempt lethality: An exploratory study.

Working with suicidal inmates is among the most demanding elements of clinical practice in corrections, yet few studies regarding the characteristics of prison inmate suicide attempters or their attempts exist. This represents a significant gap as the method of attempt, the prison context, and the resulting lethality of these incidents may be different from attempts made outside of prison. This exploratory study is the first to apply a continuous scale rating of suicide attempt lethality to incidents where an inmate survived a suicide attempt. It describes the attempt incident dynamics and resulting range of lethality scores found within the study sample. It also examines the inmate adjustment and mental health characteristics that were associated with the lethality rating. Preliminary findings suggest that increases in suicide attempt lethality are associated with the presence of Axis II disorders, favorable staff interactions, and the decreased use of drugs other than marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, or depressants. A call for research to extend this exploration through replication is made and recommendations for clinical practice are considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of breed type,housing and feeding system on performance of growing pigs managed under organic conditions

BACKGROUND: There is a need for information on the performance and carcass quality of pigs under different organic management systems. This study compared Duroc‐sired progeny from three maternal breed types when kept either at pasture or in housing with an outdoor run and offered ad libitum concentrate either alone or with fodder beet or grass/clover silage as additional forage. RESULTS: Liveweight gain, feed intake and the proportion of forages consumed did not differ between genotypes. Carcass fatness of progeny was lowest for a ‘modern’ genotype (Camborough 12) and highest for a ‘traditional’ purebred genotype (Saddleback), with a ‘crossbred traditional’ genotype (Saddleback × Duroc) being intermediate (11.4, 14.3 and 13.4 mm P₂ respectively, standard error of mean (SEM) 0.27, P < 0.001). With a cereal‐based concentrate available ad libitum, intake of forages was low (<2% of dry matter intake). Although growth rate did not differ between housing systems, daily feed intake was greater at pasture (2.47 vs 2.22 kg meal equivalent, SEM 0.05, P < 0.001), giving poorer feed efficiency (P < 0.01). Pastured animals consumed less additional forage and had a higher killing‐out % but similar carcass fatness. CONCLUSION: For organic pig production to be financially sustainable, disadvantages arising from the genotype and/or rearing system chosen need to be offset by a market premium for the pigs produced. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

The selective effects of alcohol on automatic and effortful memory processes.

Automatic and effortful memory processes were evaluated in a 2-session, within-subjects design involving an alcohol challenge and a no-alcohol condition. Free recall of a 90-word list measured effortful processing. Estimation of word frequency from the same list measured automatic processing. Acute intoxication was hypothesized to diminish effortful but not automatic memory processes. Healthy, male volunteers (n?=?36) completed the 2 conditions 1 week apart. Presentation frequency influenced both free recall and frequency estimation, with both measures increasing as presentation frequency increased. Free recall was significantly lower in the alcohol than in the no-alcohol condition, but frequency estimation was not differentially affected. The data showed that an alcohol challenge dissociated automatic and effortful memory processes in volunteers. The authors discuss potential neurobiological substrates that may account for alcohol's selective disruption of effortful, verbal, episodic memory processing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reduced voltage-dependent Ca2+ signaling in CA1 neurons after brief ischemia in gerbils

An initial overload of intracellular Ca2+ plays a critical role in the delayed death of hippocampal CA1 neurons that die a few days after transient ischemia. Without direct evidence, the prevailing hypothesis has been that Ca2+ overload may recur until cell death. Here, we report the first measurements of intracellular Ca2+ in living CA1 neurons within brain slices prepared 1, 2, and 3 days after transient (5 min) ischemia. With no sign of ongoing Ca2+ overload, voltage-dependent Ca2+ transients were actually reduced after 2-3 days of reperfusion. Resting Ca2+ levels and recovery rate after loading were similar to neurons receiving no ischemic insult. The tetrodotoxin-insensitive Ca spike, normally generated by these neurons, was absent at 2 days postischemia, as was a large fraction of Ca2+-dependent spike train adaptation. These surprising findings may lead to a new perspective on delayed neuronal death and intervention.