Expression, exon-intron organization, and chromosome mapping of the human sodium iodide symporter

The active iodide uptake of the thyroid gland in humans is mediated by the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS). In this report, we show that hNIS expression was detected primarily in thyroid tissue, but also in breast, colon, and ovary tissues. Expression of hNIS is greatly reduced in thyroid tumors compared to normal thyroid tissue. Among tumor tissues, hNIS expression appears to be variable, consistent with the variable response to radioiodide treatment observed for thyroid carcinomas. The coding region of hNIS is interrupted by 14 introns, and the nucleotide sequence of each exon-intron junction is reported. Using this information, an alternatively spliced form of hNIS was identified. Finally, the chromosome location of the hNIS gene was mapped to chromosome 19p.     

Analysis of interfacial failure in a composite microbundle pull-out experiment

Modeling of the failure of polymer-matrix composites requires substantial information about the mechanisms of failure at the interface, and load redistribution around fiber breaks in the composite. Current interface experiments involving the use of ‘microcomposites’ of single embedded fibers in a matrix generally do not include all the key geometric features of the real composite; in particular, they do not include the effects of fiber volume fraction and the higher matrix shear resulting from closely neighboring fibers. A new experiment was recently devised to assess some of these effects: it is referred to as the single-fiber pull-out from microbundle (SFPOM) experiment. It consists of a hexagonal arrat of seven fibers in a matrix where the outer six fibers are restrained and the center fiber is pulled out. Recent experimental data from tests with this geometry are analyzed here using three mechanical models of the failure process, and parametric studies of the data are performed to assess the appropriateness of each model. Two of the models, based on fracture energy considerations as applied earlier to single embedded fibers in a matrix and adapted to our geometry, were found to model data from the SFPOM experiments poorly. The third model assumes the existence of three zones near a fiber break, including elastic, plastic and frictional debond zones, and was found to provide reasonable fit to the data under realistic assumptions.     

Haloperidol and apomorphine differentially affect neuropeptidase activity

The effects of lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant vitamin E contained in LDL isolated from control plasma (LDL--) and from plasma preincubated with 0.5 mmol/ml alpha-tocopherol (LDL+) on the proliferation of estrogen-receptor positive (ER+ : ZR-75, T-47-D, MCF-7) and negative (ER--: HBL-100, MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cells were studied. Human skin fibroblasts served as controls. Incubation of plasma with 0.5 mmol/ml alpha-tocopherol resulted in a 3-fold increase of its content and a significant reduction in lipid hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes in LDL. Incubation of fibroblasts or ER+ tumor cells with LDL- or LDL+ had an effect on neither cell proliferation nor on the cellular levels of peroxidation products as compared to control incubations in the absence of LDL. In ER- cells, however, LDL+ stimulated the proliferation, whereas LDL- yielded a cytotoxic effect. Moreover, LDL- supplementation resulted in an increase in the content of hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes. LDL+ supplemented cells exhibited hydroperoxide levels in these tumor cells comparable to the basal levels measured in the absence of LDL. Our data suggested that peroxidation products in LDL are cytotoxic to estrogen-receptor negative breast tumor cells and vitamin E counteracts this effect.     

Toxicity of an antitumor ribonuclease to Purkinje neurons

Purkinje cell toxicity is one of the characteristic features of the Gordon phenomenon, a syndrome manifested by ataxia, muscular rigidity, paralysis, and tremor that may lead to death (Gordon, 1933). Two members of the RNase superfamily found in humans, EDN (eosinophil-derived neurotoxin) and ECP (eosinophil cationic protein), cause the Gordon phenomenon when injected intraventricularly into guinea pigs or rabbits. We have found that another member of the RNase superfamily, an antitumor protein called onconase, isolated from Rana pipiens oocytes and early embryos, will also cause the Gordon phenomenon when injected into the cerebrospinal fluid of guinea pigs at a dose similar to that of EDN (LD50, 3-4 micrograms). Neurologic abnormalities of onconase-treated animals were indistinguishable from those of EDN-treated animals, and histology showed dramatic Purkinje cell loss in the brains of onconase-treated animals. The neurotoxic activity of onconase correlates with ribonuclease activity. Onconase modified by iodoacetic acid to eliminate 70% and 98% of the ribonuclease activity of the native enzyme displays a similar decrease in ability to cause the Gordon phenomenon. In contrast, the homologous bovine pancreatic RNase A injected intraventricularly at a dose 5000 times greater than the LD50 dose of EDN or onconase is not toxic and does not cause the Gordon phenomenon. A comparison of the RNase activities of EDN, onconase, and bovine pancreatic RNase A using three pancreatic RNA substrates demonstrates that onconase is orders of magnitude less active enzymatically than EDN and RNase A. Thus, another member of the RNase superfamily in addition to EDN and ECP can cause the Gordon phenomenon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Assessment of a prototype battery operated wax-knife for domiciliary and surgery use

The aims of this study were to examine a prototype battery operated wax-knife, assess the extent to which manufacturer's claims have been achieved and determine its potential for clinical use. The mean time required for the wax-knife to achieve an operating temperature of 150 degrees C was 20.2(+/-4.3) s. The mean operating temperature of the ceramic blade was 155.4(+/-3.9) degrees C, range 150 degrees C to 162 degrees C. The mean usage time following full battery recharge was 42 (+/-2) minutes. The wax-knife provided a direct heating tool which retained many of the characteristics of the traditional wax-knife and was suitable for use in the surgery and in domiciliary situations.     

The geographic variation of cancer incidence in Ontario

OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were (1) to describe an analysis of the spatial pattern of cancer incidence in Ontario and (2) to discuss the quality of data in the Ontario Cancer Registry with respect to the accuracy of local cancer rates. METHODS: Cancer incidence rates were calculated for 22 cancer sites in 49 counties of Ontario during 1976 to 1986. Capture-recapture methods were used to estimate completeness of case registration, and completeness of residence information was also assessed. Spatial autocorrelation was used in measuring the geographic pattern of incidence rates. Comparisons were also made between sexes and with earlier data from 1966 to 1975. RESULTS: The quality of the geographic data in the registry appeared good, and corrections for incomplete or inaccurate registration had little impact. About one third of the sex-site combinations showed some evidence of spatial patterning in the cancer rate. Particularly strong regional variation was noted for cancers of the stomach, lung, uterus, and prostate. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis revealed a number of cancers with significant spatial patterning of risk. Further work is needed to relate the cancer data to other information on potential life-style and environmental factors.     

Thermophysical Properties of Binary Mixtures of Methyl Methacrylate+Di-Ethers (Ethyl, Isopropyl, and Butyl) at 298.15 and 308.15 K

Experimental data for the densities, dynamic viscosities, sound speeds, and relative permittivities and for three binary systems of methyl methacrylate (MMA)+di-ethers (ethyl, isopropyl, and butyl) at 298.15 and 308.15 K and at atmospheric pressure are reported. The mixture viscosities are correlated by Grunberg–Nissan, McAllister, and Auslander equations over the complete composition range. The sound speeds for the mixtures are also calculated by using free length and collision factor theories, and Nomoto and Junjie equations. From the measured primary properties, deviation functions such as deviations in viscosities, sound speeds, relative permittivities, molar polarizations, excess isentropic compressibilities, and molar electrical susceptibilities were calculated, and the compositional dependence of each of the functions was expressed with a Redlich–Kister type equation. The variation of the Kirkwood correlation factor was determined over the complete composition range.     

Foundations of data fusion for automation

This article discusses about the developing paradigms of data for sensor-actuator networks that perform engineering tasks. We provide a new foundation for data fusion based on two concepts: a conceptual framework and the goal-seeking paradigm. The conceptual framework emphasizes the dominant structures in the system. The goal-seeking paradigm is a mechanism for representing system evolution that explicitly manages uncertainty. The goal-seeking formulation for data fusion helps to distinguish between subjective decisions that can be executed by computers. These notions are useful for critical tasks, such as security management in large-scale distributed systems. Investigations in this area, and further refinement of the goal-seeking formulation for instrumentation and measurement applications, are likely to future systems that facilitate holistic user decision making.     

The development of adaptive body reactions after intensive physical loading]

The dependence between the activity parameters of muscarine antagonists in the prevention of haloperidol catalepsy in rats and those in tests characterizing the interaction of ligands and various subtypes of m-cholinoceptors was studied. It was established by constructing the mathematical dependence that blockade of m1-cholinoceptors increases, while that of m2-cholinoceptors reduces the antiparkinsonian activity of the drugs. The activity of the muscarine antagonist pentiphan in the prevention of haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats exceeds the activity of such traditional antiparkinsonian drugs as cyclodol and amedin.