The electrophysiological effects of tetraphenylphosphonium on vascular smooth muscle

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether luteal secretion of inhibin-a is altered in the perimenopausal transition and to evaluate whether luteal inhibin secretion is correlated with other markers of ovarian reserve such as FSH and inhibin-b. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Reproductive Endocrinology Laboratories at The Ohio State University. PATIENT(S): Twenty-five women 39-52 years of age with regular menstrual cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Daily urine samples were monitored (LH predictor kit) to identify the day of ovulation. Blood samples obtained on days 6 and 8 after the LH surge and on day 3 of the subsequent follicular phase were assayed for FSH, E2, progesterone. inhibin-a, and inhibin-b. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum levels of inhibin-a, inhibin-b, FSH, E2, and progesterone. RESULT(S): Luteal phase inhibin-a and follicular phase inhibin-b were correlated inversely with age in perimenopausal women. In addition, luteal phase inhibin-a and follicular phase inhibin-b levels were correlated inversely with follicular phase FSH levels. CONCLUSION(S): Both luteal phase inhibin-a and follicular phase inhibin-b levels are correlated inversely with age during the fifth decade of life. These findings suggest that corpus luteum function is altered during the perimenopausal transition. Moreover, these direct measures of ovarian function may be more sensitive indicators of "ovarian reserve" than indirect indicators such as pituitary FSH secretion.     

A method for isolation of sequences missing in one of two related genomes

We describe a novel technique for isolation of sequences that are present in one genome (tracer), but absent in another (driver). Tracer DNA, cleaved with Sau 3A and capped with a single stranded PCR adapter, is allowed to hybridize with an excess of sheared biotinylated driver; biotinylated DNA and its hybrids with the tracer are removed by phenol/chloroform extraction after incubation with streptavidin. After several rounds of subtraction the ends of self-annealed tracer molecules from the nonextractable fraction are filled-in with Tag polymerase and amplified, using the single stranded PCR adapter as a primer. The method has been applied to purification of fragments from a 2.9 kb plasmid added to E. coli DNA at equimolar quantity. Plasmid derived fragments (250-1000 bp), initially comprising 1/1400th part of tracer DNA, were purified to homogeneity after two rounds of subtraction followed by PCR.     

Interface structure and strength of ultrasonically wedge bonded heavy aluminium wires in Si-based power modules

In this paper the microscopical structure of wedge bonded interfaces is investigated, with a focus on what effect the power in the ultrasonic bonding and the initial microscopical structure of the \(Al\) wire have on the quality of the bonding. The quality evaluation is based on mapping the microscopical restructuring of the wire grains during bonding and thereby assessing the effective bonding area. Three approaches are utilized in the interface characterization: mechanical shear test, optical microscopy combined with micro-sectioning, and scanning electron microscopy assisted by focused ion beam milling. The shear test is applied to quantify the strength of the bonded interfaces, while the other methods are used to map the grain reconstruction caused by the bonding. From the results it is possible to map a 3D image of the wire deformation, and the grain refinement region which is the dominating parameter with respect to fatigue related cracking of the interfaces. It is found that the bonding power, as well as the initial wire structure directly affects the refinement region and thereby the strength of the interface.     

Prophylactic effect of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) extract on tumor metastasis is mediated by enhancement of NK cell activity

We here demonstrated the prophylactic effect of an extract (KM-110) from Viscum album coloratum, a Korean mistletoe, on tumor metastasis produced by highly metastatic tumor cells, colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma, B16-BL6 melanoma and L5178Y-ML25 lymphoma cells, using experimental models in mice. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of KM-110 (100 microg/mouse) 2 days before tumor inoculation significantly inhibited lung metastasis of B16-BL6 and colon 26-M3.1 cells, and liver and spleen metastasis of L5178Y-ML25 cells. The prophylactic effect of KM-110 on tumor metastasis was evident with various administration routes, i.e. subcutaneous, oral, intranasal as well as i.v., and was dependent upon the dose of KM-110 administered. Furthermore, mice given KM-110 (100 microg) 2 days before tumor inoculation showed significantly prolonged survival rates compared with the untreated mice. In a time course analysis of NK activity, i.v. administration of KM-110 (100 microg) significantly augmented NK cytotoxicity to Yac-a tumor cells from 1 to 3 days after KM-110 treatment. Furthermore, depletion NK cells by injection of rabbit anti-asialo GM1 serum completely abolished the inhibitory effect of KM-110 on lung metastasis of colon 26-M3.1 cells. These results suggest that KM-110 possesses immunopotentiating activity which enhances the host defense system against tumors, and that its prophylactic effect on tumor metastasis is mediated by NK cell activation.     

The Big Picture on Big Holes: SSH and Sendmail challenge Microsoft’s top spot for flaws

Lately we have seen quite a few Microsoft vulnerabilities — the most noteworthy being the Object Data vulnerability, which Microsoft attempted to fix with the patches in security bulletin MS03-032. The Object Data vulnerability is extremely easy to exploit — like MS01-020 which is still being exploited by many viruses (e.g. ‘Swen’ currently roaming the Internet). The vulnerability has already beenexploited by a spammer, who wanted to promote his porn site and by a hacker, who compromised an online hotel.     

Exclusion of BMP6 as a candidate gene for cleidocranial dysplasia

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is an autosomal dominant, generalized skeletal dysplasia in humans that has been mapped to the short arm of chromosome 6. We report linkage of a CCD mutation to 6p21 in a large family and exclude the bone morphogenetic protein 6 gene (BMP6) as a candidate for the disease by cytogenetic localization and genetic recombination. CCD was linked with a maximal two-point LOD score of 7.22 with marker D6S452 at theta = 0. One relative with a recombination between D6S451 and D6S459 and another individual with a recombination between D6S465 and CCD places the mutation within a 7 cM region between D6S451 and D6S465 at 6p21. A phage P1 genomic clone spanning most of the BMP6 gene hybridized to chromosome 6 in band region p23-p24 using FISH analysis, placing this gene cytogenetically more distal than the region of linkage for CCD. We derived a new polymorphic marker from this same P1 clone and found recombinations between the marker and CCD in this family. The results confirm the map position of CCD on 6p21, further refine the CCD genetic interval by identifying a recombination between D6S451 and D6S459, and exclude BMP6 as a candidate gene.     

IL-4- and IL-5-secreting lymphocyte populations are preferentially stimulated by parasite-derived antigens in human tissue invasive nematode infections

Helminth infections in humans and animals are associated with strong T helper 2 (Th2) responses. To determine whether parasite-derived Ag preferentially expand a Th2-like cell population, a filter immunoplaque assay was used to enumerate the frequencies (F0) of PBMC and CD4(+)-enriched PBMC from individuals with helminth infections secreting selected cytokines in response to parasite-derived (PAg) and nonparasite antigens (NPAg). In 20 individuals with lymphatic filariasis, frequency analysis of PBMC secreting IL-4 and IFN-gamma indicated that the F0 of PAg-specific IL-4-secreting cells (geometric mean F0 (GM): 1/12,100) was 57-fold higher than the corresponding F0 of NPAg-reactive cells (GM: 1/692,000; p < 0.02). In marked contrast, the F0 of IFN-gamma-secreting cells responding to PAg (GM: 1/2,700) did not differ from those of cells specific for NAPg (GM: 1/3,400; p = 0.83). In another group of helminth-infected individuals, the F0 of highly enriched CD4+ cells secreting IL-4 and IL-5 in response to PAg (GMs: 1/2,600 and 1/5,600 CD4+ cells, respectively) were also found to be significantly higher than those specific for NPAg (GMs: 1/291,000 and 1/303,000 CD4+; p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively), whereas the corresponding F0 of IFN-gamma- and granulocyte-macrophage-CSF-secreting cells were equivalent for PAg and NPag. Furthermore, the proportion of PAg-specific IL-4- and IL-5-secreting CD4+ cells relative to all cells secreting the given cytokine were approximately 29-fold higher than the proportion of NPAg-specific cells secreting these cytokines. Again, the corresponding proportions of Ag-specific IFN-gamma-and GM-CSF-secreting CD4+ cells were equivalent for PAg and NPAg. Thus, in this ex vivo system, a circulating population of IL-4- and IL-5-secreting (Th2-like) cells has been shown to exist in humans; PAg appears to expand these cells preferentially.     

Revascularization of calvarial, mandibular, tibial, and iliac bone grafts in rats

The development of approaches to screening of hospital patients for harmful drinking frequently encounters resistance from both patients and hospital staff. A contributing factor could be the discomfort both feel about talking specifically about drinking. One approach to reducing this discomfort has been to mask concern about alcohol consumption into a general focus on other health and lifestyle issues. One-hundred and eighty-two patients admitted to an emergency department were presented randomly with either a straight alcohol screening questionnaire or a general health and lifestyle questionnaire with alcohol questions embedded amongst items on smoking exercise and diet. The number of returns was equal for both questionnaires which suggests the masked questionnaire does not improve the acceptability of alcohol screening in hospital environments.     

Future Scenarios: What are the Future Services and Applications?

With the change of paradigm within user-machine interaction, there is an increasing demand for seamless interoperability between different technologies as well as more intuitive ways of utilizing the applications on the devices. This implies that the underlying technologies must support the appropriate bandwidth, mobility and quality at the right cost in order for the end-user to perceive the infrastructure appropriate for the services and corresponding applications of the future. In addition, it is required that interoperability will be realized at the semantic level and not just the syntactical level. The purpose of the paper is to present the authors’ thoughts of a new Information and Communication Technology paradigm and to highlight what might have an impact on the realization/deployment of such a paradigm.