Comparison of laparoscopic versus open repair of paraesophageal hernia

Of seven cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes (P450s 1A2, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4) examined, P450 1A2 was the most active in catalyzing 2- and 4-hydroxylations of estradiol and estrone. P450 3A4 and P450 2C9 also catalyzed these reactions although to lesser extents than P450 1A2. P450 1A2 also efficiently oxidized estradiol at the 16alpha-position but was less active in estrone 16alpha-hydroxylation; the latter reaction and also estradiol 16alpha-hydroxylation were catalyzed by P450 3A4 at significant levels. Anti-P450 1A2 antibodies inhibited 2- and 4-hydroxylations of these two estrogens catalyzed by liver microsomes of some of the human samples examined. Estradiol 16alpha-hydroxylation was inhibited by both anti-P450 1A2 and anti-P450 3A4, while estrone 16alpha-hydroxylation was significantly suppressed by anti-P450 3A4 in human liver microsomes. Fluvoxamine efficiently inhibited the estrogen hydroxylations in human liver samples that contained high levels of P450 1A2, while ketoconazole affected these activities in human samples in which P450 3A4 levels were high. alpha-Naphthoflavone either stimulated or had no effect on estradiol hydroxylation catalyzed by liver microsomes; the intensity of this effect depended on the human samples and their P450s. Interestingly, in the presence of anti-P450 3A4 antibodies, alpha-naphthoflavone was found to be able to inhibit estradiol and estrone 2-hydroxylations catalyzed by human liver microsomes. The results suggest that both P450s 1A2 and 3A4 have major roles in oxidations of estradiol and estrone in human liver and that the contents of these two P450 forms in liver microsomes determine which P450 enzymes are most important in hepatic estrogen hydroxylation by individual humans. P450 3A4 may be expected to play a more important role for some of the estrogen hydroxylation reactions than P450 1A2. Knowledge of roles of individual P450s in these estrogen hydroxylations has relevance to current controversies in hormonal carcinogenesis [Service, R. F. (1998) Science 279, 1631-1633].     

Effect of anaesthesia and surgery on blood sugar and carbohydrate tolerance in African children

The effect of pre-operative starvation, anaesthesia and surgery on blood sugar levels and the handling of carbohydrate load during operation were studied in 28 Nigerian children between 2 months and 15 years of age. (1) Age and body weight were important factors influencing the relationship between duration of pre-operative fast and the pre-induction blood sugar level in children. Hypoglycaemic values occurred in 7 per cent of the subjects studied although none was clinically hypoglycaemic. (2) Halothane anaesthesia alone did not affect blood sugar levels but relaxant anaesthesia in this study caused significant rise of blood sugar. (3) There was a marked hyperglycaemic response to surgery and handling of glucose load during operation was significantly poorer than before operation.     

Sampling of French local networks and applications

In this paper the authors describe a study in progress by which it is intended to represent all the French local telephone networks by just a small number of typical cases. The objectives are firstly, to gain a better knowledge of the existing network and secondly, to be able to compare equipment policies by simulating the evolution of the sample networks. The representative areas were chosen by original data analysis methods (principal component analysis followed by classification and choice of samples). Detailed data appertaining to the sample areas were then collected. They give examples of overall statistical results extrapolated at national level and discuss the corresponding applications. Lastly, they consider further developments of the study.     

Systolic mitral flutter, an echocardiographic clue to the diagnosis of ruptured chordae tendineae

A new finding of fine systolic fluttering of the mitral leaflet is described in two patients with ruptured chordae tendinease and severe mitral regurgitation. The flutter is caused by the action of high-velocity blood flow upon the leaflet margin that has lost its support. The jet stream of blood evokes a high-frequency vibratory motion of the tensed leaflet as opposed to the previously described, lower frequency, less specific, diastolic flutter. This finding was not seen in the echocardiograms of 75 patients with other forms of mitral regurgitation. Systolic flutter appears to be specific for ruptured chordae tendineae.     

RadA,a Key Gene of the Circadian Rhythm of Escherichia coli

Circadian rhythms are present in almost all living organisms, and their activity relies on molecular clocks. In prokaryotes, a functional molecular clock has been defined only in cyanobacteria. Here, we investigated the presence of circadian rhythms in non-cyanobacterial prokaryotes. The bioinformatic approach was used to identify a homologue of KaiC (circadian gene in cyanobacteria) in Escherichia coli. Then, strains of E. coli (wild type and mutants) were grown on blood agar, and sampling was made every 3 h for 24 h at constant conditions. Gene expression was determined by qRT-PCR, and the rhythmicity was analyzed using the Cosinor model. We identified RadA as a KaiC homologue in E. coli. Expression of radA showed a circadian rhythm persisting at least 3 days, with a peak in the morning. The circadian expression of other E. coli genes was also observed. Gene circadian oscillations were lost in radA mutants of E. coli. This study provides evidence of molecular clock gene expression in E. coli with a circadian rhythm. Such a finding paves the way for new perspectives in antibacterial treatment.     

澳门智慧城市建设与降低环境噪声的进展

澳门在过去十年中迅速发展。同时,基础设施项目数量大幅增加,包括新区的发展,机场航站楼的延伸,轻轨交通,路凼的新道路,以及废物管理和污水处理设施。其中一些项目还处于规划阶段,一些正在设计中,一些正在建设中,另一些正在运营中。为了整合各种各样的基础设施项目,改善民生,澳门政府已着手实施建设智慧城市,智慧医疗,智能城市管理,智慧旅游等的举措。文章介绍了澳门智慧城市的建设与降低环境噪声的进展。     

Highly Efficient Dehydration of Glycerol to Acrolein Over Isomorphously Substituted Fe-MFI Zeolites

Gas phase dehydration of glycerol formerly in aqueous solution to acrolein was studied over iron MFI zeolites prepared by post-synthesis isomorphous substitution with different iron contents, Si/Al and substitution ratios. High Si/Al (60) ratios led to high conversion in presence of air and the insertion of iron in the zeolite framework greatly improved the catalytic performances by altering the amount and the nature of the coke components reducing dramatically the deactivation. Over the most efficient sample, acrolein yield reached a stabilized value of 68% with an excellent selectivity (80%), which ranked this catalyst among the best for the selective conversion of crude glycerol.

Graphical Abstract

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