Diminished insulin clearance during late pregnancy in patients with type I diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: Published data on bone metabolism in diabetes mellitus are conflicting. We have measured pyridinium crosslinks, biochemical markers of bone resorption, in order to evaluate bone resorption in diabetes mellitus. We also wished to investigate whether, as a consequence of chronic hyperglycaemia, pyridinoline is glycosylated to a greater extent in patients with diabetes mellitus. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: This cross sectional study included 142 patients (64 males, 78 females) with insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM and NIDDM). These patients were compared to a healthy control group of 99 individuals (39 males and 60 females). MEASUREMENTS: Pyridinium crosslinks, glycosylated, free and total pyridinoline (gPYD, fPYD, tPYD) and free and total deoxypridinoline (fDPD, tDPD) were measured in a spot urine sample by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Urinary creatinine, albumin and glucose were also measured. RESULTS: In the diabetic group, values of urinary gPYD and tDYD were significantly lower than in controls. gPYD excretion was lowest in patients with severe glycosuria. Free pyridinium crosslinks, both fPYD and fDPD, were excreted to a significantly lower extent. The molar ratio of tPYD to tDPD was significantly increased in diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased excretion of tDPD suggests low bone resorption in IDDM and NIDDM. Pyridinoline is not glycosylated to a greater extent in diabetes mellitus and tends to be decreased in proportion to the degree of glycosuria. Excretion of gPYD, fPYD and fDPD is depressed in severe glycosuria. Diminshed degradation to the final products, fPYD and fDPD, might represent increased resistance to enzymatic activity or diminished enzymatic activity. The increased molar ratio tPYD/tDPD in urine suggests an increased ratio in bone collagen in diabetes mellitus.     

In vivo analysis of scaffold-associated regions in Drosophila: a synthetic high-affinity SAR binding protein suppresses position effect variegation

Scaffold-associated regions (SARs) were studied in Drosophila melanogaster by expressing a synthetic, high-affinity SAR-binding protein called MATH (multi-AT-hook), which consists of reiterated AT-hook peptide motifs; each motif is known to recognize a wide variety of short AT-rich sequences. MATH proteins were expressed specifically in the larval eye imaginal discs by means of the tetracycline-regulated transactivation system and tested for their effect on position effect variegation (PEV). MATH20, a highly potent SAR ligand consisting of 20 AT-hooks, was found to suppress whitemottled 4 variegation. This suppression required MATH20 expression at an early larval developmental stage. Our data suggest an involvement of the high AT-rich SARs in higher order chromatin structure and gene expression.     

Stiffness estimation of a parallel kinematic machine

This paper presents a simple yet comprehensive approach to quickly estimating the stiffness of a tripod-based parallel kinematic machine. This approach can be implemented in two steps. In the first step, the machine structure is decomposed into two substructures associated with the machine frame and parallel mechanism. The stiffness models of these two substructures are formulated by means of virtual work principle. This is followed by the second step that enables the stiffness model of the machine structure as a whole to be achieved by linear superposition. The 3D representations of the machine stiffness within the usable workspace are depicted and the contributions of different component rigidities to the machine stiffness are discussed. The result is compared with that obtained through finite element analysis.     

TIME-DOMAIN ANALYSIS OF WAVE FORCES ON SHIPS WITH FORWARD SPEED

Analyses of wave forces on Wigley and Series 60 ships at forward speedare presented in time domain which is based on a free surface transient Green functionwith linearized condition. The main effort focus on the investigation of the numerical sta-bility of time stepping calculation and the waterline intergal contribution to the excitingforces. Numerical study shows that the stable results can be obtained when a wall-sided as-sumption is used at the stern only and the effect of waterline can be neglected. Compar-isons have been made between the present time domain calculations and other works. Nu-merical results for the added resistance on a C_B=0.8 ship in short waves are presentedbased on the assumption that the steady disturbance of ship hull can be neglected.     

化纤及其产品的贸易格局正在改变

虽说未来的化纤生产领域将逐渐被中国和亚洲其他国家所主导，但仍有部分产品亚洲化纤生产商是不具备能力涉足的，这部分产品依然由欧洲和北关的化纤生产商控制。针对这一由欧洲和北美生产商控制的市场，应利用化纤产品的核心创新技术，并联合当地相关方面的专家学者进行不断的研究和开发。     

价格与质量的比拼 六款市面上最火爆的9寸宽屏

现在已经有厂商将20寸宽屏液晶的价格到了1999元，这对于19寸产品来说压力非常大。对于19英寸宽屏来说，有两条路可走。其一是降价以求得更多的市场份额，其二就是多元化、差异化发展已满足更多有特殊消费群体的需要。那么，目前市面上有哪些19寸宽屏产品最受关注呢？     

Multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies in a patient with spinocerebellar ataxia: magnetic resonance imaging and hormonal studies

Degenerative spinocerebellar ataxia has a rare association with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. In this report we present the results of the detailed endocrine evaluation and magnetic resonance imaging in one such patient. A 20-year-old male with progressive cerebellar ataxia, hypogonadism, and short stature was investigated. Basal testing revealed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (LH < 5 mU/L, FSH < 5 mU/L, testosterone 2.5 nM/L). There was no rise in LH after stimulation with LHRH, peak LH level being < 5 mU/L. Insulin hypoglycemia testing was consistent with GH deficiency, with peak GH being 3.2 mU/L. On TRH stimulation, there was no significant rise in prolactin, though the TSH response was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebellar atrophy. The anterior pituitary was atrophic, with a height of 1.4 mm. The posterior pituitary and the pituitary stalk were normal in size and position. This patient with degenerative spinocerebellar ataxia had multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies. The results of our endocrine evaluation and MR imaging lead us to believe that these deficits may result from a lesion at the level of the pituitary gland.