Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; a possible pathogenic factor in obesity in insulin resistant and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus?

The role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the development of insulin resistance has repeatedly been emphasized in the past few years. The present paper summarizes the data (including the authors' observations as well) focusing on the potential role of TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis of obesity and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: alteration of insulin receptor function, lipid metabolism, expression of sulphonylurea receptors, all of them suggested to be related to the TNF-alpha. The potential clinical relevances are shortly reviewed.     

Identification of residues in the cysteine-rich domain of Raf-1 that control Ras binding and Raf-1 activity

We have identified mutations in Raf-1 that increase binding to Ras. The mutations were identified making use of three mutant forms of Ras that have reduced Raf-1 binding (Winkler, D. G., Johnson, J. C., Cooper, J. A., and Vojtek, A. B. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 24402-24409). One mutation in Raf-1, N64L, suppresses the Ras mutant R41Q but not other Ras mutants, suggesting that this mutation structurally complements the Ras R41Q mutation. Missense substitutions of residues 143 and 144 in the Raf-1 cysteine-rich domain were isolated multiple times. These Raf-1 mutants, R143Q, R143W, and K144E, were general suppressors of three different Ras mutants and had increased interaction with non-mutant Ras. Each was slightly activated relative to wild-type Raf-1 in a transformation assay. In addition, two mutants, R143W and K144E, were active when tested for induction of germinal vesicle breakdown in Xenopus oocytes. Interestingly, all three cysteine-rich domain mutations reduced the ability of the Raf-1 N-terminal regulatory region to inhibit Xenopus oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown induced by the C-terminal catalytic region of Raf-1. We propose that a direct or indirect regulatory interaction between the N- and C-terminal regions of Raf-1 is reduced by the R143W, R143Q, and K144E mutations, thereby increasing access to the Ras-binding regions of Raf-1 and increasing Raf-1 activity.     

Solid-state high-resolution 29Si NMR spectroscopy of synthetic 14 Å, 11 Å and 9 Å tobermorites

A new method for the investigation of the structure of silicates - solid-state high-resolution ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy - was used for the investigation of 14 Å, 11 Å and 9 Å tobermorites prepared under different conditions. It is possible to determine selectively the individual SiO₄ structural units in tobermorites (end groups, chain middle groups, branching sites, etc.) and to draw conclusions about the type and structure of the silicate anions in the lattice. Synthetic 14 Å tobermorite consists predominantly of single chains, the 11 Å and 9 Å tobermorites contain, depending on the method of preparation, double chains and/or single chains.     

Assessment of regional myocardial uptake and metabolism of omega-(p-123I-phenyl) pentadecanoic acid with serial single-photon emission tomography

The utility of myocardial imaging and assessment of regional myocardial metabolism of omega-(123I-paraphenyl-)pentadecanoic acid (I-PPA) by means of serial single-photon tomography is demonstrated in animal experiments. High quality cross sectional images of dog hearts with clear delineation of left ventricular walls are obtained. Myocardial infarcts are visualized as areas of deficient radioactivity uptake. I-PPA elimination from non-infarcted myocardial regions is significantly (p less than 0.001) prolonged when compared with unaffected controls. Hence, not only localized absence of uptake of free fatty acid by infarcted myocardium can be demonstrated with serial single-photon tomography but also general impairment of cardiac FFA-metabolism.     

Is there theoretical evidence for a metallic carbon polymorph with space group symmetry at ambient conditions?

Quantum mechanical calculations based on density functional theory and the generalised gradient approximation show that the equilibrium lattice parameter of a carbon polymorph with space group symmetry would be 3.08 Å, and hence very different from that of diamond. No local minimum in the dependence of the total energy on the lattice parameter has been found. Such a polymorph would be approximately 5 eV atom⁻¹ less stable than diamond, suggesting that its synthesis is very unlikely. This finding is consistent with older density functional calculations and contradicts recent results of LCAO calculations, which have been used to support the interpretation of experimental data as showing the existence of a metallic carbon polymorph with space group symmetry .     

Charge accumulation in the dielectric of the nanocluster NVM MOS structures under anti- and unipolar W/E window formation

This paper focuses on the detailed study of the unipolar recharging phenomenon of the nanocluster NVM cells based upon the electron emission from the nanodots and their subsequent neutralization. It is shown that electron emission from nanodots is a very fast and effective process with a time constant <5 ms, but the subsequent neutralization of the positive accumulated charge is strongly dependent on the excess of Si atoms stored in the nanodots.