Cervicovaginal foetal fibronectin in the prediction of preterm labour in a low-risk population

Ten groups of 14 immunosuppressed NMRI-mice (nu/nu) were raised and kept under germ-reduced conditions. The control animals were fed a germ-reduced diet, nine other groups received the same diet with selegiline (CAS 14611-51-9, Deprenyl) or lipoic acid (thioctic acid, CAS 62-46-4) admixed at various amounts. The 50% survival rate, the total life span of each group and the areas under the curves were determined to evaluate life expectancy as compared to the controls. The racemate of lipoic acid at high dosage (350 mg/kg body weight) reduced the life span significantly. The S(-)-enantiomer of lipoic acid (75 mg/kg body weight) increased the 50% survival rate, whereas the physiologic R(+)-enantiomer (9 mg/kg body weight) expanded the total life span of its group. Alteration of only one out of three parameters was not considered significant. All other groups except for one did not differ from controls: only animals which obtained 75 micrograms selegiline per kg of body weight and per day exerted increased life expectancies by all three parameters. This group exhibited also in statistical evaluation a significantly (p < 0.05) prolongated survival time up to about 200% as compared to the control animals.     

Problems in the hygienic rationalization of the therapeutic and prophylactic nutrition of industrial workers

Based on generalization and analysis of instructions and guidelines for therapeutical and prophylactic diets of workers, ways of its optimization were proposed, by using bifide-containing acid dairy products as a preventive agent against possible occupational diseases caused by occupational factors.     

Polarity control of GaN epilayers grown on ZnO templates

We report the successful growth of Ga-polar GaN epilayers on O-polar ZnO templates pre-deposited on c-sapphire. Prior to GaN growth, NH₃ is exposed onto the ZnO template. The polarity of the GaN layers is confirmed by etching of the surface and by conversion beam electron diffraction (CBED), while the O-polar ZnO is confirmed by CBED. It is suggested that the NH₃ pre-exposure helps form a Zn₃N₂ layer, which possesses inversion symmetry and inverts the crystal from anion polar to cation polar.     

Improvement of Mechanical Properties of Machinable Glass-Ceramics through Postmachining Heat Treatments

A mica-based machinable glass-ceramic has been converted to a glass-ceramic containing cordiertie and body-centered cubic chondrodite through heat treatment at temperatures higher than that used for the crystallization of mica. The machinability is lost, microhardness increases, and the thermal expansion coefficient decreases with the change of the crystalline phase from mica to cordierite and chondrodite.     

Detection of alcoholism in schizophrenia using the MAST

1. alpha-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus readily permeabilized rat uterine smooth muscle after incubation for a short time. 2. The permeabilized muscle responded to Ca2+ dose-dependently and repeatedly in the same manner. 3. The threshold concentration of Ca2+ for contraction was 0.1-0.3 microM and the maximal contraction was achieved with 1 or 3 microM Ca2+. 4. GTP gamma S or GTP augmented the contractile response to Ca2+. 5. GDP beta S or GDP suppressed the contraction. 6. The role of GTP-binding protein in sensitization of Ca(2+)-induced contractile response of smooth muscle is discussed.     

Surgical treatment of metastatic lung tumors

To evaluate an association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), an established precursor of gastric cancer, we performed a cross-sectional study using IgG antibody against H. pylori and pepsinogens of blood donors in four prefectures in Japan. Although a geographic correlation between the age-adjusted prevalence rates for H. pylori infection and those for CAG was not seen, the age-adjusted odds ratios (OR) of H. pylori infection for CAG were high in each area (around five for men and from four to 12.6 for women). The association between them weakened with advancing age; the ORs in the youngest age group (16-29 yrs) and in the oldest age group (50-64 yrs) were 12.5 and 2.8 for men, and 11.5 and 5.2 for women, respectively. These findings suggest that H. pylori infection is strongly associated with CAG, while there are some other factors interacting in the development of CAG. A prospective cohort study in which CAG and H. pylori infection are taken into account will be necessary to assess the risks of gastric cancer.