Insulinomimetic effect on glucose transport by epidermal growth factor when combined with a major histocompatibility complex class I-derived peptide

Peptides derived from the alpha 1-region of the murine H-2Dk molecule enhance glucose uptake in rat adipose cells above the maximum obtained with insulin stimulation alone (Stagsted, J., Reaven, G. M., Hansen, T., Goldstein, A., and Olsson, L. (1990) Cell 62, 297-307). We now describe that epidermal growth factor (EGF) in combination with the same peptides, Dk-(61-85) and Dk-(62-85), stimulates cellular glucose uptake 5-7 times over the basal level, i.e. to 30-50% of the maximal insulin effect. EGF alone increased glucose uptake by only approximately 50% above basal and the peptide alone by 100% above basal. Maximal effect of EGF and peptide was reached in 10-20 min with 30 microM peptide (EC50 10-15 microM) and 50 nM EGF (EC50 1-2 nM). The effect of EGF and peptide on glucose uptake was additive to that of insulin and peptide until the maximal level attained with insulin and peptide was reached. The combined effect of EGF plus peptide on glucose transport was associated with a recruitment of GLUT4 molecules to the plasma membrane. However, the phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase which is activated by insulin was not activated by EGF plus peptide. Thus, the effect of EGF plus peptide on glucose uptake seems independent of the activity status of the insulin receptor. 125I-Labeled EGF bound specifically to rat adipose cells with an apparent affinity of approximately 2 nM and Bmax approximately 5 x 10(3). However, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) peptides did not affect EGF-stimulated internalization of EGF receptor, in contrast to their effect on the insulin receptors. Transforming growth factor alpha had an effect similar to EGF on glucose uptake. Three other peptides derived from other parts of murine MHC class I had no effect on glucose uptake in combination with EGF. Thus, EGF in combination with certain MHC class I-derived peptides is insulinomimetic concerning glucose transport and this effect is independent of the insulin receptor activity.     

Land Ownership and Planning

Your City Tomorrow. By Guy Greer. Macmillan Company. 1947. 210 pages. $2.50.

The Case for Regional Planning with Special Reference to New England. By the Directive Committee on Regional Planning, Yale University. Yale University Press. 1947. 94 pages with color illustrations. $10.00.

American Planning: Past-Present-Future. By Cleveland Rodgers. Harper and Bros. 1947. 290 pages. $3.00.

Public Control of Highway Access and Roadside Development. Reported by David R. Levin. United States Government Printing Office. 1947. 154 pages. 35 cents.

Metropolis in Maps. Bureau of Research Municipal Government, Graduate School of Public Administration, Harvard University.

Social Housing and its Advancement in Zurich, 1942-45 (Der Sociale Wohnbau und Seine Foerdenrng in Zurich) Published by Hochbauamt der Stadt Zurich, Switzerland. 113 pages with plans, photographs, tables. $5.00. Obtainable through the Architectural Publishing Book Company, New York City     

Sub-Kelvin Thermal Conductivity and Radioactivity of Some Useful Materials in Low Background Cryogenic Experiments

We present measurements of the thermal conductivity between 0.05 and 1 K, and radioactive contamination levels, for some thermally isolating materials. TIMET Ti 15-3-3-3, Mersen grade 2020 graphite, Vespel SP-1, Vespel SP-22, Vespel SCP-5000, Vespel SCP-5050, Graphlite CFRP, and a Kapton/epoxy composite are all investigated. Thermal conductivities were measured using a single-heater longitudinal heat flow method. Material radioactivity was determined for the materials at a low background counting facility using a high-purity gamma detector and GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations.     

Static fatigue of glass: functional dependence of failure time on stress

Static fatigue of as-received Pyrex borosilicate glass was examined over a wide range of stress and failure time under constant temperature, relative humidity, and surface treatment. It was necessary to calculate the load on the sample from strain guage measurements. The mean log failure time was related to the reciprocal of stress or the reciprocal of stress squared; power law and direct proportionality to stress gave poorer fits.     

Structure in confined fluids: phase separation of binary simple liquid mixtures

One- to five-layer cyclohexane and octamethyltetracyclosiloxane(OMCTS) films confined between mica-like surfaces are studied to elucidate changes in the lattice type and composition of the films. Grand canonical ensemble Monte Carlo computer simulations are used to study the laterally confined film. In contrast to previous studies, solid-like order is induced primarily by the strong fluid-solid interaction and is largely a function of pore width. Solid-like order within the layers causes the composition of the pore fluid to shift from the bulk composition, favoring either cyclohexane or OMCTS, depending on the pore width. A shift in the relative alignment of the surfaces perturbs the solid-like fluid structure but does not cause the sudden shear melting transition associated with epitaxial alignment of the fluid atoms with the surface. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Uniform time-sampling Fourier transform spectroscopy

We show that uniform time sampling of both the reference and the target channels in a continuous scanning Fourier transform spectrometer is a simple and versatile way of extending the Nyquist limit shorter than the wavelength of the reference channel. We also discuss the benefits of recording the reference channel when intensity calibrating the target data.     

Analysis of Triacylglycerols and Free Fatty Acids in Algae Using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

To assess the suitability of microalgal strains for biodiesel production the lipid content and composition, especially individual triacylglycerols (TAG) and free fatty acids (FFA) must be determined. In this study, the compositions and concentrations of TAG and FFA were analysed in four halophytic algal species, Dunaliella salina, D. tertiolecta, D. bardawil, and D. granulata. These species were selected as part of a larger screen to identify species suitable for biofuel feedstocks. An accelerated solvent extraction instrument was used for lipids and fatty acid extraction using a dichloromethane–hexane solvent system. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) detection was optimized and applied to the quantitative analysis of TAG and FFA in the different algal extracts. Individual TAG were characterized structurally using direct electrospray ionization (ESI) MS and MS/MS techniques. Cationic adducts (NH₄ ⁺) of TAG were detected and quantified in the positive ESI MS and MS/MS modes, while the negative ESI mode was used for FFA analysis. Over 20 TAG were identified and quantified in the four Dunaliella strains. Analysis of FFA compositions demonstrated that the most abundant FFA in these four algal species were palmitic, linolenic, linoleic, and oleic acids.     

Hydrochlorothiazide is superior to isradipine for reduction of left ventricular mass: results of a multicenter trial. The Isradipine Study Group

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the efficacy of isradipine in reducing left ventricular (LV) mass and wall thickness in hypertensive patients. BACKGROUND: LV hypertrophy on the echocardiogram is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events. Reduction of LV mass may be a desirable goal of drug therapy for hypertension. However, although thiazide diuretic drugs have been advocated as first-line therapy for hypertension, their efficacy in reducing LV mass has been questioned. METHODS: Patients with mild to moderate diastolic hypertension and LV mass in excess of 1 SD of normal values were randomized to isradipine (n = 89) or hydrochlorothiazide therapy (n = 45). Evaluations were obtained at baseline, after 3 and 6 months of treatment and 2 weeks after treatment was stopped. RESULTS: At 6 months, LV mass decreased by 43 +/- 45 g (mean +/- SD) with hydrochlorothiazide (p < 0.001) but only by 11 +/- 48 g with isradipine (p = NS; between-group comparison, p < 0.001). Two weeks after drug therapy was stopped, LV mass remained 24 +/- 41 g lower than that at baseline in the hydrochlorothiazide group (p = 0.003) but only 7 +/- 50 g lower in the isradipine group (p = NS). Septal and posterior wall thicknesses were significantly and equally reduced with both isradipine and hydrochlorothiazide. Greater LV mass reduction with hydrochlorothiazide was related to a 2.8 +/- 3.3-mm reduction of LV cavity size with hydrochlorothiazide but no reduction with isradipine. At 6 months of treatment, diastolic blood pressure (BP) by design was equally reduced in both treatment groups. At 3 months, systolic BP was reduced by 17 +/- 15 mm Hg with isradipine and by 26 +/- 15 and 25 +/- 17 mm Hg at 3 and 6 months, respectively, with hydrochlorothiazide (p = 0.003, between-group comparison). However, on stepwise multivariable regression analysis, treatment selection (partial r2 = 0.082, p = 0.001), change in average 24-h systolic BP (partial r2 = 0.032, p = 0.029) and change in average sitting systolic BP (partial r2 = 0.017, p = 0.096) were predictive of LV mass reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an equivalent reduction of diastolic BP, 6 months of therapy with hydrochlorothiazide is associated with a substantial reduction of LV mass, greater than that with isradipine. The superior efficacy of hydrochlorothiazide for LV mass reduction is associated with a greater reduction of systolic BP as well as drug selection itself. These data may have important therapeutic implications.     

Correspondence between neuropsychological and functional ratings of perceptual neglect.

Examined perceptual neglect in 59 stroke patients (mean age 61.9 yrs) as described by neuropsychological assessment (NP) and by occupational therapists' (OT) functional assessment. Results indicate that NP and OT raters agreed on the presence of neglect in the majority (73–80%) of cases, depending on the scale definitons used. In the remaining cases, most discrepancies existed between ratings of no vs mild neglect. At times, neuropsychological assessment both over- and underestimated the degree of neglect cited by OT raters as functional perceptual impairment due to sources of possible error or bias. The need for and value of efforts to describe the neuropsychological impairments associated with observed functional deficits are highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)