Genetic determinants of sensitivity to ethanol in inbred mice.

Mice from 15 inbred strains (n?=?27–40 per strain) differed in sensitivity to ethanol-induced effects on open-field activity, hypothermia, rotarod ataxia, and anesthesia. Sensitivities to the different behavioral responses were generally uncorrelated. This suggests that the genetic determinants of behavioral sensitivity to one domain of ethanol effects are unrelated to those determining other responses. On the other hand, some variables were genetically related. For example, those strains sensitive to the loss of righting reflex induced by higher doses of ethanol showed reduced activity in the open field at lower doses and were more sensitive to ethanol-induced decreases in rearing. More generally, the pattern of results suggests that genetically influenced sensitivity to ethanol is not a monolithic phenomenon. Rather, it is specific to the particular response variable studied. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hormonal control of programmed cell death/apoptosis

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a physiological form of cell death that occurs in embryonic development and during involution of organs. It is characterized by distinct biochemical and morphological changes such as DNA fragmentation, plasma membrane blebbing and cell volume shrinkage. Many hormones, cytokines and growth factors are known to act as general and/or tissue-specific survival factors preventing the onset of apoptosis. In addition, many hormones and growth factors are also capable of inducing or facilitating programmed cell death under physiological or pathological conditions, or both. Steroid hormones are potent regulators of apoptosis in steroid-dependent cell types and tissues such as the mammary gland, the prostate, the ovary and the testis. Growth factors such as epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and insulin-like growth factor-I act as survival factors and inhibit apoptosis in a number of cell types such as haematopoietic cells, preovulatory follicles, the mammary gland, phaeochromocytoma cells and neurones. Conversely, apoptosis modulates the functioning and the functional integrity of many endocrine glands and of many cells that are capable of synthesizing and secreting hormones. In addition, exaggeration of the primarily natural process of apoptosis has a key role in the pathogenesis of diseases involving endocrine tissues. Most importantly, in autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroid disease and type 1 diabetes mellitus, new data suggest that the immune system itself may not carry the final act of organ injury: rather, the target cells (i.e. thyrocytes and beta cells of the islets) commit suicide through apoptosis. The understanding of how hormones influence programmed cell death and, conversely, of how apoptosis affects endocrine glands, is central to further design strategies to prevent and treat diseases that affect endocrine tissues. This short review summarizes the available evidence showing where and how hormones control apoptosis and where and how programmed cell death exerts modulating effects upon hormonally active tissues.     

Cold fusion experiments using Maxwellian plasmas and sub-atmospheric deuterium gas

Experiments are being performed to initiate the cold fusion process in Maxwellian plasmas and sub-atmospheric deuterium gas. Thus far, apparent neutron counts have been observed using a BF₃ probe and Ludlum model 2200 digital counter, and a broad 8.1 MeV peak has been observed using a 3-inch sodium iodide crystal and a Nucleus PCA II multichannel analyzer. The results appear to be dependent upon the temperature of the palladium sample, deuterium pressure, and the type of palladium sample used. The results are interesting but not sufficient for any conclusions at this point.     

NOTES ON DRY-PAN AND WET-PAN OPERATION1

The article is a discussion of the following points: (1) improvement in dry and wet pans with the introduction of high capacity heavy-duty units to replace several units and requiring less power and maintenance; (2) engineering cost data with respect to economical operating speeds, results of which were obtained from an actual installation calculated on an average power rate; (3) relation of rotation rate to capacity, considering the effect of the speed of rotation on the efficiency of the emptying device; (4) the optimum size for economical operations at various capacities, an intelligent answer to which cannot be given without a thorough study of the many factors involved, some of which are discussed in the article.     

Ethnicity and age issues: Attitudes affecting rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord injury.

The individual with spinal cord injury, family, staff, and significant others bring attitudes regarding age and ethnicity into the rehabilitation team dynamic. Such preconceived attitudes may direct one's ability to be open to change and incorporate new information. The authors present 3 cases that highlight the bidirectional nature of bias challenges and the potential impact of bias issues on the hospital setting, staff, individual, family, and significant others. The bidirectional nature of bias challenges is illustrated with 2 cases of bias issues presented by individuals with spinal cord injury during hospitalization and with I case of bias impact on an individual health care provider. Interventions and strategies to maximize information sharing, education, and adjustment during hospitalization, discharge planning, and community living are discussed. Individuals may face increasing challenges in maximizing the derived benefit from both health care delivery and community services if personal bias plays a role in excluding qualified personnel from consideration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Low-density lipoprotein particle size decreases during normal pregnancy in association with triglyceride increases

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the changes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) peak particle diameter (diameter of the predominant LDL subclass) in relation to changes in serum triglyceride concentration during successive stages of normal gestation and postpartum. METHODS: Nonfasting venous blood was obtained longitudinally during and after uncomplicated primiparous pregnancy from 10 nonsmoking women with no history of metabolic disorders. Plasma LDL diameter was determined by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A-I, and LDL-cholesterol were measured. Gestational changes were analyzed by one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and the paired multiple comparison Student-Newman-Keuls test. Pearson coefficients were computed for correlation of serum lipids and LDL diameter. RESULTS: Low-density lipoprotein diameter decreased progressively with advancing gestation, evident by 16-20 weeks relative to 5-12 weeks. Seven of 10 cases were subclass pattern B (diameter less than 255 A) by term, indicating that small, dense particles predominated. The average diameter decrease from early to late gestation was 13 A. All subjects reverted to subclass pattern A (diameter 255 A or more) by 6-12 weeks postpartum, indicating prevalence of large, buoyant LDL. Low-density lipoprotein diameter correlated inversely with concentrations of serum triglyceride (r = -.61, P < .0001), apo B (r = -.66, P < .0001), cholesterol (r = -.53, P < .001), LDL cholesterol (r = -.45, P < .005), and apo A-I (r = -.39, P < .02). CONCLUSION: Gestational triglyceride increases are accompanied by progressive decreases in LDL diameter in a majority of cases. These changes undergo reversal postpartum and therefore are transient. Small, dense LDL particles have a number of properties capable of altering vascular function. However, the consequences of the gestational LDL size decrease for maternal and fetal metabolism remain unknown.     

Single-frequency operation of diode-laser-array transverse-pumped Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

Single-longitudinal-mode and single-transverse-mode operation of a miniature Nd:YAG laser transversely pumped by a quasi-CW diode-laser array is described. By injection-seeding this oscillator with a diode-laser end-pumped Nd:YAG microlaser, single-frequency Q-switched pulses of 0.25 mJ energy and 35 ns duration were generated.<>     

Dietary stearic acid reduces plasma and hepatic cholesterol concentrations without increasing bile acid excretion in cholesterol-fed hamsters

Although there is general agreement that saturated fatty acids elevate plasma cholesterol concentrations, the relative effects of individual fatty acids on cholesterol and bile acid metabolism are less clear. In this study, cholesterol and bile acid responses to diets enriched in different saturated fatty acids were investigated in hamsters. The six diets examined were as follows: 5% fat (g/100 g) enriched in palmitic acid (16:0) with no cholesterol, 5% fat 16:0-enriched, 0.05% cholesterol (wt/wt), and four diets containing 0.05% cholesterol and 15% fat with each diet enriched in lauric (12:0), myristic (14:0), palmitic (16:0), or stearic acid (18:0). Total plasma cholesterol concentration was significantly greater in hamsters fed the 14:0-enriched diet relative to those fed the 18:0-enriched diet (P < 0.05). Both plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations of hamsters fed 18:0 did not differ from those of the group fed no dietary cholesterol. In all instances, differences in total plasma cholesterol were accounted for within the HDL fraction; no significant treatment differences in VLDL or LDL cholesterol were found. Total daily fecal bile acid excretion was higher in hamsters fed the 15% fat 16:0 diet compared with those fed no dietary cholesterol (P < 0.05), but not significantly different from other treatment groups. There was greater deoxycholic acid excretion (P < 0.05) from hamsters fed the 14:0 and 16:0 diets compared with those fed the 18:0-enriched diet. Small intestinal + gallbladder bile acids, an index of pool size, did not differ significantly among the groups. The observed relative hypocholesterolemic effect of stearic acid was not mediated by increased bile acid excretion.     

Vitamin E and probucol reduce urinary lipophilic aldehydes and renal enlargement in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by complications affecting several organs, including the kidney. Lipid peroxidation increases in diabetes and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. In this study, we examined the ability of two antioxidants, vitamin E and probucol, to reduce lipid peroxidation in vivo and renal hypertrophy, an early stage of diabetic nephropathy, in rats. Animals were divided into four groups: non-diabetic, diabetic, diabetic treated with vitamin E, and diabetic treated with probucol. Animals were given antioxidants by intraperitoneal injection after induction of diabetes by streptozotocin injection. After 7 wk, lipid peroxidation in vivo was measured by analyzing urinary excretion of lipophilic aldehydes and related carbonyl compounds (LACC) as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones by high-performance liquid chromatography. A number of urinary lipophilic nonpolar and polar aldehydes and related carbonyl compounds were identified, almost all of which increased in diabetes. Antioxidant treatment resulted in significantly decreased excretion of urinary LACC excretion. Antioxidant treatment of diabetic rats reduced renal hypertrophy. There was a high correlation between kidney weight and urinary LACC. Since LACC are accepted markers of lipid peroxidation, these results indicate that antioxidants can reduce the elevated lipid peroxidation of diabetes and may slow the onset of diabetic nephropathy.     

Lipophilic aldehydes and related carbonyl compounds in rat and human urine

Rat and human urine samples were analyzed for lipophilic aldehydes and other carbonyl products of lipid peroxidation. The following compounds were identified as their 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazones by cochromatography with pure standards using three solvent systems: butanal, butan-2-one, pentan-2-one, hex-2-enal, hexanal, hepta-2,4-dienal, hept-2-enal, octanal, non-2-enal, deca-2,4-dienal, 4-hydroxyhex-2-enal, and 4-hydroxynon-2-enal. In general, fasted rats excreted less of these compounds than fed rats, indicating they were partially of dietary origin or that the endogenous compounds were excreted in a form not susceptible to hydrazone formation. The compounds excreted in human urine were similar to those excreted in rat urine but were present in lower concentrations. Identification of the conjugated forms fo the lipophilic aldehydes and related carbonyl compounds excreted in urine may be a source of information about their reactions in vivo.