Sex differences in weight loss among adults with Type II diabetes mellitus

The treatment of choice for Type II or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is a behavioral program for the management of weight. However, compliance with this lifelong dietary regimen is often poor. In the current investigation male and female adults with diagnosed Type II diabetes were randomly assigned to either a behavior modification, a cognitive modification, a cognitive-behavior modification, or a control group. Patients were evaluated in terms of weight, percentage of body fat, and glycosylated hemoglobin measures. Men lost signficantly more weight than women and subjects in the behavior modification group lost more weight and demonstrated greater decreases in diabetes control than subjects in the cognitive-behavior modification, cognitive, and control groups. A significant interaction indicated that diabetic men may benefit more from behavioral weight reduction programs than diabetic women. Several explanations for these findings are considered.This work was supported by Grants K04 HL 00809 and R01 AM 27901 from the National Institutes of Health to Robert M. Kaplan.     

Polyethylenes Having Well‐Defined Bimodal Molecular Weight Distributions Formed with Bis(phenoxy‐imine) Zr Complexes

Summary: Bis(phenoxy‐imine) Zr complexes with MAO activation can produce polyethylenes with well‐defined bimodal molecular weight distributions. Polymerization behavior indicates that minor changes in the ligand structures can have a significant effect on the modality of the resulting polyethylenes. Although there is no direct relationship between the bimodal catalytic behavior and the structure of a precatalyst complex in solution, a precatalyst complex having a methyl or methoxy group para to the phenoxy‐oxygen inclined to exhibit bimodal behavior whereas that with a pentafluorophenyl group on the imine‐nitrogen displayed unimodal behavior. Polymerization results suggest that bimodal behavior is linked to the presence of two kinds of cationic active species, which arise from different modes of ligand coordination. A qualitative correlation was found between the calculated amounts of possible cationic active species and the uni‐ and bimodal catalytic behavior. Based on the results obtained, we concluded that the bimodal polyethylenes are produced by two kinds of cationic active species having two available cis‐located sites with cis‐N, trans‐O and cis‐N, cis‐O arrangements. The results introduced herein are rare examples of the production of well‐defined bimodal polyethylenes using a single precatalyst.

Bis(phenoxy imine) Zr complexes can produce well‐defined bimodal polyethylenes.     

The effect of ethanol-induced CYP2E1 on proteasome activity: the role of 4-hydroxynonenal

Previous studies have shown that the induction of P450 cytochrome 2E1 (CYP2E1) is associated with the loss of proteasomal activities. To correlate the loss of proteasomal activity with CYP2E1 induction, ethanol was fed intragastrically for 1, 3, 7, and 15 days. The maximum induction of CYP2E1 (3.5-fold) occurred after 15 days of ethanol feeding. However, there was no significant decrease in the 26 S chymotrypsin-like and trypsin-like activity over this period of time. When ethanol was given to rats for 1 month, CYP2E1 was significantly induced, and the proteasomal activity was significantly decreased. These results indicate that proteasomal activity was not directly affected by ethanol or CYP2E1 induction. Since 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) concentration was significantly increased at 1 month of ethanol feeding, it was suspected that 4-HNE adduct formation with proteasome subunits could be the mechanism of proteasome inhibition. Using an antibody to 4-HNE adducted proteins in Western blot analysis of the 26 S proteasome fraction isolated from the liver of alcohol fed rats, one extra band appeared around 44 kDa. When the antibody to an ATPase Rpt4 was used to stain the stripped membrane, the same band that was detected with the 4-HNE antibody was detected with the Rpt4 antibody. An adduct of 4-HNE formed with the Rpt4 subunit of 26 S could impede the association of 19 S and 20 S and thus account for the observed decrease of proteasomal activity.     

Chain Growth Polycondensation as a Polymer Generating Reaction in the Synthesis of Oligo(p‐phenyleneethynylene)s with Low Polydispersity

Summary: The polycondensation of 1‐ethynyl‐2,5‐dihexyl‐4‐iodobenzene in the presence of 1‐ethynyl‐2,5‐dihexyl‐4‐(2‐phenylethynyl)benzene proceeds according to the mechanism of initiated chain growth polycondensation. It has allowed the synthesis of oligomers with a desired molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution. The reasons for the side reaction leading to the formation of diyne compounds are revealed and the presumed mechanism is given. This opens prospects for the preparation of defectless poly(p‐phenyleneethynylene)s with required molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions.

     

Genotypic influences on lead-induced hyperactivity in mice

Male mice, genetically selected for differences in brain weight or from a heterogeneous (HET) stock, were used to explore potential interactions between genotype and exposure to lead as manifested in activity. At the time of birth dams and their pups were given either water or a 0.5% lead acetate solution as the sole source of fluid. Fluid conditions remained constant throughout the experiment. The effects of chronic lead on activity in young adult mice depended on the genotype of the individual. Specifically, in an open field, HET mice exposed to lead tended to be more active than their control counterparts. Low-and high-brain weight lead-exposed mice at times were hypoactive but this effect depended on the specific nature of the measure.This research was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant DAR7911233 to Peter J. Donovick and Richard G. Bruggight and by Biomedical Research Support Group Grant 5S077RR07149 to Peter J. Donovick.     

Diurnal changes of thermoregulatory functions in pigeons

In pigeons, we studied the diurnal variation of body temperatures and its dependence on the diurnal variations of shivering, vasomotor activity and panting in light-dark (LD) — conditions (1212 h, 1001 Lux) and in different, but for at least 24 h constant ambient temperatures.In low ambient temperatures (below thermoneutrality) shivering was reduced shortly after lights off (early dark phase), and it increased again some hours before lights on (late dark phase); the lower the ambient temperature, the larger the reduction of shivering and the shorter the time of reduction.Within thermoneutrality, the decrease ofT _b in the early dark phase was associated with an increase of foot skin temperature, probably due to vasodilatation. Later-on foot skin temperature decreased again (vasoconstriction). The feet remained constricted even in the late dark phase, whenT _b already increased.At higher ambient temperature (above thermoneutrality) vasodilatation persisted all over the 24 h, while in these conditions respiratory rate increased significantly after lights off.The described diurnal variations of thermoregulatory effector mechanisms are in agreement with the concept of an active adjustment of the body temperature rhythm.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SBF 114)     

Flavor preferences,food intake,and weight gain in baboons (Papio sp.)

To evaluate the influence of flavor on ad lib consumption and on associated changes in body weight, female baboons, 7–15 years of age, served in two experiments with seven monkey chows which were identical except for flavor: lemon, orange, apple, sugar, fruit punch, chocolate, and unflavored. In the first experiment, two groups of animals (n=7 and 4) received five of the seven flavors, presented in daily pair-wise combinations. Analysis of quantities consumed demonstrated marked and consistent flavor preferences in individual baboons. Although specific preference varied between animals, total amounts consumed of the various flavors differed significantly, with rank ordering clearly evident. Overall food intake and body weights increased significantly over baseline values obtained with a standard, unflavored chow. In the second experiment, three baboons received chow of a preferred flavor for nine weeks. Amounts consumed and body weights increased significantly over baseline. These results indicate that flavored chows may be useful for producing a nonhuman primate behavioral model of obesity and for inducing animals to eat otherwise unpalatable diets.     

广州地区围产儿脏器重量及大小测量的研究

目的　探讨广州地区围产儿脏器重量及大小的发育规律 .方法　选择 6 2 5例胎龄准确的单胎 ,除外明显浸软、IUGR、水肿儿、巨大胎、有胸腹水者 ,新生儿除外先天性心脏病及有明显疾病的脏器 .根据胎龄分为 6组 ,分别测量围产儿体重、身长和各脏器重量、长度 .进行统计分析 .结果　胰腺、肺发育最早 ,肾脏与肺发育最快 ,出生后脑增长最少而胰腺增长最快 ,肠变异最大等规律 .结论　围产儿脏器资料用于围产儿病理研究有一定意义     

Mild Brachmann–de Lange syndrome: Changes of phenotype with age

We present a girl with mild manifestations of the Brachmann-de Lange syndrome (BDLS) with gradual change of the phenotype. Her findings support the hypothosis of variability of the phenotypic spectrum of the disorder.     

氧离子注入增强人工关节软骨材料-UHMWPE的耐磨性

用高能离子注入机对超高分子量聚乙烯 (U HMWPE)进行了 O+注入改性 ,注入能量为 4 5 0 ke V和 10 0ke V,剂量分别为 1× 10 1 5/cm2 ,5× 10 1 5/cm2和 1× 10 1 6 /cm2。以 Si3N4 球为上销样 ,UHMWPE为下盘样组成摩擦副 ,在销盘摩擦试验机上评价它们在干摩擦和蒸馏水润滑条件下的磨损性能。结果表明 ,几种注入工艺均增强了UHMWPE的耐磨性 ,但提高了其摩擦系数 ,其中以能量为 4 5 0 Ke V,剂量为 5× 10 1 5/cm2的注入样品耐磨性最好。未注入 U HMWPE的磨损主要表现为黏着、塑性变形和犁沟 ,注入 U HMWPE的磨损主要为表面硬化层疲劳裂纹的萌生、扩展、剥落及磨粒磨损