Responsiveness of a human myelogenous leukemia cell line (KG-1) to humoral factors in vivo

A human acute myelogenous leukemia cell line (KG-1) was used to study the humoral regulation of leukemic cell proliferation in diffusion chambers implanted in mice. The mice were treated with several agents known to enhance normal granulopoiesis. Leukemic cell proliferation was measured by total cell numbers and in vivo colony formation in plasma clot. Greatest leukemic cell growth was observed when the host mice were treated with cyclophosphamide. Administration of glucan or endotoxin stimulated growth to a significant but lesser degree. Pretreatment of the mice had no agreeable effect on leukemic cell maturation. To determine whether enhanced leukemic cell proliferation correlated with colony-stimulating activity (CSA) levels in the host animals, sera were collected daily and assayed in agar cultures using mouse bone marrow and KG-1 cells as targets. Sera from endotoxin-treated mice were found to be superior to sera from mice injected with cyclophosphamide in supporting in vitro colony formation. We conclude that there are humoral factor(s) other than CSA which are important in stimulating human leukemic cell growth in diffusion chambers in mice.     

Relationship of the metabolic syndrome and obesity to polycystic ovary syndrome: a controlled, population-based study

OBJECTIVE: Although hyperinsulinemia seems to be an essential feature of polycystic ovary syndrome, the frequency of gynecologic disorders related to polycystic ovary syndrome at a population level in women with evident metabolic syndrome is not known. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study. Participants (N = 204) were recruited from a random sample of women in 5 age groups (range, 35-54 years) living in a defined area. Metabolic syndrome was considered to be present if 3 of the following 8 criteria were fulfilled: (1) first-degree relative with type II diabetes, (2) body mass index > or = 30 kg/m2, (3) waist/hip ratio > or = 0.88, (4) blood pressure > or = 160/95 mm Hg or drug treatment for hypertension, (5) fasting serum triglyceride level > or = 1.70 mmol/L, (6) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol value < 1.20 mmol/L, (7) abnormal glucose metabolism, and (8) fasting insulin value > or = 13.0 mU/L. The frequency of metabolic syndrome was 106 (19.5%) of 543 cases. The control group consisted of 62 overweight women without central obesity or metabolic syndrome and 53 healthy lean women (body mass index < 27 kg/m2. RESULTS: The group with metabolic syndrome differed from the other women according to most of the selection criteria and also had the highest free testosterone concentration. However, there were no differences between the groups regarding parity, infertility problems, or obstetric outcome. However, oligomenorrhea appeared to be more common in women with metabolic syndrome, especially in those with more severe symptoms (46.2%), than in obese (25.4%) and lean (15.1%) control subjects. Polycystic-like ovaries were detected by vaginal ultrasonography with similar frequency (13.1%, 15.3%, and 13.2% in women with metabolic syndrome, obese women, and lean women, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Surprisingly few women with metabolic syndrome had symptoms suggestive of polycystic ovary syndrome, in comparison with obese and lean women. Our results suggest that at the population level polycystic ovary syndrome only accounts for a distinct subgroup of a much wider problem, metabolic syndrome.     

Diffractive optical element based sensor for surface quality inspection of concave punches.

Optical surface quality of concave shaped punches was investigated with a diffractive optical element based sensor. Image information of the present sensor was studied for the purpose of surface roughness and reflectance inspection. The robust sensor is proposed for off-line optical inspection of concave punches.     

Mononuclear cell subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid during Dictyocaulus viviparus infection of calves: a potential role for γ/δ TCR-expressing cells in airway immune responses?

Mononuclear cell populations in the lungs of calves infected with Dictyocaulus viviparus were studied during primary infection and reinfection in order to identify cells involved in development of protective immunity to parasitic bronchitis. Three groups of calves were either inoculated with 500 third-stage larvae at both weeks 0 and 10 (n = 6), inoculated only at week 10 (n = 6), or remained uninfected (n = 3). The animals were monitored weekly by collection of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), blood and faeces. Among mononuclear BALF-cell populations, the gamma/delta TCR-expressing cells showed a pronounced transient increase in proportion as well as in relative cell size 2 weeks post primary infection, whereas CD4-, CD8-, Ig- and CD14-expressing cells showed no significant differences related to the infection. The increase in gamma/delta TCR-expressing cells coincided with significantly increased proportions of eosinophils and recovery of adult worms in BALF. After reinfection, gamma/delta TCR-expressing cells increased again, but not until week 3 post inoculation, whereas eosinophils were increased by week 2 and reached higher levels than after primary infection. After reinfection, establishment of D. viviparus was less successful than after primary infection. In conclusion, these results indicate a role for gamma/delta TCR-expressing lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of D. viviparus infection.     

Aortic and lower limb artery calcification in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and non-diabetic control subjects. A five year follow-up study

The purpose of the present study was to assess among a representative group of middle-aged newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics and control subjects the baseline prevalence and 5-year incidence of arterial calcifications of aorta and lower limb and their relationship to cardiovascular morbidity. The relationship of baseline risk factors to the development of arterial calcifications was also studied. At the time of diagnosis the age-adjusted prevalence of aortic and lower limb intimal calcifications was higher in diabetics than in control subjects (aortic calcifications: 29 vs. 17% for men, P = 0.05; 26 vs. 19% for women, P = 0.06; lower limb intimal calcifications: 24 vs. 12% for men, P = 0.02; 10 vs. 7% for women; P = NS), whereas no significant difference in baseline prevalence of lower limb medial calcifications was observed (15 vs. 21% for men, 9 vs. 10% for women). The 5-yr incidence of aortic calcifications in both sexes and of lower limb calcifications in men was similar in diabetic and control subjects, but the incidence of lower limb calcifications was higher in diabetic women than in control women (intimal: 33 vs. 11%, P = 0.009: medial: 29 vs. 14%, P = 0.05). The baseline prevalence of abdominal aortic (37 vs. 22%, P = NS for diabetics; 42 vs. 16%, P = 0.02 for control subjects), lower limb intimal (24 vs. 16% for diabetics, P = NS; 15 vs. 7% for control subjects, P = NS) and medial calcifications (23 vs. 7% for diabetics, P = 0.03) were higher in subjects who developed intermittent claudication during the follow-up than in those free of it at the 5-yr examination. Abnormalities in VLDL-metabolism and high systolic blood pressure were associated with the development of aortic calcification in diabetic subjects. In conclusion, already at the time of diagnosis atherosclerotic calcifications are more prevalent in type 2 diabetics than in nondiabetic subjects. During the follow-up diabetic women, but not men, had higher incidence of lower limb intimal and medial calcifications than non-diabetic subjects. Arterial calcifications tended to be associated with the development of intermittent claudication during the follow-up in diabetic and control subjects.     

Microalbuminuria predicts the development of serum lipoprotein abnormalities favouring atherogenesis in newly diagnosed type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients

Summary We studied the relationship of slight albuminuria (microalbuminuria) to serum lipid and lipoproteins in a representative group of middle-aged Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. A random sample of non-diabetic control subjects was also examined. Diabetic patients had both at diagnosis and after five years higher total, LDL- and VLDL-triglyceride levels and higher VLDL-cholesterol, but lower HDL-cholesterol levels than non-diabetic subjects. No consistent difference was found in LDL-cholesterol levels between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. The prevalence of microalbuminuria (>35 mg/24 h) remained about the same in diabetic patients at both examinations (19–20%). The diabetic patients with persistent microalbuminuria were slightly hyperglycaemic and they tended to have lower creatinine clearance at the 5-year examination than those without persistent microalbuminuria. There were no differences in the blood pressure levels or the occurrence of hypertension between the diabetic groups with and without microalbuminuria. At the baseline examination, no differences were seen in serum lipids and lipoproteins between diabetic patients with and without microalbuminuria. In patients with persistent microalbuminuria. a statistically significant increase in VLDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) and VLDL- and LDL-triglyceride levels (p<0.05) and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol level (p<0.05) was seen at the 5-year follow-up. These changes could not be explained by age, sex, body mass index or HbA₁. In conclusion, persistent microalbuminuria predicts and aggravates abnormalities in lipoprotein composition and a decrease in HDL-cholesterol in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients with increased albuminuria may, in part, be explained by these lipoprotein abnormalities.     

Synergistic effect of polymorphisms in uncoupling protein 1 and beta3-adrenergic receptor genes on long-term body weight change in Finnish type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic control subjects

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the independent and combined effects of the Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3-adrenergic receptor (beta3AR) gene and the (-3826) A-->G polymorphism of the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene on body weight change in type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic control subjects during a 10y follow-up study. DESIGN: Controlled 10y follow-up study with baseline, 5 and 10y examinations. SUBJECTS: 70 newly diagnosed, middle-aged type 2 diabetic patients and 123 non-diabetic control subjects from eastern Finland. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, oral glucose tolerance test, plasma insulin, plasma C-peptide and HbA1c. Genotypes by polymerase chain reaction followed by enzymatic digestion. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the frequencies of the two polymorphisms between diabetic and control subjects. The polymorphisms were not cross-sectionally or longitudinally associated with body weight or BMI in diabetic or control subjects. When the diabetic and control subjects were analysed together, the change in the mean body weight was significantly greater among the subjects with both polymorphisms (n = 11) than among those with no polymorphisms (n = 103; change in weight 6.5 +/- 2.5% vs -0.2 +/- 0.8%, P=0.036, and change in Body Mass Index 8.5 +/- 2.6% vs 2.0 +/- 0.8%, P= 0.060, mean +/- s.e.m.). CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous existence of the two polymorphisms was associated with a tendency to gain weight suggesting a synergistic effect of these polymorphisms on body weight gain.     

Effect of melatonin-rich night-time milk on sleep and activity in elderly institutionalized subjects

Melatonin production decreases with advancing age, leading to insomnia and changes in circadian rhythmicity. Administration of melatonin in variable doses resulting in supraphysiological or physiological night-time blood levels of melatonin has been shown to improve sleep quality in the elderly. To study the effect of low doses of melatonin, which do not affect daytime blood melatonin concentrations, night-time milk containing 10–40?ng/l melatonin was used as a drink with meals. The effect of about 0.5?l night-time milk daily on sleep quality and circadian activity was studied in elderly institutionalized subjects in two long-term double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies. Night-time milk was given for 8?weeks and normal day-time milk for 8?weeks with a 1-week washout period in between. In the first study, which was performed during spring with sleep quality evaluated subjectively by specially trained nurses, 70 demented patients showed only a seasonal effect on their sleep quality. In the second study performed around the winter solstice, 81 fairly healthy subjects living in rest-homes were divided into three groups, two for the crossover study as in the first investigation with a third group consuming only normal daytime milk as a control group to evaluate the effect of season. Caregivers graded the sleep quality and activity that was monitored separately for the morning before noon and for the evening after noon. In the second study, the effect of season was recognizable in the scores for sleep quality, which increased in all groups after the winter solstice. However, there were no changes in activity in the control group or in the group that consumed night-time milk during the first period of the crossover study, whereas both morning and evening activity increased significantly in the group that consumed night-time milk during the later period. Even ultra-low doses of melatonin may benefit the elderly by increasing their daytime activity.     

Bifrontal active and sham rTMS in treatment-resistant unipolar major depression

Abstract

Background and aim: Prevention of the recurrence of major depression and its residual symptoms requires effective treatment. Our aim was to study the effects of bifrontal active rTMS controlled by sham rTMS in treatment-resistant unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: Thirty-seven patients with treatment-resistant MDD were randomized into two groups. One group received a total of 30 sessions of active bifrontal rTMS (10?Hz rTMS on left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and 1?Hz rTMS on right DLPFC) and the other group received bilateral sham rTMS on five days a week for six weeks.

Results: Depressive symptoms significantly improved in both the groups, but without a significant group difference. Furthermore, patients with psychotic depression improved similarly to those with moderate or severe depression.

Conclusions: The results of present study indicate a large sham effect of stimulation treatment. The intensive structured treatment protocol may explain the positive outcome in both the groups. It is important to recognize, appreciate, and utilize placebo effects as a significant means of rehabilitation in psychiatric care.