Angiotensin II rapidly increases phosphatidate-phosphoinositide synthesis and phosphoinositide hydrolysis and mobilizes intracellular calcium in cultured arterial muscle cells.

Smooth muscle cells were cultured from rat thoracic aorta and labeled to a stable specific activity with 45Ca2+, myo-[2-3H]inositol, or 32Pi. The efflux of 45Ca2+ was monitored over 10-sec intervals. Angiotensin II (AII) increased the amount of 45Ca2+ lost by 5-fold in the first 10-sec interval after the addition of AII and by 10-fold in the second 10-sec interval. AII-stimulated 45Ca2+ release was blocked by the angiotensin antagonist [1-sarcosine, 8-leucine]AII and by La3+. The removal of external Ca2+ had no effect on AII-stimulated 45Ca2+ release. Depolarization with high external K+ only slightly increased 45Ca2+ efflux and had no effect on AII-induced 45Ca2+ release. AII had no effect on the initial rate of 45Ca2+ influx. These results indicate that the rapid 45Ca2+ efflux evoked by AII is probably due to the release of 45Ca2+ sequestered intracellularly rather than to an increase in the Ca2+ permeability of the plasma membrane. AII provoked rapid increases in the levels of phosphatidic acid and phosphoinositides in the cells. These increases in phospholipids were associated with increases in phospholipase C-generated inositol phosphates (tri-, di-, and mono-). It appears that AII simultaneously increases phosphoinositide hydrolysis and synthesis in vascular smooth muscle, and both phospholipid effects may contribute to inositol triphosphate generation, which was sufficiently rapid to have a role in intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.     

Effect of Side Chains on Charge Transport of Anthracene‐Based PPE–PPV Copolymers

The variation of the drift mobility of positive and negative charge carriers in films of anthracene‐containing poly(p‐phenylene‐ethynylene)‐alt‐poly(p‐phenylene‐vinylene)s ( AnE‐PVs ), differently substituted, is investigated as a function of the applied electric field. Branched 2‐ethylhexyl and linear alkoxy side chains of different lengths are considered, as well as well‐defined and random distributions of lateral substituents. The same conditions are used both for the deposition of the polymer films and for their characterization, which allows for the establishment of a clear relationship between the chemical structure and the charge carrier mobility.

     

天山假狼毒化学成分预实验

目的采用系统预试法对天山假狼毒可能的化学成分进行预实验,初步探索天山假狼毒的化学成分。方法采用试管反应法,对提取天山假狼毒中的石油醚、水、95%乙醇提取物进行预示,通过多种指示剂和显色剂的沉淀反应或颜色反应,对天山假狼毒可能含有的化学成分进行初步判断。结果天山假狼毒中可能含有氨基酸、蛋白质、糖、有机酸、皂苷、黄酮类、酚类、鞣质、香豆素、内酯类、甾体、三萜和挥发油等化学成分。结论初步确定天山假狼毒含有多种有效成分,为天山假狼毒的进一步开发利用提供了实验基础。     

Maintaining occlusal stability by selecting the most appropriate occlusal scheme in complete removable prosthesis

The search of an adequate occlusal scheme that maximizes dentures’ stability and patients’ satisfaction is an ultimate objective in every complete prosthodontic treatment. Many studies compared occlusal schemes in terms of retention, comfort and masticatory performance. The purpose of this article is to review literature about different occlusal schemes related to complete dentures’ stability and edentulous patients’ satisfaction, in order to select the most appropriate occlusal scheme. Thus, an electronic search was performed from PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar and Sciencedirect databases. 65 articles were identified of which 56 were selected to compose the present article. Within the limitations of this review, it has been concluded that edentulous patients prefer anatomic occlusal schemes to non-anatomic teeth. Furthermore, canine guidance seems to be efficace in terms of chewing comfort and dentures’ retention, as well as lingualized occlusion. However, bilateral balanced occlusion does not confer a long-term masticatory performance and satisfaction to edentulous patients.     

Causes of childhood deaths in Bangladesh: results of a nationwide verbal autopsy study.

While knowledge of causes of deaths is important for health sector planning, little is known from conventional sources about the causes of deaths in Bangladesh. This is partly due to deficiencies in the registration system and partly because few deaths are attended by qualified physicians. The present study was undertaken to update the information available on causes of deaths among under-5-year-olds, taking advantage of advances in verbal autopsy methodology and of the national Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 1993-94. About 25% of the deaths were associated with acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) and about 20% with diarrhoea. Neonatal tetanus and measles remained important causes of death, and drowning was a major cause for 1-4-year-olds. Research and programmes to enable mothers to identify ALRI cases, particularly pneumonia, and to encourage timely and appropriate care-seeking and strengthening of ALRI case management at the primary care facilities are important priorities. While promotion of oral rehydration for watery diarrhoea and antibiotic treatment for dysentery should continue, broader preventive interventions including provision of safe water and sanitation, and improvements in personal hygiene require more attention. Further intensification of immunization programmes and innovative experimental interventions to reduce childhood from drowning should be designed and tested.     

天山假狼毒的化学成分研究

目的研究天山假狼毒Stelleropsis tianschanica地上部位的化学成分。方法采用多种柱色谱技术进行分离纯化,通过波谱技术结合化学方法进行结构鉴定。结果从天山假狼毒甲醇提取物中分离得到了13个化合物,分别鉴定为(+)-松脂酚(1)、(-)-松脂酚(2)、3′-desmethylarctigenin(3)、牛蒡子苷元(4)、pluviatolide(5)、伞形花内酯(6)、4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-ol(7)、daphnogitin(8)、daphnetone(9)、blumenol B(10)、loliolide(11)、对羟基苯乙酮(12)、对羟基苯丙酸(13);其中包括7个木脂素类、2个香豆素类化合物。结论化合物1~13均为首次从该属植物中分离得到。     

Glomus tumor of lesser omentum--a case report

A case of glomus tumor of lesser omentum occurring in a 24 years old male is being reported for its rarity.     

Automated reanalysis application to assist in detecting novel gene–disease associations after genome sequencing

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate whether a bioinformatics application can streamline genome reanalysis and yield new diagnoses for patients with rare diseases.MethodsWe developed TierUp to identify variants in new disease genes for unresolved rare disease cases recruited to the 100,000 Genomes Project, all of whom underwent genome sequencing. TierUp uses the NHS Genomic Medicine Service bioinformatics infrastructure by securely accessing case details from the Clinical Interpretation Portal application programming interface and by querying the curated PanelApp database for novel gene–disease associations. We applied TierUp to 948 cases, and a subset of variants were reclassified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association of Molecular Pathology guidelines.ResultsA rare form of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia was diagnosed through TierUp reanalysis, and an additional 4 variants have been reported to date. From a total of 564,441 variants across patients, TierUp highlighted 410 variants present in novel disease genes in under 77 minutes, successfully expediting an important reanalysis strategy.ConclusionTierUp supports claims that automation can reduce the time taken to reanalyze variants and increase the diagnostic yield from molecular testing. Clinical services should leverage bioinformatics expertise to develop tools that enable routine reanalysis. In addition, services must also explore the ethical, legal, and health economic considerations raised by automation.     

Total knee arthroplasty using anatomic alignment can produce mid-flexion laxity

Background

Modern total knee arthroplasty offers two different alignment techniques, anatomic or mechanical, based on the bone axes selected for implantation of the prosthetic components. This study examined the axes of both during simulated physiologic knee joint motion, as well as the relationship between these axes and the implication of medial–lateral soft tissue balance in total knee arthroplasty.

Methods

Seven fresh-frozen, lower limb specimens were stripped at a level 15 cm from joint line, leaving the joint capsule, quadriceps muscle, hamstring tendons and ligamentous structures intact. Specimens were anatomically marked to track precise movements of the tibia and femur — from which both alignment axes were determined. Medial and lateral joint spacings were tracked to determine collateral ligament laxity. A kneeling simulator jig produced physiologic knee motion.

Findings

Measurements of medial and lateral joint spacings revealed statistically significant differences at all flexion angles between the two alignment axes. The anatomic alignment axes' pattern demonstrates mid-flexion lateral opening and late-flexion medial joint space opening — mechanical axes revealing a consistent 2–3 mm larger lateral than medial joint space.

Interpretation

In an effort to produce a more natural feeling knee replacement, understanding the normal kinematic soft tissue balance can serve as a useful reference point, and mid flexion laxity is an important clinical concern. With currently available total knee arthroplasty designs, mechanical alignment is preferable to anatomic alignment because it creates consistent spacing, which can be addressed by ligament lengthening or adjustments in femoral component positioning.