Response of astrocytes to experimental herpetic infection

Research Institute of Children's Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, St. Petersburg. Institute of Neurology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences D. S. Sarkisov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 114, No. 11, pp. 548–551, November, 1992.     

Effect of tetanus toxin on protein composition of synaptic structures of the rat brain and spinal cord

It was shown by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel that the content of proteins with low electrophoretic mobility rises in a Triton extract of the fractions of synaptic structures from the spinal cord tissue of rats with local tetanus, whereas no change was found in the protein spectrum in the dodecyl sulfate extract. In experiments in vitro tetanus toxin stimulated the incorporation of lysine-H³ into total proteins of cortical synaptosomes.Laboratory of General Pathology of the Nervous System, Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 79, No. 4, pp. 19–22, April, 1975.     

Morphologic changes in the skin and superficial temporal arteries in Sneddon's syndrome

Skin biopsies from livedo's areas of 25 patients and fragments of superficial temporal arteries of 10 patients with Sneddon's syndrome were examined. Pathological changes in the dermis arteries of small and medium calibers were found in the form of the intima hyperplasia, proliferation of vascular wall cell elements (80%), arterial thrombosis (with diameter of 60-200 microns). These changes were found in 68% of observations when clinical and morphological signs of vasculitis were lacking. "Arteriopathy" is the most appropriate term for such lesions. Focal and diffuse fibro-muscular elastic hyperplasia of the intima and muscular layer fibrosis in the wall of superficial temporal arteries may be considered as age-associated lesions. Ultrastructurally, a selective damage of the non-adrenergic part of the nervous apparatus of the dermal arteries and superficial temporal arteries were observed; this suggests the participation of the damaged vascular neurogenic regulation in the formation of organic vascular changes.     

Effects on post-prandial glucose and AGE precursors from two initial insulin strategies in patients with Type 2 diabetes uncontrolled by oral agents

ObjectiveProgressive β-cell dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes results in the need for insulin therapy in many patients. Yet the best regimen to prescribe to patients transitioning from oral anti-hyperglycemic drugs (OADs) is not clear. We sought to compare the effects of two standard initial insulin strategies (basal insulin alone versus premixed insulin) on post-prandial glucose metabolism and precursors of advanced glycation end-products in patients with type 2 diabetes suboptimally controlled on OADs.Research Design and MethodsThis was a 6-month, open-label, single-center study using a cross-over design. 14 subjects were randomized to one of two protocols: once daily insulin glargine or twice-daily 75%/25% neutral protamine lispro/lispro mix. At 12 weeks, the subjects were crossed-over to the opposite protocol. During each period, insulin doses were titrated to target fasting blood glucose of 90–110mg/dL. At baseline and after the two 12-week treatment periods, subjects were studied in the Clinical Research Center; they consumed three liquid mixed isocaloric meals at 4-h intervals, and glucose, free fatty acids (FFA), lipids, and α-dicarbonyls (3-deoxyglucosone [3-DG] and methylglyoxal [MG]) were measured before and after each meal. Patient data were analyzed in the context of their assigned insulin strategy groups.ResultBoth insulin regimens led to a significant improvement in glycemic profiles, including fasting glucose and HbA1c, compared to baseline. However, mean post-prandial glucose was lower with lispro mix than with glargine (153 ± 36 vs. 199 ± 49 mg/dL, respectively; P = 0.001). Likewise, there was a reduction in both fasting (48 ± 13 vs. 57 ± 19, P = 0.047) and post-prandial (53 ± 19 vs. 63 ± 23; P = 0.007) 3DG levels with lispro mix as compared to glargine. No differences were noted in MG concentrations.ConclusionIn type 2 diabetes patients failing OAD therapy, an initial insulin regimen of twice daily premixed insulin results in significantly improved post-prandial glucose levels as well as a reduction in a precursor of AGEs. The effect of these two initial insulin regimens on long-term diabetic complications requires further study.     

On the Determination of Elastic Properties of Single-Walled Boron Nitride Nanotubes by Numerical Simulation

The elastic properties of chiral and non-chiral single-walled boron nitride nanotubes in a wide range of their chiral indices and diameters were studied. With this aim, a three-dimensional finite element model was used to assess their rigidities and, subsequently, elastic moduli and Poisson’s ratio. An extensive study was performed to understand the impact of the input parameters on the results obtained by numerical simulation. For comparison, the elastic properties of single-walled boron nitride nanotubes are shown together with those obtained for single-walled carbon nanotubes.     

One-Year Follow-up of Duodenal Ulcers after 1-Wk Triple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori

Objective : to study the ulcer recurrence rate of Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcers at 1 yr after eradication of the bacteria by triple therapy. Method : Patients with H. pylori-positive duodenal ulcers were randomized to receive either triple therapy for 1 wk plus omeprazole for 4 wk (THple+OMP) (n = 78), or omeprazole alone (OMP) for 4 wk (N = 77). Patients were followed up every 3 months for symptom enquiry. At 1 yr, all asymptomatic patients were invited to attend for gastroscopy. Results : At 8 wk, 16 patients in the OMP group and four in the Triple+OMP group had an ulcer. During the 1-yr period, 12 patients in the OMP group and no patient in the Triple+OMP group developed symptomatic ulcers. At follow-up endoscopy at 1 yr, another 10 ulcers were detected in the OMP group and two in the Triple+OMP group. Fifteen patients in the OMP group and 13 in the Triple+OMP group were lost to follow-up. In total, ulcers were de-tected in 39 of 61 (64%) assessahle patients in the OMP group, and in six of 65 (97o) assessahle patients in the Triple+OMP group after I yr (χ² test: p < 0.001). Of the patients whose H, pytori were successfully eradicated hy Triple+OMP at 8 wk, 90% remained H. pylori negative at 1 yr. Conclusion : Triple therapy for 1 wk eradicates H, pylori infection and significantly reduces duodenal ulcer relapses.