Association Between Patient and Physician Sex and Physician-Estimated Stroke and Bleeding Risks in Atrial Fibrillation

Background

Physicians treating nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) assess stroke and bleeding risks when deciding on anticoagulation. The agreement between empirical and physician-estimated risks is unclear. Furthermore, the association between patient and physician sex and anticoagulation decision-making is uncertain.

Chemical composition of a new variety of the Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis cv. Inti) with low-alkaloid content

The chemical composition of the seeds of the low-alkaloid variety “Inti” of the Andean lupin (Lupinus mutabilis) grown in the south of Chile was examined. The contents of (% of dry weight) total alkaloids, protein, lipids, and oligosaccharides were found to be 0.0075, 51.0, 16.0, and 14.7%, respectively. The low levels of the sulfur amino acids (2.38% of total protein) made them the first amino acids to limit the protein quality of these lupin seeds. The fatty acid pattern was C16:0,13.9%; C18:0, 3.0%; C18:1, 41.8%; C18:2, 38.9%; and C18:3,2.6% of total fatty acids. The α-galactoside amounted to 13.5% of dry weight (raffinose, 2.49%; stachyose, 10.1%, verbascose, 0.85%). It can be stated that “Inti” is highly interesting as a potential protein energy crop for a temperate climate.     

Characterization of gp 50, a major glycoprotein present in rat brain synaptic membranes, with a monoclonal antibody

Several cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against a major forebrain synaptic membrane (SM) glycoprotein, gp 50, have been raised. Western blots show that the Mabs react with a polypeptide doublet of Mrs 49 and 45 kDa. These polypeptides exist solely in a concanavalin A (Con A) binding form. Removal of the Con A receptors by digestion with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H (endo H) lowers the Mrs of the glycoprotein doublet to 36.5 and 34 kDa. Western blots of 2D polyacrylamide gels indicate that gp 50 exists in several isoforms. Solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) and Western blots of brain subcellular fractions show the antigenic material to be concentrated in the SM fraction, but to be present in much lower amounts in synaptic junctions and postsynaptic densities. Gp 50 appears to be brain specific. Regional distribution studies show that it is present in all brain regions but is two-fold concentrated in cerebellum, brainstem and midbrain compared to forebrain. Immunocytochemical studies of several brain regions show that gp 50-like immunoreactivity is neuron specific and is concentrated in selected neuronal species, particularly granule cells. In both cerebellar and hippocampal granule cells gp 50-like immunoreactivity is localized in the perikarya and primary dendrites. Though immunocytochemistry did not show staining of synaptic regions this may be due to masking of the reactive epitope. The results are discussed in terms of the molecular properties of gp 50 and its subcellular localization in brain tissue.