Improved glucose tolerance in acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1-null mice is dependent on diet

Background  

Mice that lack acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (Dgat1 ^-/- mice) are reported to have a reduced body fat content and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Studies so far have focussed on male null mice fed a high fat diet and there are few data on heterozygotes. We compared male and female Dgat1 ^-/-, Dgat1 ^+/- and Dgat1 ^+/+ C57Bl/6 mice fed on either standard chow or a high fat diet.     

44Sacral extracorporeal magnetic stimulation is an effective treatment for pelvic floor dyssynergia; Comparative study with biofeedback therapy

Background: Recent development of extracorporeal magnetic stimulation (ECMS) which uses current‐changing magnetic fields allows the induction of electrical stimulation in the desired deep tissue. Recent study showed the sacral nerve stimulation reduces corticoanal excitability that may play a functional role in anal continence mechanisms. Preliminary study shows that ECMS of sacral nerve can modify pelvic floor function and expel rectal balloon in patients with pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD). Aims: To evaluate the effect of ECMS compared with biofeedback therapy (BF) in patients with PFD. Methods and Materials: Thirty‐eight patients who fulfilled Rome II criteria for PFD by colon transit time and anorectal function tests, were randomly treated with 8 sessions of ECMS (2/weeks; n = 19) at prone position or BF (2/weeks; n = 19) at sitting position. Stimulation parameters were set at 50–80% of maximum intensity, 10 and 50 Hz frequency, 3 s burst length with 3 and 6 s off using arm‐typed stimulator (BioCom‐1000, Mcube Co., Korea). Symptom scores for constipation with/without anorectal function test were repeatedly measured after each treatment. Response was defined as 50% or more decreased symptom score after treatment (partial response: 30–50%, poor: <30%). Results: Fifteen patients (age 49.1 ± 13.4 years, mean ± SD; 4 men) completed 8 session of BF and 14 patients (54.5 ± 17.6 years, 3 men) completed 8 session of ECMS. Four patients of BF group discontinued treatment due to unsatisfactory therapeutic effect (n = 1) and withdrew consent (n = 3) and 5 patients of ECMS group discontinued treatment because of same reasons (n = 1, 4). Total symptom scores were significantly decreased after treatment of 8 session in both treatment groups (13.4 ± 6.6 vs. 4.3 ± 4.0 for BF, p = 0.009; 14.9 ± 5.6 vs. 3.4 ± 4.0 for ECMS, p < 0.001). Bowel movements per week were also significantly increased after treatment in both groups (median 2 vs. 7 for BF, p = 0.035; median 2 vs. 7 for ECMS, p = 0.008). Thirteen out of 15 patients showed response in BF group and 12 out of 14 showed good response in ECMS group. No adverse effects in both groups. Conclusions: ECMS is as effective as BF for the treatment of PFD. Long‐term effect of ECMS for the patients with pelvic floor dyssynergia need to be evaluated in the near future.     

Hepatic artery injection of I-131-labeled lipiodol. Part I. Biodistribution study results in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastases

Biodistribution of iodine-131-labeled Lipiodol Ultra-Fluide (I-131 LUF) injected into the hepatic artery was studied scintigraphically in 47 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 23), hepatic metastases (n = 14), or normal livers (n = 10). The investigation was extremely well tolerated. I-131 LUF concentrated mainly in the liver (L) and the lungs (l), with L/L + l activity ratios greater than 75% for all three groups of patients. I-131 LUF distribution was homogeneous in normal livers and heterogeneous in cirrhotic livers. I-131 LUF concentrated in the tumor with a tumorous (T) to nontumorous (NT) activity ratio (T/NT) of 4.3 +/- 3.6 for hepatocellular carcinoma and 2.4 +/- 0.7 for hepatic metastases. The effective half-life of I-131 LUF is more than 4.5 days for the three groups. It was eliminated mainly through the urine. Clearance from tumor is slower than from normal liver, as shown by the increase in T/NT at day 18. Biodistribution did not change in patients who had a second injection, which indicates that there is no saturation phenomenon. The results of this study suggest that LUF may be considered as a potential carrier vehicle for therapeutic agents.     

Urea rebound and delivered Kt/V determination with a continuous urea sensor

BACKGROUND: The recent introduction of urea sensors for dialysis monitoring has made possible new approaches to urea kinetic modelling. In this study we show how the equilibrated postdialysis urea concentration (Ceq) and Kt/V corrected for double-pool urea kinetics (Kt/Vdp) can be accurately determined using an on-line sensor providing a continuous measure of blood water urea. A modification of the Smye constant volume double-pool theory led to the following equations for Ceq and Kt/Vdp [formula: see text] where Cpre is the blood concentration measured at the start of dialysis, t is the length of the dialysis session (in min) and S(ex) is the constant slope of the blood urea logarithm concentration decline following development of the intercompartmental urea concentration gradient in the first 30-60 min of dialysis. METHODS: These equations were tested in 11 patients undergoing 165-240 min of paired filtration dialysis with continuous monitoring of blood urea concentration. Cpre was determined as the plateau concentration during a preliminary period of 15-20 min of slow isolated ultrafiltration. S(ex) was accurately determined from linear regression applied to the urea sensor data from the 80-min point to the end of dialysis. RESULTS: Ceq and Kt/Vdp determined from the above equations compared closely to values determined from 25-40 min of urea rebound monitoring with the urea sensor: 10.6 +/- 3.0 versus 10.8 +/- 2.7 mmol/l (mean +/- SD) for Ceq and 1.21 +/- 0.24 versus 1.18 +/- 0.20 for Kt/Vdp, compared to single-pool values of Kt/V = 1.34 +/- 0.23. CONCLUSION: This technique may be readily programmed into on-line urea monitors to provide current and extrapolated values of Ceq and Kt/Vdp from about the first hour of dialysis.      

Expression of cadherins and CD44 isoforms in ovarian endometrial cysts

We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of cadherins and CD44 variants in 20 endometriomas, 20 cystadenomas, 20 borderline ovarian tumours as well as 20 ovarian carcinomas, and the serological and cystic fluid concentrations of soluble E-cadherin and soluble CD44 standard (sCD44sdt) in 20 endometriomas, 20 cystadenomas, six borderline and 11 carcinomas of the ovary. In endometriomas, immunostaining of E- and N-cadherin was negative (20 and 30% respectively). CD44 H, v3 and v6 immunostaining were detected in 63, 10 and 40% respectively. A difference in immunostaining for E-cadherin was found between endometriomas and cystadenomas (P < 0.001) and for N- cadherin between endometriomas and carcinomas (P < 0.001). A difference in CD44H immunostaining was observed between endometriomas and cystadenomas (P < 0.035) but not with borderline ovarian tumours and carcinomas. No difference in serum concentrations of soluble E- cadherins and CD44 standard was found between the four groups of tumours. Cystic fluid concentrations of E-cadherin were lower in endometriomas than in borderline tumours and ovarian carcinomas (P < 0.001). High concentrations of soluble CD44 standard cystic fluid were found in endometriomas than in other ovarian cysts. Endometriomas and borderline tumours share alterations of cadherins and CD44 isoforms which may help in the understanding of the aggressive and invasive potentials of endometriotic cells.      

Eccentric and concentric torque-velocity characteristics of the quadriceps femoris in man

Summary The primary purpose of this investigation was to study the eccentric and concentric torque-velocity characteristics of the quadriceps femoris in man using a recently developed combined isometric, concentric and eccentric controlled velocity dynamometer (the SPARK System). A secondary purpose was to compare the method error associated with maximal voluntary concentric and eccentric torque output over a range of testing velocities. 21 males (21–32 years) performed on two separate days maximal voluntary isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions of the quadriceps femoris at 4 isokinetic lever arm velocities of 0° · s^–1 (isometric), 30° · s^–1 120° · s^–1 and 270° · s^–1. Eccentric peak torque and angle-specific torques (measured every 10° from 30° to 70°) did not significantly change from 0° · s^–1 to 270° · s^–1 (p>0.05) (with the exception of angle-specific 40° torque, which significantly increased;p<0.05). The mean method error was significantly higher for the eccentric tests (10.6%±1.6%) than for the concentric tests (8.1%±1.7%) (p<0.05). The mean method error decreased slightly with increasing concentric velocity (p>0.05), and increased slightly with increasing eccentric velocity (p>0.05). A tension restricting neural mechanism, if active during maximal eccentric contractions, could possibly account for the large difference seen between the present eccentric torque-velocity results and the classic results obtained from isolated animal muscle.     

The Effect of End Group Modification on the Transparency of Vinyl Addition Norbornene Polymers at 193 nm

Summary: Homopolymers of a bis‐trifluorocarbinol substituted norbornene ( 1 ) (α,α‐bis(trifluoromethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐ene‐2‐ethanol or HFANB) and copolymers of 1 with t‐butyl ester of 5‐carboxylic acid ( 2 , t‐BuEsNB) were produced using palladium catalysts and olefinic chain transfer agents such as 1‐hexene and ethylene to control molecular weight. However, these low‐molecular‐weight polymers exhibited relatively low optical transparencies at 193 nm. In fact, the opacity (measured as optical densities in absorbance units per micron) of thin films of these homo‐ and co‐polymers was inversely proportional to their molecular weight. This relationship is consistent with an end group contribution to the film opacity. Spectroscopic analysis of these polymers by ¹H NMR and MALDI‐TOF MS confirmed that 1‐hexene and ethylene chain transfer agents generated olefin‐terminated vinyl addition polymers. The olefinic end group contribution to optical density can be eliminated by appropriate chemical modification. Both epoxidation and hydrogenation of the polymer olefinic end groups generated very low optical density materials, independent of molecular weight, that are suitable as 193‐nm photoresist binder resins.

End group modification of vinyl and hexenyl‐terminated homopolymers of 1 by epoxidation or hydrogenation.     

Neopterin in AIDS,other immunodeficiencies,and bacterial and viral infections

Summary An increase in total urinary neopterin was observed in 12 of 13 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), seven of 13 patients with lymphadenopathy, one of six healthy homosexual males, seven of ten adult patients with staphylococcal pneumonia, 11 of 12 children with viral infections, four of seven children with bacterial infections, and 12 of 13 children with various immune defects. Extremely high values of total urinary neopterin and monapterin were observed in severely ill patients with AIDS and those with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Neopterin excretion was normal in two AIDS patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, but without opportunistic infections at that time. On reexamination of one of these patients later on, elevated neopterin values were noted. Parallel increases in neopterin and monapterin were found, whereas biopterin was usually normal. The increase in total neopterin was mainly due to 7,8-dihydroneopterin and was accompanied by an increase in 3-hydroxysepiapterin. Increased neopterin in urine is assumed to reflect the increase in GTP pool and GTP cyclohydrolase I activity as observed in stimulated monocytes. Thus, neopterin, as a measure of the activation of the nonspecific cellular immune system, may be used diagnostically to detect allograft rejection after transplantations and to follow-up HTLV-III positive patients.

---

Neopterin bei AIDS, anderen Immundefekten, Bakteriellen und viralen Infektionen

Abbreviations AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - ARC AIDS related complex - BH₄ tetrahydrobiopterin - GTP guanosine triphosphate Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, project 3.266-0.82 and 3.601-0.84     

Study of the arterial vascularisation of the medial tibial condyle in the fetus

Summary Varus deformity of the knee is common in young children who have suffered from fulminating purpura. This study was directed at the anatomic features of the vascularisation of the upper end of the tibia that might account for such deformation. It was based on the dissection of 28 anatomic specimens prepared by injection of Indian ink into the vascular trunk. 16 specimens were diaphanised for better analysis of the intracartilaginous distribution of the vessels. The study showed that the vascularisation of the medial condyle of the tibia is poor and of terminal nature, which may explain the occurrence of ischemic growth disorders following fulminating purpura.

---

Etude de la vascularisation artérielle du condyle médial du tibia chez le foetus

Résumé Les déformations en varus du genou chez les jeunes enfants ayant présenté un purpura fulminans sont fréquentes. Ce travail a pour objet de rechercher les caractéristiques anatomiques de la vascularisation de l'extrémité supérieure du tibia qui peuvent expliquer ces déformations. L'étude porte sur la dissection de 28 pièces anatomiques préparées par injection de l'axe vasculaire à l'encre de Chine. Pour mieux analyser la répartition intra-cartilagineuse des vaisseaux, 16 pièces ont été diaphanisées. Cette étude montre que la vascularisation du condyle médial du tibia est pauvre, de type terminal, ce qui peut expliquer la survenue de troubles de croissance ischémiques dans les suites d'un purpura fulminans.