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Selected AbstractsDPP-IV inhibition enhances the antilipolytic action of NPY in human adipose tissueDIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 4 2009K. Kos Context:, Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inactivates the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide. It can also affect the orexigenic hormone neuropeptide Y (NPY1,36) which is truncated by DPP-IV to NPY3,36, as a consequence NPY's affinity changes from receptor Y1, which mediates the antilipolytic function of NPY, to other NPY receptors. Little is known whether DPP-IV inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients could influence these pathways. Aims:, To investigate the in vitro effects of NPY with DPP-IV inhibition in isolated abdominal subcutaneous (AbdSc) adipocytes on fat metabolism, and assessment of NPY receptor and DPP-IV expression in adipose tissue (AT). Methods:,Ex vivo human AT was taken from women undergoing elective surgery (body mass index: 27.5 (mean ± s.d.) ± 5 kg/m2, age: 43.7 ± 10 years, n = 36). Isolated AbdSc adipocytes were treated with human recombinant (rh)NPY (1,100 nM) with and without DPP-IV inhibitor (1 M); glycerol release and tissue distribution of DPP-IV, Y1 and Y5 messenger RNA (mRNA) were measured and compared between lean and obese subjects. Results and conclusion:, rhNPY reduced glycerol release, an effect that was further enhanced by co-incubation with a DPP-IV inhibitor [control: 224 (mean ± s.e.) ± 37 ,mol/l; NPY, 100 nM: 161 ± 27 ,mol/l**; NPY 100 nM/DPP-IV inhibitor, 1 M: 127 ± 14 ,mol/l**; **p < 0.01, n = 14]. DPP-IV was expressed in AbdSc AT and omental AT with relative DPP-IV mRNA expression lower in AbdSc AT taken from obese [77 ± 6 signal units (SU)] vs. lean subjects (186 ± 29 SU*, n = 10). Y1 was predominantly expressed in fat and present in all fat depots but higher in obese subjects, particularly the AbdSc AT-depot (obese: 1944 ± 111 SU vs. lean: 711 ± 112 SU**, n = 10). NPY appears to be regulated by AT-derived DPP-IV. DPP-IV inhibitors augment the antilipolytic effect of NPY in AT. Further studies are required to show whether this explains the lack of weight loss in T2DM patients treated with DPP-IV inhibitors. [source] Weight changes following the initiation of new anti-hyperglycaemic therapiesDIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 1 2007G. A. Nichols Objective:, The objective of this study was to quantify 1-year weight gain associated with the initiation of sulphonylurea (SU), metformin, insulin and thiazolidinedione (TZD) therapy in a representative real world population of type 2 diabetic patients. Research Design and Methods:, The study population was 9546 members of Kaiser Permanente North-west (KPNW) who initiated an anti-hyperglycaemic drug between 1996 and 2002 and continued use of that drug for at least 12 months without adding other therapies. Change in weight was calculated as the annualized difference between baseline and follow-up weight and was adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics. We then compared the weight changes observed in patients newly initiating SU, metformin, insulin and TZD therapies. Results:, After adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics that might affect weight change, metformin initiators lost an average of 2.4 kg while all other groups gained weight. SU initiators gained the least (1.8 kg), followed by insulin initiators (3.3 kg) and TZD subjects (5.0 kg). All comparisons were highly statistically significant. Conclusions:, In an observational study of 1-year weight changes following the initiation of SUs, metformin, insulin or TZDs, we found similar but somewhat smaller weight changes than those previously reported in clinical trials. Our observed weight changes could not be explained by the many other factors we tested and seemed to apply across the full spectrum of diabetes patients. Our report provides valuable information that will allow the patient and clinician to anticipate, and perhaps address, expected weight changes that accompany the initiation of anti-hyperglycaemic drugs. [source] Liraglutide, a once-daily human GLP-1 analogue, added to a sulphonylurea over 26 weeks produces greater improvements in glycaemic and weight control compared with adding rosiglitazone or placebo in subjects with Type 2 diabetes (LEAD-1 SU)DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 3 2009M. Marre Abstract Aim To compare the effects of combining liraglutide (0.6, 1.2 or 1.8 mg/day) or rosiglitazone 4 mg/day (all n , 228) or placebo (n = 114) with glimepiride (2,4 mg/day) on glycaemic control, body weight and safety in Type 2 diabetes. Methods In total, 1041 adults (mean ± sd), age 56 ± 10 years, weight 82 ± 17 kg and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 8.4 ± 1.0% at 116 sites in 21 countries were stratified based on previous oral glucose-lowering mono : combination therapies (30 : 70%) to participate in a five-arm, 26-week, double-dummy, randomized study. Results Liraglutide (1.2 or 1.8 mg) produced greater reductions in HbA1c from baseline, (,1.1%, baseline 8.5%) compared with placebo (+0.2%, P < 0.0001, baseline 8.4%) or rosiglitazone (,0.4%, P < 0.0001, baseline 8.4%) when added to glimepiride. Liraglutide 0.6 mg was less effective (,0.6%, baseline 8.4%). Fasting plasma glucose decreased by week 2, with a 1.6 mmol/l decrease from baseline at week 26 with liraglutide 1.2 mg (baseline 9.8 mmol/l) or 1.8 mg (baseline 9.7 mmol/l) compared with a 0.9 mmol/l increase (placebo, P < 0.0001, baseline 9.5 mmol/l) or 1.0 mmol/l decrease (rosiglitazone, P < 0.006, baseline 9.9 mmol/l). Decreases in postprandial plasma glucose from baseline were greater with liraglutide 1.2 or 1.8 mg [,2.5 to ,2.7 mmol/l (baseline 12.9 mmol/l for both)] compared with placebo (,0.4 mmol/l, P < 0.0001, baseline 12.7 mmol/l) or rosiglitazone (,1.8 mmol/l, P < 0.05, baseline 13.0 mmol/l). Changes in body weight with liraglutide 1.8 mg (,0.2 kg, baseline 83.0 kg), 1.2 mg (+0.3 kg, baseline 80.0 kg) or placebo (,0.1 kg, baseline 81.9 kg) were less than with rosiglitazone (+2.1 kg, P < 0.0001, baseline 80.6 kg). Main adverse events for all treatments were minor hypoglycaemia (< 10%), nausea (< 11%), vomiting (< 5%) and diarrhoea (< 8%). Conclusions Liraglutide added to glimepiride was well tolerated and provided improved glycaemic control and favourable weight profile. [source] Past distribution and ecology of the cork oak (Quercus suber) in the Iberian Peninsula: a pollen-analytical approachDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 1 2000J. S. Carrión Abstract., This study presents pollen-analytical data from continental and offshore Iberian Peninsula sites that include pollen curves of Quercus suber, to provide information on the past distribution and ecology of the cork oak (Q. suber). Results centre on a new pollen record of Navarrés (Valencia, eastern Spain), which shows that the cork oak survived regionally during the Upper Pleistocene and was important during a mid-Holocene replacement of a local pine forest by Quercus -dominated communities. This phenomenon appears linked to the recurrence of fire and reinforces the value of the cork oak for reforestation programmes in fire-prone areas. In addition to Navarrés, other Late Quaternary pollen sequences (Sobrestany, Casablanca-Almenara, Padul, SU 8103, SU8113, 8057B) suggest last glacial survival of the cork oak in southern and coastal areas of the Peninsula and North Africa. Important developments also occur from the Late Glacial to the middle Holocene, not only in the west but also in the eastern Peninsula. It is suggested that, in the absence of human influence, Q. suber would develop in non-monospecific forests, sharing the arboreal stratum both with other sclerophyllous and deciduous Quercus and Pinus species. [source] Quantum Chemical Analysis of the Enantiomerisation Mechanism of Complexes of the Type [MII(XU)4]F+ (M = Pt, Pd, Ni; X = S, Se, Te;U = urea)EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 20 2006Ralph Puchta Abstract The enantiomerisation pathway for {[Pt(thiourea)4]}F+ [a model for the C4 -symmetric [Pt(SU)4]SiF6 (SU = thiourea) complex] and derivatives is explored by density functional theory (B3LYP/LANL2DZp) und the activation barrier for the one-step process from C4 to C4, via a C4 transition state is computed. The substitution of Pt2+ by Pd2+ and Ni2+ and the exchange of selenourea and tellurourea increase the barrier. ({[Pt(thiourea)4]}F+: 4.2 kcal/mol, {[Pd(thiourea)4]}F+: 4.5 kcal/mol, {[Ni(thiourea)4]}F+: 7.6 kcal/mol, {[Pt(selenourea)4]}F+: 5.3 kcal/mol, {[Pt(tellurourea)4]}F+: 8.8 kcal/mol). (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006) [source] Superalgebras of Dirac operators on manifolds with special Killing-Yano tensorsFORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 12 2006I.I. Cot Abstract We present the properties of new Dirac-type operators generated by real or complex-valued special Killing-Yano tensors that are covariantly constant and represent roots of the metric tensor. In the real case these are just the so called complex or hyper-complex structures of the Kählerian manifolds. Such a Killing-Yano tensor produces simultaneously a Dirac-type operator and the generator of a one-parameter Lie group connecting this operator with the standard Dirac one. In this way the Dirac operators are related among themselves through continuous transformations associated with specific discrete ones. We show that the group of these continuous transformations can be only U(1) or SU(2). It is pointed out that the Dirac and Dirac-type operators can form ,, = 4 superalgebras whose automorphisms combine isometries with the SU(2) transformation generated by the Killing-Yano tensors. As an example we study the automorphisms of the superalgebras of Dirac operators on Minkowski spacetime. [source] Compactifications of the heterotic string with unitary bundlesFORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 11 2006T. Weigand Abstract We describe a large new class of four-dimensional supersymmetric string vacua defined as compactifications of the E8 × E8 and the SO(32) heterotic string on smooth Calabi-Yau threefolds with unitary gauge bundles and heterotic five-branes. The conventional gauge symmetry breaking via Wilson lines is replaced by the embedding of non-flat line bundles into the ten-dimensional gauge group, thus opening up the way for phenomenologically interesting string compactifications on simply connected manifolds. After a detailed analysis of the four-dimensional effective theory we exemplify the general framework by means of a couple of explicit examples involving the spectral cover construction of stable holomorphic bundles. As for the SO(32) heterotic string, the resulting vacua can be viewed, in the S-dual Type I picture, as a generalisation of magnetized D9/D5-brane models. In the case of the E8 × E8 string, we find a natural way to construct realistic MSSM-like models, either directly or via a flipped SU(5) GUT scenario. [source] Heterotic strings on homogeneous spaces,FORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 9 2005D. Israël Abstract We construct heterotic string backgrounds corresponding to families of homogeneous spaces as exact conformal field theories. They contain left cosets of compact groups by their maximal tori supported by NS-NS 2-forms and gauge field fluxes. We give the general formalism and modular-invariant partition functions, then we consider some examples such as SU (2)/U (1) ~ S2 (already described in a previous paper) and the SU (3)/U(1)2 flag space. As an application we construct new supersymmetric string vacua with magnetic fluxes and a linear dilaton. [source] The Skyrme model with a U*(1) gauged Wess-Zumino term in a noncommutative spacetimeFORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 9 2005B. Mieck Abstract The Skyrme model is generalized for a noncommutative spacetime with the Weyl-operators of SU(2) matrices and the corresponding star-product. The unitary condition and the topological current can be extended to star-exponential matrices. The Wess-Zumino term which breaks unphysical symmetries of the Skyrme action is gauged with the U*(1) group to allow for electromagnetic processes in a noncommutative spacetime. Apart from corrections to the anomalous decay ,,,0,+,, in commuting spacetime, the additional anomalous process ,,,0,0,0 is found in the U*(1) gauged Wess-Zumino action for a noncommutative spacetime. [source] Compactifications on half-flat manifolds,FORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 3 2005S. Gurrieri Abstract We review various aspects of compactifications of heterotic and type II supergravities on six dimensional manifolds. In the general framework of non-Kähler compactifications, emphasis is made on a particular class of manifolds with SU(3)-structure named half-flat. We recall how these manifolds appeared in the context of mirror symmetry of type II theories, providing mirror configurations to Calabi-Yau compactifications with NS-NS electric fluxes. In the heterotic sector, they generate a potential for all moduli, and are expected to break the E8 × E8 gauge group down to SO(10) × E8 in 4 dimensions. [source] Electric/magnetic deformations of S3 and AdS3, and geometric cosets,FORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 1 2005D. Israël We analyze asymmetric marginal deformations of SU(2)k and SL(2,,)k WZW models. These appear in heterotic string backgrounds with non-vanishing Neveu,Schwarz three-forms plus electric or magnetic fields, depending on whether the deformation is elliptic, hyperbolic or parabolic. Asymmetric deformations create new families of exact string vacua. The geometries which are generated in this way, deformed S3 or AdS3, include in particular geometric cosets such as S2, AdS2 or H2. Hence, the latter are consistent, exact conformal sigma models, with electric or magnetic backgrounds. We discuss various geometric and symmetry properties of the deformations at hand as well as their spectra and partition functions, with special attention to the supersymmetric AdS2 × S2 background. We also comment on potential holographic applications. [source] Probabilistic programmable quantum processorsFORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 11-12 2004V. Bu We analyze how to improve performance of probabilistic programmable quantum processors. We show how the probability of success of the probabilistic processor can be enhanced by using the processor in loops. In addition, we show that an arbitrary SU(2) transformations of qubits can be encoded in program state of a universal programmable probabilistic quantum processor. The probability of success of this processor can be enhanced by a systematic correction of errors via conditional loops. Finally, we show that all our results can be generalized also for qudits. [source] Generalizations of the AdS/CFT correspondence,FORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 8 2004I. Kirsch Abstract We consider generalizations of the AdS/CFT correspondence in which probe branes are embedded in gravity backgrounds dual to either conformal or confining gauge theories. These correspond to defect conformal field theories (dCFT) or QCD-like theories with fundamental matter, respectively. Moreover, starting from the dCFT we discuss the deconstruction of intersecting M5-branes and M-theory. We obtain the following results: i) Holography of defect conformal field theories. We consider holography for a general D3-Dp brane intersection in type IIB string theory (p , {3,5,7}). The corresponding near-horizon geometry is given by a probe AdS-brane in AdS5 × S5. The dual defect conformal field theory describes ,, = 4 super Yang-Mills degrees of freedom coupled to fundamental matter on a lower-dimensional space-time defect. We derive the spectrum of fluctuations about the brane embedding and determine the behaviour of correlation functions involving defect operators. We also study the dual conformal field theory in the case of intersecting D3-branes. To this end, we develop a convenient superspace approach in which both two- and four-dimensional fields are described in a two-dimensional (2,2) superspace. We show that quantum corrections vanish to all orders in perturbation theory, such that the theory remains a (defect) conformal field theory when quantized. ii) Flavour in generalized AdS/CFT dualities. We present a holographic non-perturbative description of QCD-like theories with a large number of colours by embedding D7-brane probes into two non-supersymmetric gravity backgrounds. Both backgrounds exhibit confinement of fundamental matter and a discrete glueball and meson spectrum. We numerically compute the quark condensate and meson spectrum associated with these backgrounds. In the first background, we find some numerical evidence for a first order phase transition at a critical quark mass where the D7 embedding undergoes a geometric transition. In the second, we find a chiral symmetry breaking condensate as well as the associated Goldstone boson. iii) Deconstruction of extra dimensions. We apply the deconstruction method to the dCFT of intersecting D3-branes to obtain a field theory description for intersecting M5-branes. The resulting theory corresponds to two six-dimensional (2,0) superconformal field theories which we show to have tensionless strings on their four-dimensional intersection. Moreover, we argue that the SU(2)L R-symmetry of the dCFT matches the manifest SU(2) R-symmetry of the M5-M5 intersection. We finally explore the fascinating idea of deconstructing M-theory itself. We give arguments for an equivalence of M-theory on a certain background with the Higgs branch of a four-dimensional non-supersymmetric (quiver) gauge theory: in addition to a string theoretical motivation, we find wrapped M2-branes in the mass spectrum of the quiver theory at low energies. [source] Aspects of stability and phenomenology in type IIA orientifolds with intersecting D6-branesFORTSCHRITTE DER PHYSIK/PROGRESS OF PHYSICS, Issue 1 2004T. OttArticle first published online: 14 JAN 200 Abstract Intersecting branes have been the subject of an elaborate string model building for several years. After a general introduction into string theory, this work introduces in detail the toroidal and -orientifolds. The picture involving D9-branes with B-fluxes is shortly reviewed, but the main discussion employs the T-dual picture of intersecting D6-branes. The derivation of the R-R and NS-NS tadpole cancellation conditions in the conformal field theory is shown in great detail. Various aspects of the open and closed chiral and non-chiral massless spectrum are discussed, involving spacetime anomalies and the generalized Green-Schwarz mechanism. An introduction into possible gauge breaking mechanisms is given, too. Afterwards, both ,, = 1 supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric approaches to low energy model building are treated. Firstly, the problem of complex structure instabilities in toroidal ,R -orientifolds is approached by a -orbifolded model. In particular, a stable non-supersymmetric standard-like model with three fermion generations is discussed. This model features the standard model gauge groups at the same time as having a massless hypercharge, but possessing an additional global B - L symmetry. The electroweak Higgs mechanism and the Yukawa couplings are not realized in the usual way. It is shown that this model descends naturally from a flipped SU(5) GUT model, where the string scale has to be at least of the order of the GUT scale. Secondly, supersymmetric models on the -orbifold are discussed, involving exceptional 3-cycles and the explicit construction of fractional D-branes. A three generation Pati-Salam model is constructed as a particular example, where several brane recombination mechanisms are used, yielding non-flat and non-factorizable branes. This model even can be broken down to a MSSM-like model with a massless hypercharge. Finally, the possibility that unstable closed and open string moduli could have played the role of the inflaton in the evolution of the universe is being explored. In the closed string sector, the important slow-rolling requirement can only be fulfilled for very specific cases, where some moduli are frozen and a special choice of coordinates is taken. In the open string sector, inflation does not seem to be possible at all. [source] Whole inactivated virus influenza vaccine is superior to subunit vaccine in inducing immune responses and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by DCsINFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES, Issue 2 2008Felix Geeraedts Background, For protection against (re-)infection by influenza virus not only the magnitude of the immune response but also its quality in terms of antibody subclass and T helper profile is important. Information about the type of immune response elicited by vaccination is therefore urgently needed. Objectives, The aim of the study was to evaluate in detail the immune response elicited by three current influenza vaccine formulations and to shed light on vaccine characteristics which determine this response. Methods, Mice were immunized with whole inactivated virus (WIV), virosomes (VS) or subunit vaccine (SU). Following subsequent infection with live virus, serum antibody titers and Th cell responses were measured. The effects of the vaccines on cytokine production by conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells were investigated in vitro. Results and conclusions, In Balb/c mice (Th2 prone) as well as in C57Bl/6 mice (Th1 prone), WIV induced consistently higher hemagglutination-inhibition titers and virus-neutralizing antibody titers than VS or SU. In contrast to VS and SU, WIV stimulated the production of the antibody subclasses IgG2a (Balb/c) and IgG2c (C57BL/6), considered to be particularly important for viral clearance, and activation of IFN-,-producing T cells. Similar to live virus, WIV stimulated the production of proinflammatory cytokines by conventional dendritic cells and IFN-, by plasmacytoid cells, while VS and SU had little effect on cytokine synthesis by either cell type. We conclude that vaccination with WIV in contrast to VS or SU results in the desired Th1 response presumably by induction of type I interferon and other proinflammatory cytokines. [source] Establishment of a stroke unit in a district hospital: review of experienceINTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2007A. Chiu Abstract Background: The experience and outcomes of co-locating acute stroke and stroke rehabilitation care in a district hospital were reviewed. Method: Information for patients admitted to Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals before and after setting up an acute stroke unit (SU) (12 months data for each period), including mortality and length of stay (LOS) at the hospital were obtained from various sources, including the diagnosis-related group and subacute and non-acute casemix databases. Results: There was a significant reduction of mortality (18 vs 10%; P = 0.01) and reduced total LOS (46 vs 39 days; P = 0.01) with similar functional outcomes in the post-SU period. Fifty per cent of patients were unable to access the acute SU. Patients admitted into the SU had lower mortality (5 vs 14%; P = 0.01) and were also discharged from hospital earlier (35 vs 54 days; P = 0.01) than patients admitted into general wards during the post-SU period. Thirty-four per cent of patients received rehabilitation within the rehabilitation facility in the post-SU period compared with 19% in the pre-SU period. Conclusion: The Blacktown experience showed the feasibility of establishing a co-located SU within rehabilitation facility with good outcomes as illustrated by the significant reduction in the stroke mortality, a reduction in the total LOS and an increase in the number of patients receiving rehabilitation post-stroke. [source] What are the high risk periods for incident substance use and transitions to abuse and dependence?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue S1 2008Implications for early intervention, prevention Abstract Background: For a better understanding of the evolution of addictive disorders and the timely initiation of early intervention and prevention, we have to learn when and how quickly the critical transitions from first substance use (SU) to regular use and from first SU and regular SU to abuse and dependence occur. Little data are currently available on the transitions to substance use disorders (SUDs) across the spectrum of legal and illegal drugs taking into account gender differences. It is the aim of this paper to describe the high density incidence and transition periods of SU and SUD for alcohol, nicotine, cannabis and other illicit drugs for young males and females. Methods: A sample of (N = 3021) community subjects aged 14,24 at baseline were followed-up prospectively over 10-years. SU and SUD were assessed using the DSM-IV/M-CIDI. Results: Ages 10,16 are the high risk period for first alcohol and nicotine use (up to 38% of subjects start before age 14). Onset of illegal SU occurs later. Substantial proportions of transitions to regular SU and SUD occur in the first three years after SU onset. Only few gender differences were found for time patterns of SU/SUD incidence and transition. Conclusion: Except for alcohol the time windows for targeted intervention to prevent progression to malignant patterns in adolescence are critically small, leaving little time for targeted intervention to prevent transition. The fast transitions to abuse and dependence in adolescence may be indicative for the increased vulnerability to substance effects in this time period. Basic research on the determinants of transitions should thus target this period in adolescence. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Multireference coupled-cluster methods for ground and low-lying excited states.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 15 2010A benchmark illustration on CH + potentials Abstract Multireference (MR), general-model-space (GMS), state-universal (SU) coupled-cluster (CC) method that considers singly (S) and doubly (D) excited cluster amplitudes relative to the reference configurations spanning the model space (GMS SU CCSD), as well as its externally corrected (ec) version (N,M)-CCSD that uses N -reference MR CISD as an external source of higher-than-pair cluster amplitudes in a M -reference GMS CCSD, are used to investigate low-lying states of the CH+ ion. Relying on a simple ab initio model that enables a comparison with the exact full configuration interaction energies, the performance of the GMS-based methods is assessed in the whole relevant range of internuclear separations. It is shown that the ec (N,M)-CCSD version provides best results for both the singlet and the triplet states considered. For triplets, the use of high-spin (MS = 1) references is to be preferred. The GMS-based MR SU CC results for the ten low-lying states of CH+ clearly indicate the usefulness and reliability of these approaches. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010 [source] Effect of different liquid cultures of live yeast strains on performance, ruminal fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in lambsJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 6 2008M. K. Tripathi Summary Three yeast strains, Kluyveromyces marximanus NRRL-3234 (KM), Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCDC-42 (SC) and Saccharomyces uvarum ATCC-9080 (SU), and a mixed culture (1:1:1 ratio) were evaluated for their value as probiotics in lamb feeding in two experiment. In experiment I and II, 20 and 30 pre-weaner lambs were fed for 63 and 60 days in two and three equal groups respectively. All lambs were offered ad libitum a creep mixture and Zizyphus nummularia leaves, and yeasts were dosed orally. In experiment I, one group received no yeast, the other of the mixed culture (1.5,2 × 1010 live cells/ml). In experiment II, yeast cultivation was modified yielding 1.5,2 × 1013 live cells/ml. Lambs of the three experimental groups received 1 ml/kg live weight of one of the individual yeasts. Feed intake did not differ among groups of both experiments with the exception of SC-supplemented lambs in experiment II which showed a trend to higher intakes per kg metabolic body weight and in percentage of body weight when compared with KM- and SU-supplemented lambs. Supplementation of the mixed yeast culture had no effect on intakes of digestible crude protein and metabolisable energy, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and rumen fermentation characteristics (pH, ammonia, volatile fatty acid concentration, protozoa count) and urinary allantoin as an indicator of microbial protein synthesis. The same was true for comparisons in experiment II except ciliate protozoa counts, which showed a trend to be the highest with SU and the lowest with SC. The results of present study show that the response of lambs to supplemented live yeast cultures is inconsistent, as it lacked to have an effect in the present study, and that differences among strains were small, even when supplemented at a much higher live cell count. [source] Influence of controlled immediate loading and implant design on peri-implant bone formationJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Katleen Vandamme Abstract Aim: Tissue formation at the implant interface is known to be sensitive to mechanical stimuli. The aim of the study was to compare the bone formation around immediately loaded versus unloaded implants in two different implant macro-designs. Material and Methods: A repeated sampling bone chamber with a central implant was installed in the tibia of 10 rabbits. Highly controlled loading experiments were designed for a cylindrical (CL) and screw-shaped (SL) implant, while the unloaded screw-shaped (SU) implant served as a control. An F -statistic model with ,=5% determined statistical significance. Results: A significantly higher bone area fraction was observed for SL compared with SU (p<0.0001). The mineralized bone fraction was the highest for SL and significantly different from SU (p<0.0001). The chance that osteoid- and bone-to-implant contact occurred was the highest for SL and significantly different from SU (p<0.0001), but not from CL. When bone-to-implant contact was observed, a loading (SL versus SU: p=0.0049) as well as an implant geometry effect (SL versus CL: p=0.01) was found, in favour of the SL condition. Conclusions: Well-controlled immediate implant loading accelerates tissue mineralization at the interface. Adequate bone stimulation via mechanical coupling may account for the larger bone response around the screw-type implant compared with the cylindrical implant. [source] Initial outcome and long-term effect of surgical and non-surgical treatment of advanced periodontal diseaseJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 10 2001G. Serino Abstract Aim: A clinical trial was performed to determine (i) the initial outcome of non-surgical and surgical access treatment in subjects with advanced periodontal disease and (ii) the incidence of recurrent disease during 12 years of maintenance following active therapy. Material and Methods: Each of the 64 subjects included in the trial showed signs of (i) generalized gingival inflammation, (ii) had a minimum of 12 non-molar teeth with deep pockets (6 mm) and with 6 mm alveolar bone loss. They were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups; one surgical (SU) and one non-surgical (SRP). Following a baseline examination, all patients were given a detailed case presentation which included oral hygiene instruction. The subjects in SU received surgical access therapy, while in SRP non-surgical treatment was provided. After this basic therapy, all subjects were enrolled in a maintenance care program and were provided with meticulous supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) 3,4 times per year. Sites that at a recall appointment bled on gentle probing and had a PPD value of 5 mm were exposed to renewed subgingival instrumentation. Comprehensive re-examinations were performed after 1, 3, 5 and 13 years of SPT. If a subject between annual examinations exhibited marked disease progression (i.e., additional PAL loss of 2 mm at 4 teeth), he/she was exited from the study and given additional treatment. Results: It was observed that (i) surgical therapy (SU) was more effective than non-surgical scaling and root planing (SRP) in reducing the overall mean probing pocket depth and in eliminating deep pockets, (ii) more SRP-treated subjects exhibited signs of advanced disease progression in the 1,3 year period following active therapy than SU-treated subjects. Conclusion: In subjects with advanced periodontal disease, surgical therapy provides better short and long-term periodontal pocket reduction and may lead to fewer subjects requiring additional adjunctive therapy. Zusammenfassung Zielsetzung: Eine klinische Studie wurde durchgeführt, um 1.) die Kurzzeitergebnisse nicht-chirurgischer und chirurgischer Therapie von Patienten mit fortgeschrittener marginaler Parodontitis und 2.) das Auftreten von Parodontitisrezidiven im Verlauf von 12 Jahren unterstützender Parodontitistherapie (UPT) zu untersuchen. Material und Methoden: Jeder der 64 Patienten, die in diese Studie aufgenommen wurden, wies 1.) Zeichen generalisierter gingivaler Entzündung auf und hatte 2.) mindestens 12 Zähne, die keine Molaren waren, mit tiefen Taschen (6 mm) sowie 6 mm Knochenabbau. Diese Patienten wurden zufällig auf 2 Therapiegruppen verteilt: 1.) chirurgische (MW: modifizierter Widman-Lappen) und 2.) nicht-chirurgische (SRP: subgingivales Scaling und Wurzelglättung) Therapie. Nach der Anfangsuntersuchung wurden allen Patienten ihre Erkrankung ausführlich erläutert und eine Mundhygieneinstruktion gegeben. Sowohl MW als SRP wurden unter Lokalanästhesie und in 4,6 Sitzungen durchgeführt. Nach der aktiven Therapiephase wurden die Patienten in ein UPT-Programm eingegliedert, das 3,4 Sitzungen pro Jahr umfasste. Stellen, die während der UPT-Sitzungen auf Sondierung bluteten (BOP) und Sondierungstiefen (ST) 5 mm aufwiesen, wurden einer erneuten subgingivalen Instrumentierung unterzogen. Gründliche Nachuntersuchungen wurden in den Jahren 1, 3, 5 und 13 der UPT durchgeführt. Wenn ein Patient zwischen den jährlichen Routineuntersuchungen deutliche Parodontitisprogression zeigte (zusätzlicher Attachmentverlust 2 mm an 4 Zähnen) wurde er/sie aus der Studie herausgenommen und einer weiterführenden Behandlung zugeführt. Ergebnisse: Es wurde beobachtet, dass 1.) die chirurgische Therapie (MW) hinsichtlich Reduktion der mittleren ST (ST nach 1 Jahr: MW: 2.6 mm; SRP: 4.2 mm; p<0.01) und Eliminierung der tiefen Taschen effektiver war als nicht-chirurgische Therapie (SRP) und dass 2.) in den ersten 1,3 Jahren nach aktiver Therapie bei mehr Patienten aus der SRP-Gruppe (8/25%) ein Fortschreiten der Parodontitis auftrat also bei Patienten der MW-Gruppe (4/12%). Schlussfolgerungen: Bei Patienten mit fortgeschrittener marginaler Parodontitis führte chirurgische Therapie zu günstigeren Kurz- und Langzeitergebnissen hinsichtlich ST-Reduktion und scheint deshalb bei weniger Patienten eine zusätzliche unterstützende Therapie erforderlich zu machen als SRP. Résumé But: Un essai clinique a été réalisé pour déterminer (i) le résultat initial des traitements non chirurgicaux et chirurgicaux chez des sujets présentant des parodontites avancées et (ii) l'incidence de maladie récurrente pendant les 12 ans de maintenance qui ont suivi la thérapeutique active. Matériaux et méthodes: Chacun des 64 patients inclus dans cette étude présentait des signes de (i) inflammation gingivale généralisée, (ii) avaient au minimum 12 dents en dehors des molaires avec des poches profondes (6 mm) et avec une perte osseuse 6 mm. Ils furent assignés au hasard à deux groupes de traitement (chirurgical (SU) et non chirurgical (SRP)). Après un examen initial, tous les patients reçurent une mallette de présentation détaillée comportant des instructions d'hygiène bucco-dentaire. Les sujets SU subirent une chirurgie d'accès alors qu'un traitement non chirurgical était donné au groupe SRP. Suite à ce traitement de base, tous les sujets suivirent un programme de maintenance comportant de méticuleux soins parodontaux de soutien (SPT) 3,4 × par an. Les sites qui, lors d'une visite de contrôle saignaient légèrement au sondage et présentatient une valeur de PPD 5 mm étaient à nouveau instrumentés. De nouveaux examens complets êtaient réalisées après 1, 3, 5, 13 ans de SPT. Si un sujet présentait entre deux visites annuelles une progression évidente de la maladie, (par exemple, une perte d'attache supplémentaire 2 mm sur plus de 4 dents), il ou elle était exclu de l'étude et recevait un traitement complémentaire. Resultats: Il fut observé que (i) le traitement chirurgical (SU) était plus efficace que le traitement non-chirurgical (SRP) pour réduire les profondeurs de poche au sondage moyennes générales et pour l'élimination des poches profondes, (ii) et plus de sujets du groupe SRP présentaient des signes de progression de leur maladie avancée dans la période de 1,3 ans suivant le traitement actif. Conclusions: Chez les sujets présentant une maladie parodontale avancée, le traitement chirurgical apporte de meilleures réductions des poches parodontales à court et long terme et pourrait diminuer le nombre de sujets nécessitant une traitement supplémentaire. [source] Molecular characterization of the env gene of two CCR5/CXCR4-independent human immunodeficiency 2 primary isolates,JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 11 2009Quirina Santos-Costa Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV-2) infection is characterized by a slower disease progression and lower transmission rates. The molecular features that could be assigned as directly involved in this in vivo phenotype remain essentially unknown, and the importance of HIV-2 as a model to understand pathogenicity of HIV infection has been frequently underestimated. The early events of the HIV replication cycle involve the interaction between viral envelope glycoproteins and cellular receptors: the CD4 molecule and a chemokine receptor, usually CCR5 or CXCR4. Despite the importance of these two chemokine receptors in human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) entry into cells, we have previously shown that in some HIV-2 asymptomatic individuals, a viral population exists that is unable to use both CCR5 and CXCR4. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether possible regions in the env gene of these viruses might account for this phenotype. From the molecular characterization of these env genes we could not detect any correlation between V3 loop sequence and viral phenotype. In contrast, it reveals the existence of remarkable differences in the V1/V2 and C5 regions of the surface glycoprotein, including the loss of a putative glycosilation site. Moreover, in the transmembrane glycoprotein some unique sequence signatures could be detected in the central ectodomain and second heptad repeat (HR2). Some of the mutations affect well-conserved residues, and may affect the conformation and/or the dynamics of envelope glycoproteins complex, including the SU,TM association and the modulation of viral entry function. J. Med. Virol. 81:1869,1881, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Annual pattern of plasma melatonin and progesterone concentrations in hair and wool ewe lambs kept under natural photoperiod at lower latitudes in the southern hemisphereJOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006L. A. Coelho Abstract:, ,To study the annual pattern of plasma melatonin and progesterone concentrations in hair [Santa Inês (SI)] and wool [Romney Marsh (RM) and Suffolk (SU)] ewe lambs kept under natural photoperiods at 21°59,S, 12 ewe lambs (four/breed) were used. For melatonin, blood samples were collected monthly throughout the year at the onset (17:00, 19:00 and 21:00 hr) and end (04:00, 06:00 and 08:00 hr) of the night, and for progesterone the samples were collected in the morning, two to three times a week throughout the year. Plasma melatonin concentrations at different times of the day changed according to the season. In diurnal periods (17:00 and 8:00 hr) no seasonal differences were observed but they became evident in the nocturnal intervals (21:00 and 4:00 hr) and transitional night,day (6:00 hr) times. The patterns of melatonin secretion were higher in winter and autumn than in spring and summer. The patterns of plasma progesterone secretion were affected by interaction between breed and season. There was no seasonal variation in plasma progesterone concentrations for SI females. The progesterone pattern for RM and SU females varied with season. The plasma levels were higher in autumn and winter than in spring and summer. At 21°59,S hair and wool ewe lambs showed the same annual pattern of plasma melatonin concentration while the annual progesterone profiles were quite different. For SI females this pattern was constant along all seasons and for RM and SU females this pattern was higher during autumn and winter than spring and summer. [source] Prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and relation to glycemic control therapies at baseline in the BARI 2D cohortJOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 1 2009Rodica Pop-Busui Abstract We evaluated the associations between glycemic therapies and prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) at baseline among participants in the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) trial on medical and revascularization therapies for coronary artery disease (CAD) and on insulin-sensitizing vs. insulin-providing treatments for diabetes. A total of 2,368 patients with type 2 diabetes and CAD was evaluated. DPN was defined as clinical examination score >2 using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). DPN odds ratios across different groups of glycemic therapy were evaluated by multiple logistic regression adjusted for multiple covariates including age, sex, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and diabetes duration. Fifty-one percent of BARI 2D subjects with valid baseline characteristics and MNSI scores had DPN. After adjusting for all variables, use of insulin was significantly associated with DPN (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.15,2.13). Patients on sulfonylurea (SU) or combination of SU/metformin (Met)/thiazolidinediones (TZD) had marginally higher rates of DPN than the Met/TZD group. This cross-sectional study in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes and CAD showed association of insulin use with higher DPN prevalence, independent of disease duration, glycemic control, and other characteristics. The causality between a glycemic control strategy and DPN cannot be evaluated in this cross-sectional study, but continued assessment of DPN and randomized therapies in BARI 2D trial may provide further explanations on the development of DPN. [source] Uric acid in Parkinson's diseaseMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 12 2008Ilana Schlesinger MD Abstract Recent studies have provided evidence that uric acid may play a role in the development and progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Uric acid is a natural antioxidant that may reduce oxidative stress, a mechanism thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of PD. Higher levels of serum urate (SU) may have a neuroprotective effect. High SU levels reduced the risk of developing PD and correlated with slower PD progression. Among PD patients SU levels were lower as compared with controls. The manipulation of SU levels holds promise in the treatment of PD. It is possible that a high purine diet in patients with PD may slow progression of the disease. Milk and meat consumption as well as exercise modify the risk of developing PD possibly through their influence on SU levels. In this article, we review the association between PD and SU levels and its implication on the management of PD. © 2008 Movement Disorder Society [source] The molecular basis of urgency: regional difference of vanilloid receptor expression in the human urinary bladder,NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 3 2007Lu Liu Abstract Aim Treatments targeting vanilloid receptor TRPV1 are effective in some bladder disorders. Our aim was to determine the expression profiles of TRPV1 in regions of human bladder and test the hypothesis that there would be an upregulation of TRPV1 in mucosa of patients with bladder hypersensitivity but not idiopathic detrusor overactivity (IDO). Materials and Methods Women with sensory urgency (SU), interstitial cystitis (IC), and IDO were investigated by videourodynamics and cystoscopy. Control biopsies were used for comparison. Biopsies were dissected into mucosa and muscle, and evaluated for TRPV1 mRNA expression using quantitative competitive RT-PCR (QC-RT-PCR). Results TRPV1 mRNA from SU trigonal mucosa was significantly higher than control trigonal mucosa or SU bladder body mucosa. In contrast, in IDO patients, there was no difference between trigonal mucosa and body mucosa. In IC biopsies, RNA quality was substandard and unable to be used for analysis. The most striking finding was that TRPV1 mRNA expressed in SU trigonal mucosa was significantly inversely correlated with the bladder volume at first sensation of filling during cystometry. No such relationship was seen for IDO trigonal mucosa. No difference was seen in bladder body mucosa from any disease groups compared with age-matched control. Conclusions The symptoms of SU were associated with the increased expression of TRPV1 mRNA in the trigonal mucosa. No upregulation or regional differences of TRPV1 mRNA were seen in IDO patients. TRPV1 may play a role in SU and premature first bladder sensation on filling. Neurourol. Urodynam. 26:433,438, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Medical and developmental impact of transition from subcutaneous insulin to oral glyburide in a 15-yr-old boy with neonatal diabetes mellitus and intermediate DEND syndrome: extending the age of KCNJ11 mutation testing in neonatal DMPEDIATRIC DIABETES, Issue 3 2010Ali Mohamadi Mohamadi A, Clark LM, Lipkin PH, Mahone EM, Wodka EL, Plotnick LP. Medical and developmental impact of transition from subcutaneous insulin to oral glyburide in a 15-yr-old boy with neonatal diabetes mellitus and intermediate DEND syndrome: extending the age of KCNJ11 mutation testing in neonatal DM. Mutations in the KCNJ11 gene, which encodes the Kir6.2 subunit of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel, often result in neonatal diabetes. Patients with this mutation have been successfully transitioned from insulin to sulfonylurea (SU) therapy without compromise in their glycemic control. Among patients with neonatal diabetes due to KCNJ11 mutations, approximately 25% have neurological findings including developmental delay, motor dysfunction, and epilepsy, known as DEND syndrome. There have been rare cases of juvenile patients with intermediate DEND syndrome (iDEND) reporting variable improvement in neurological function following transition from insulin to SU treatment. We describe the response to glyburide in a 15-yr-old boy with severe global developmental delays resulting from the KCNJ11 mutation V59M. The patient was discovered to have diabetes mellitus at 11.5 months of age, making this the oldest age at diagnosis of a KCNJ11 mutation-related case of neonatal diabetes. Because consensus has been to screen patients for this mutation only if younger than 6 months at the time of diagnosis, we suggest that all patients under the age of 12 months at diagnosis should receive genetic testing for monogenic causes of diabetes. [source] Photoinduced nonequilibrium spin, charge polarizations and spin-dependent current in quantum ringsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 3 2010Z. G. Zhu Abstract We investigate the spin-dependent dynamical response of a semiconductor quantum ring with a spin orbit interaction upon the application of a single and two linearly polarized, picosecond, asymmetric electromagnetic pulses in the presence of a static magnetic flux. We find that the pulse-generated electric dipole moment is spin dependent. It is also shown that the spin orbit interaction induces an extra SU(2) effective flux in addition to the static external magnetic flux which is reflected in an additional periodicity of the spin-dependent dipole moment. Furthermore, the pulses may induce a net dynamical charge currents and dynamical spin currents when the clockwise and anti-clockwise symmetry of the carrier is broken upon the pulse application. [source] Dynamical symmetries and quantum transport through nanostructuresPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 9 2007*Article first published online: 18 JUN 200, M. N. Kiselev Abstract We discuss the manifestation of dynamical symmetries in quantum transport through nanostructures. The dynamical symmetry SO (4) manifested in the singlet-triplet excitations is shown to be responsible for several exotic effects in nano-devices: non-equilibrium Kondo effect in T-shape Double Quantum Dots, phonon-induced Kondo effect in transition-metal-organic complexes, Kondo shuttling in Nano-Electromechanical Single Electron Transistor. We consider the interplay between charge U (1) and spin SU (2) fluctuations in the vicinity of Stoner instability point and a non-monotonic behavior of a Tunneling Density of States in metallic quantum dots. The experiments showing important role of dynamical symmetries in nanostructures are briefly reviewed. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Health Care Services Use by Adolescents with Intakes into an Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment ProgramTHE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 2006Sujaya Parthasarathy PhD We examined utilization and cost in the 1 year pre- and post-intake among a sample of adolescents (N,419) entering chemical dependency (CD) treatment. Multivariate analyses showed that these youth used significantly more medical services than a demographically matched sample of members without substance use (SU) problems. Their utilization and costs were higher than matched members, and they did not show the same reductions in post-treatment costs that adults do. This is of concern since it would appear that the medical and mental health problems of adolescents entering CD treatment may be so severe that there are no short-term reductions in post-treatment cost, including ER and hospitalizations. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||