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PubMed1986

[Individual variability and inheritance of the number and size of the nucleolar organizer regions in chromosomes of domestic swine].

Individual variability of the number and size of silver-staining nucleolar organiser regions (NOR) was studied in 76 pigs of Semirechenskaya, Big White and Duroc breeds. The variability of the NOR number is exclusively caused by the presence of the 8NOR- allele (the chromosomes of the 8th homologous pair lacking the silver-staining NOR). Concentration of the 8NOR- allele is about 0.7 in the average for all three breeds. All 7 offsprings from the homozygous parents male 8NOR- /8NOR- and female 8NOR+/8NOR+ were heterozygotes 8NOR- /8NOR+. These data, together with good agreement between found and expected (according to the Hardy-Weinberg law) frequencies of homo- and heterozygotes suggest the codominant character of the NOR number inheritance. This allows using the NOR analysis to control the parentage announced. The study of inheritance of the size of NOR did not prove unequivocally its codominant character.

Alleles↗
PubMed1997

EDI enables big cuts in supply procurement costs.

Many providers are turning to information technology to improve the supply procurement process as well as reduce supply utilization. These providers are saving money and time by using such technologies as EDI, the Internet, bar coding, purchasing cards and automated supply stations.

California↗
PubMed2005

Chromosome-wise dissection of the genome of the extremely big mouse line DU6i.

The extreme high-body-weight-selected mouse line DU6i is a polygenic model for growth research, harboring many small-effect QTL. We dissected the genome of this line into 19 autosomes and the Y chromosome by the construction of a new panel of chromosome substitution strains (CSS). The DU6i chromosomes were transferred to a DBA/2 mice genetic background by marker-assisted recurrent backcrossing. Mitochondria and the X chromosome were of DBA/2 origin in the backcross. During the construction of these novel strains, >4000 animals were generated, phenotyped, and genotyped. Using these data, we studied the genetic control of variation in body weight and weight gain at 21, 42, and 63 days. The unique data set facilitated the analysis of chromosomal interaction with sex and parent-of-origin effects. All analyzed chromosomes affected body weight and weight gain either directly or in interaction with sex or parent of origin. The effects were age specific, with some chromosomes showing opposite effects at different stages of development.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2005

A comparison of letrozole and tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aromatase inhibitor letrozole is a more effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer and more effective in the neoadjuvant setting than tamoxifen. We compared letrozole with tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment for steroid-hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. METHODS: The Breast International Group (BIG) 1-98 study is a randomized, phase 3, double-blind trial that compared five years of treatment with various adjuvant endocrine therapy regimens in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer: letrozole, letrozole followed by tamoxifen, tamoxifen, and tamoxifen followed by letrozole. This analysis compares the two groups assigned to receive letrozole initially with the two groups assigned to receive tamoxifen initially; events and follow-up in the sequential-treatment groups were included up to the time that treatments were switched. RESULTS: A total of 8010 women with data that could be assessed were enrolled, 4003 in the letrozole group and 4007 in the tamoxifen group. After a median follow-up of 25.8 months, 351 events had occurred in the letrozole group and 428 events in the tamoxifen group, with five-year disease-free survival estimates of 84.0 percent and 81.4 percent, respectively. As compared with tamoxifen, letrozole significantly reduced the risk of an event ending a period of disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.81; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.70 to 0.93; P=0.003), especially the risk of distant recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.60 to 0.88; P=0.001). Thromboembolism, endometrial cancer, and vaginal bleeding were more common in the tamoxifen group. Women given letrozole had a higher incidence of skeletal and cardiac events and of hypercholesterolemia. CONCLUSIONS: In postmenopausal women with endocrine-responsive breast cancer, adjuvant treatment with letrozole, as compared with tamoxifen, reduced the risk of recurrent disease, especially at distant sites. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00004205.)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Changes in proteoglycans of ageing and osteoarthritic human articular cartilage: an electron microscopic study with polyethyleneimine.

BACKGROUND: Ageing and osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage show characteristic alterations in chondrocyte morphology and in the composition and content of matrix proteoglycans (PGs). Data concerning matrix components are mostly of biochemical nature. Ultrastructural histochemistry is needed to gain more information about distribution of these altered matrix components. METHODS: We used the cationic dye polyethyleneimine (PEI) to visualize at the EM level alterations in the distribution and dimensions of PGs of human healthy young, healthy aged, and OA articular cartilage. RESULTS: Young cartilage contained PEI-positive granules in the superficial layer and big winding PEI-positive structures in the deeper layers. In the healthy aged tissue, PEI-positive granules were observed throughout the matrix and smaller winding structures were present in the deeper layer. In OA cartilage both types of PEI-positive structures were absent in the superficial layer. Deeper in the matrix PEI-positive granules could be demonstrated. Moreover, PEI-positive angular structures were observed in the deeper zones. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in PEI-positive structures are a good reflection of the differences in PGs between young, ageing, and OA cartilage as demonstrated in biochemical studies. PEI, used at the EM level, gave more precise information concerning the localized changes in quality, quantity, and location of PGs in articular cartilage during ageing and disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Hadza meat sharing.

In most human foraging societies, the meat of large animals is widely shared. Many assume that people follow this practice because it helps to reduce the risk inherent in big game hunting. In principle, a hunter can offset the chance of many hungry days by exchanging some of the meat earned from a successful strike for shares in future kills made by other hunters. If hunting and its associated risks of failure have great antiquity, then meat sharing might have been the evolutionary foundation for many other distinctively human patterns of social exchange. Here we use previously unpublished data from the Tanzanian Hadza to test hypotheses drawn from a simple version of this argument. Results indicate that Hadza meat sharing does not fit the expectations of risk-reduction reciprocity. We comment on some variations of the "sharing as exchange" argument; then elaborate an alternative based partly on the observation that a successful hunter does not control the distribution of his kill. Instead of family provisioning, his goal may be to enhance his status as a desirable neighbor. If correct, this alternative argument has implications for the evolution of men's work.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Expression of endothelin peptides and mRNA in the human heart.

1. We have examined the expression of endothelin isoforms and their precursors in the human heart using RIA, HPLC, immunocytochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays. 2. Highly specific RIAs were used to measure the levels of mature endothelin and big endothelin-1 immunoreactivity in extracts of human right ventricle. There was no significant difference between samples from patients with ischaemic heart disease and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. 3. HPLC coupled with RIAs allowed the separation and identification of the three mature isoforms of endothelin, big endothelin-1 and the C-terminal fragment of big endothelin-1. In extracts of human endocardial endothelial cells, peaks of immunoreactivity that co-eluted with authentic endothelin-1, big endothelin-1 and C-terminal fragment were found. 4. Intense immunocytochemical staining of mature endothelin immunoreactivity was detected in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells of all regions of the heart tested. Big endothelin-1 immunoreactivity mirrored that of the mature peptide and, in two of three individuals tested, big endothelin-2 immunoreactivity was also detected. No big endothelin-3 immunoreactivity was detected in any of the tissues examined. 5. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays demonstrated endothelin-1 and endothelin-2 mRNA in all three samples of human left ventricle tested. In two of the individuals, additional bands were also detected with the endothelin-2 primers which corresponded to splice variants. There was no evidence for the expression of endothelin-3 mRNA. 6. These data suggest that endothelin-1 is the predominant isoform of endothelin in the human heart and is probably largely synthesized by the endothelial cells within the heart. If released from the endothelial cells in vivo, this potent cardiotonic peptide may play an important paracrine role in human cardiovascular function.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The effects of interleukin-2 treatment on endothelin and the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

OBJECTIVE: Recent reports suggest that complex interactions exist between the neuroendocrine and immune systems. It has been shown for example that cytokines are able to stimulate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. In addition, some studies present evidence that endothelin is able to modulate the activity of several hypothalamic-pituitary axes, e.g. by inducing the ACTH production. DESIGN: We investigated the effects of interleukin-2 on endothelin levels and the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. We determined the interleukin-6, big-endothelin, endothelin-1, ACTH, cortisol and AVP responses to intravenously and subcutaneously administered interleukin-2 in 8 cancer patients in a randomized placebo controlled trial. PATIENTS: 8 Patients (2 female and 6 male), age 44 +/- 4.8 years, were enrolled. All patients had a World Health Organization performance status of 1 or less and a Karnofsky Index of at least 80%. MEASUREMENTS: Blood-samples were taken before and 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 min after interleukin-2 injection. Cytokine serum levels and the plasma levels of big-endothelin, endothelin, ACTH and AVP were analysed using radioimmuno-assays. Cortisol was assayed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Interleukin-2 treatment significantly increased plasma big-endothelin levels (P < 0.01 vs basal) and endothelin-1 levels (P < 0.05 vs basal) within two hours and this was followed by an increase in ACTH (P < 0.01 vs basal) and cortisol (P < 0.05 vs basal) within three hours. Interleukin-6 levels increased two hours after interleukin-2 administration (P < 0.01 vs basal). Interleukin-2 had no detectable effect on AVP, blood pressure or heart rate. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that cytokines are able to activate the human hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in vivo. On the basis of the observed time kinetics and in connection with previous findings from in vitro and animal models, we conclude that endothelin may be a link between cytokines and corticotrophin-releasing hormone, most probably functioning as a cytokine-induced neuromodulator controlling pituitary functions.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed2025

Sex-biased Migration and Demographic History of the Big European Firefly Lampyris noctiluca.

Differential dispersion between the sexes can impact the colonization process and demographic history of a species. Here, we explored the demographic history of the big European firefly, Lampyris noctiluca, which exhibits female neoteny. Distribution of L. noctiluca extends throughout Europe, but nothing is known about its colonization process. To investigate its demographic history, we produced the first Lampyris genome (653 Mb), including an IsoSeq annotation and the identification of the X chromosome. We collected 115 individuals from six populations of L. noctiluca (Finland to Italy) and generated whole-genome re-sequencing data for each individual. We inferred several population expansions and bottlenecks throughout the Pleistocene that correlate with glaciation events. Surprisingly, we uncovered strong population structure and low gene flow. We reject a stepwise, south to north, colonization history scenario and instead uncovered a complex demographic history with a putative eastern European origin. Analyzing the evolutionary history of the mitochondrial genome as well as X-linked and autosomal loci, we found evidence of a maternal colonialization of Germany, putatively from a farther western European population, followed by a male-only migration from south of the Alps (Italy). Overall, investigating the demographic history and colonization patterns of a species should form part of an integrative approach of biodiversity research. Our results provide evidence of sex-biased migration which is important to consider for demographic, biogeographic and species delimitation studies.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Transabiotic factors in an aqueous environment (a review)].

Excretion of metabolites is a characteristic feature of any alive organism. A big group of these products--second metabolites--because of their variability, quantity and physico-biological activity have a special importance in aquatic environment. Exometabolites of some organisms become an important part of environment for the others. The authors discussed the origin and evolution of exometabolites from simple waste products to biologically active substances. Quantitative and qualitative aspects of metabolic excretion by organisms in water conditions are analysed. The data on composition, origin and biological function of some second metabolites of different groups of aquatic organisms are presented. The authors propose a classification of second metabolites according to their functional significance. The role of metabolites and decay products in the development of chemical information streams in hydrobiocoenosis is analysed. Metabolites (soluble organic substances) form a field of chemical information for biotic community. The most important functions of this field are communication and conditioning. The authors emphasize the importance of investigations of chemical bioinformation field in aquatic ecosystems.

Animal Communication↗
PubMed2001

[Nursing care of elderly persons: reactions to the use of a security blanket to prevent falling out of bed].

This article presents the results of the first part of a survey aiming at assessing the chances for adoption and use of the safety blanket, a new device preventing the falls from the beds. In this part, the resarchers wanted to know how the caretakers reacted to the use of this material. Thirty four people with five beneficiaries among them, nine family members, fifteen contributors and five managers, interacting in the context of a care unit for elderly people of a hospital centre were interviewed. The data of the interviews were analysed according to a six step procedure: listening to the interviews and reading the descriptions; deriving the significant statements, analysing and reformulating the meaning of the statements; regrouping the signification units under more global themes; gathering the analysis results and describing exhaustively the studied phenomenon; validating the exhaustive description. As a whole, the reactions recorded were positive and indicate that the safety blanket has big chances to be adopted by the healthcare units.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1989

Comparative analysis of completed parity distributions: a global WFS perspective.

This paper studies completed parity distributions for all the industrialized and developing countries that participated in the World Fertility Survey. This is done by means of a table based on parity calculated for all ever-married women above age 40 by educational and residential subcategories. The information is also used to compare mean family and mean sibship sizes and to study changes in the concentration of reproduction independent of the level of fertility. The cross- section of countries considered implies that, as fertility declines, the transition from high to low fertility is associated with an increase in the concentration; i.e., a smaller proportion of women having 1/2 the children. The big exception is China, where fertility declined steeply without an increase in concentration.

Birth Rate↗
PubMed1976

E1Socio-economic data concerning the early childhood and the actual life-situation of psychiatric out-patients.

By means of a standarized social psychiatric questionnaire which was developed from the AMP-system and which forms the basis for a standardized case history used in our outpatient clinic, a random sample of 500 ambulant patients from the years 1970 and 1971 were examined concerning their socio-economic data. Patients of the age group of 20-24 years were overrepresented (p less than 0,05) as well as patients of the lower socio-economic classes and patients whose parents were less than 20 years old at the time of the patients' birth. The structure of the family in childhood showed significant differences concerning patients with different social contacts and different diagnoses. Patients who grew up in big families have themselves a relatively large number of children and vice versa (p less than 0,01). A significant correlation (p less than 0,01) consists also between the number of siblings of the patients and the socio-economic class they belong to: Patients from the underprivileged socio-economic classes mostly grew up in big families.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Theoretical and experimental behaviour of the muscle viscosity coefficient during maximal concentric actions.

The aim of this study was to calculate the theoretical variation of the nonlinear damping factor (B) as a function of the muscle shortening velocity, and then to compare the theoretical values with the experimental data obtained on both the elbow flexor and the ankle extensor muscles. The theoretical variation of the B factor was determined from a muscle model consisting of a contractile component in parallel with a viscous damper both in series with an elastic component, and by using, the characteristic equation of the force velocity curve. In this muscle model, the viscous element modelled the inability of the muscle to generate as big a contracting force (while shortening) as possible under isometric conditions. Eight volunteer subjects performed maximal concentric elbow flexions and ankle extensions on an isokinetic ergometer at angular velocities of 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 degrees.s-1, and held two maximal isometric actions at an elbow angle of 90 degrees (0 degrees corresponds to the full extension) and at an ankle angle of 0 degree (0 degree corresponds to the foot flexion of 90 degrees relative to the leg axis). From these measurements, the force and the shortening velocity values of each muscle were determined by using a musculo-skeletal model of the joint. The results showed that the theoretical behaviour of the B factor would seem to be dependent on the shortening velocity and on the parameter which varies according to the muscle fibre type composition and affects the curvature of the force-velocity curve (af).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗
PubMed2004

[Validation of the Spanish version of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form. A questionnaire for assessing the urinary incontinence].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A big proportion (40-70%) of patients with urinary incontinence (UI) do not ask for medical advice. Self-administered questionnaires may help in detecting UI. The objective of the present study was to validate the Spanish version of the questionnaire ICIQ-SF. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 500 women who consulted at a UI-specialized unit responded to the questionnaire. A urodynamic study was carried out and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Feasibility, validity and reliability were assessed. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of the clinical and urodynamic study were also calculated. RESULTS: The mean time of administration was 3.5 (1.5) minutes. All patients answered all the items of the ICIQ-SF. According to the clinical diagnosis, patients with UI scored 11.6 (5.9) and patients without UI scored 4.5 (6.3) (p < 0.001). According to the urodynamic diagnosis, UI patients scored 11.1 (6.3) vs 6.2 (6.5) (p < 0.001). In patients with an urodynamic diagnosis of stress UI, a higher severity degree was associated with a higher score on the ICIQ-SF. The values of Se, Sp, PPV and NPV were 92.1%, 55.6%, 88.3% and 65.9%, respectively, regarding clinical diagnosis, and 87.7%, 40.8%, 85.1% and 46.2%, respectively, regarding the urodynamic study. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first questionnaire designed for diagnosing UI validated in Spain. The psychometric properties of the ICIQ-SF are satisfactory and allow to recommend the use of the questionnaire in the clinical practice.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed2002

Nature and origin of multicomponent aerial emissions of the copper-nickel smelter complex.

The Severonickel Smelter Complex as well as other big nickel-copper smelter plants are the source of metallurgical dust emissions, enriched with toxic elements Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn and As. The phase composition of typical metallurgy dust is described as pentlandite (Ni,Fe)9S8, pyrrhotite Fe7S8(Ni(x)), chalcopyrite CuFeS2, chalcosite Cu2S, covellite CuS, cuprite Cu2O, tenorite CuO, and metal copper and nickel. The fine dust fractions are enriched by lead, zinc and arsenic oxides. The obtained data can be turned to account when conducting the investigations of heavy metal behaviour in nature media, in particular soils.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1993

Quantitative analysis of gel electrophoretograms by image analysis and least squares modeling.

A computer-aided quantitative method for a complex analysis of gel electrophoretograms is presented. The analysis consists of several steps: (i) determination of the background image by methods of mathematical morphology and its subtraction from the gel image, (ii) selection of an appropriate part of the gel lane including curved lanes and lanes with a nonuniform width, (iii) computation of the lane densitogram by averaging several lane-parallel scans, (iv) decomposition of the lane densitogram into component bands using a data selecting algorithm and Marquardt's minimizer. Several different functions for component bands are utilized. It is shown that the densitogram can be decomposed into component bands with reasonable accuracy only if an appropriate model function is chosen. The algorithms are tested on several different gel electrophoretograms which show typical features as a nonuniform background, curved lanes, an asymmetrical band shape and a superposition of small bands on the shoulders of big ones. It is shown that overlapped bands are best approximated by an asymmetrical Gausian curve and an asymmetrical Gauss-Cauchy function. Linear response to the serial dilution of the protein sample is tested.

DNA, Bacterial↗
PubMed1991

Human genome efforts in Japan.

Some project-oriented biosciences have been promoted cooperatively by three governmental agencies in Japan: the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Science and Technology Agency. All three agencies have increased their budgetary requests for human genome analyses for FY 1991. The Panel on Life Sciences (chaired by Dr. W. Mori, former president of the University of Tokyo) of the Science and Technology Council of Japan which is chaired by the Prime Minister has decided to organize a working group to suggest how best to coordinate efforts in human genome analyses in Japan. The genome project was initially promoted by the Science and Technology Agency through a program for the design and construction of automated machines for DNA sequencing. Work is ongoing at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research to integrate, by system engineering, instruments that can separate DNA fragments, perform plaque selection, carry out dideoxy reaction, and read the resulting DNA sequence. However, scientists now realize the enormity of the tasks of compiling DNA sequence data and of mapping the genes and fragments obtained, and efforts are being made to solve these problems. Academic societies have organized symposia to promote general interest in this subject. The most important way for Japan to contribute to research on human genome analyses, however, may be in the evaluation of supporting mechanisms (technical assistance and research resources) and in the recognition and preparation of the transition of biology to a big science approach.

Base Sequence↗