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PubMedDate not supplied

Functional consequences of abnormal fatty acid profiles in cultured airway epithelial cells.

Maintenance of serum-free conditions for the culture of TE or other airway epithelial cells provides a defined environment in which to explore the regulation of cellular functions. Yet TE cells appear to be dependent on the medium for essential, if not all, polyunsaturated fatty acids. At present, some laboratories routinely use serum to support the growth of airway epithelial cells, presumably in part through recognition that cells of mammalian origin require an exogenous source of lipids. While 5% FBS can increase the linoleic and arachidonic acid content of cultured rabbit and human TE cells, it does not fully restore the fatty acid composition of cultured TE cells to that of freshly isolated cells, particularly in the case of human TE cells. Equally good, if not better, repair of membrane fatty acid composition can be achieved by addition of a defined, commercial non-serum source of lipids (Excyte III) plus exogenous arachidonic acid. Cultured TE cells maintained in serum-free medium have been shown to be deficient in prostaglandin and HETE production, both at baseline and in response to physiological stimuli compared to TE cells with greater endogenous content of arachidonic acid. Differences between lipid supplemented and unsupplemented cultured TE cells in cAMP response to PGE2 and in susceptibility to hyperoxic injury have been observed. Other cellular functions regulated by the fatty acid composition of membrane lipids may also be impaired in lipid unsupplemented cells. It is evident that the maintenance of as normal as possible membrane fatty acid content is essential to the use of cultured TE cells as experimental models of airway epithelium.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Is group physical therapy superior to individualized therapy in ankylosing spondylitis? A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To study the effects of adding supervised group physical therapy to unsupervised individualized therapy in ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS: One hundred forty-four patients were randomized to exercises at home, or the same plus weekly group physical therapy for 9 months. Endpoints were spinal mobility, fitness (maximum work capacity by ergometry), functioning (Sickness Impact Profile, Health Assessment Questionnaire for the Spondylarthropathies, and Functional Index), and patient's global assessment of change on a 10-cm visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Thoracolumbar flexion and extension increased by an average of 0.5 cm (9%) after home exercises, and by 0.9 cm (16%) after group therapy. Maximum load in ergometry decreased by 2 W (1%) after home exercises, but increased by 7 W (4%) after group therapy. Global assessment improved by 0.3 (6%) after home exercises, and by 1.7 (34%) after group therapy. These three differences were statistically significant. There were no significant differences in chest expansion, cervical rotation, or the self-assessments of functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Group physical therapy proved superior to individualized therapy in improving thoracolumbar mobility and fitness, and had an important effect on global health reported by the patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers from forest biomass.

The potential for the use of woody biomass in poly-beta-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis is reviewed. Based on previously cited work indicating incorporation of xylose or levulinic acid (LA) into PHAs by several bacterial strains, we have initiated a study for exploring bioconversion of forest resources to technically relevant copolymers. Initially, PHA was synthesized in shake-flask cultures of Burkholderia cepacia grown on 2.2% (w/v) xylose, periodically amended with varying concentrations of levulinic acid [0.07-0.67% (w/v)]. Yields of poly(beta-hydroxybutyrate-co-beta-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] from 1.3 to 4.2 g/l were obtained and could be modulated to contain from 1.0 to 61 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV), as determined by 1H and 13C NMR analyses. No evidence for either the 3HB or 4HV monomers was found. Characterization of these P(3HB-co-3HV) samples, which ranged in molecular mass (viscometric, Mv) from 511-919 kDa, by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) provided data which were in agreement for previously reported P(3HB-co-3HV) copolymers. For these samples, it was noted that melting temperature (Tm) and glass transition temperature (Tg) decreased as a function of 3HVcontent, with Tm demonstrating a pseudoeutectic profile as a function of mol% 3HV content. In order to extend these findings to the use of hemicellulosic process streams as an inexpensive carbon source, a detoxification procedure involving sequential overliming and activated charcoal treatments was developed. Two such detoxified process hydrolysates (NREL CF: aspen and CESF: maple) were each fermented with appropriate LA supplementation. For the NREL CF hydrolysate-based cultures amended with 0.25-0.5% LA, P(3HB-co-3HV) yields, PHA contents (PHA as percent of dry biomass), and mol% 3HV compositions of 2.0 g/l, 40% (w/w), and 16-52 mol% were obtained, respectively. Similarly, the CESF hydrolysate-based shake-flask cultures yielded 1.6 g/l PHA, 39% (w/w) PHA contents, and 4-67 mol% 3HV compositions. These data are comparable to copolymer yields and cellular contents reported for hexose plus levulinic acid-based shake-flask cultures, as reported using Alcaligenes eutrophus and Pseudomonas putida. However, our findings presage a conceivable alternative, forestry-based biorefinery approach for the production of value-added biodegradable PHA polymers. Specifically, this review describes the current and potential utilization of lignocellulosic process streams as platform precursors to PHA polymers including hemicellulosic hydrolysates, residual cellulose-derived levulinic acid, tall oil fatty acids (Kraft pulping residual), and lignin-derived aromatics.

Alcaligenes↗
PubMed2003

Density functional theory study of electric potential saturation: planar geometry.

We investigate the possibility of electrostatic potential saturation, which may lead to the phenomenon of effective charge saturation. The system under study is a uniformly charged infinite plane immersed in an arbitrary electrolyte made up of several microspecies. To describe the electric double layer, we use a generic local density functional theory in which the local microionic density profiles are arbitrary functions of the local electrostatic potential. A general necessary and sufficient condition is obtained for saturation, whereby the electrostatic potential created by the plane becomes independent of its bare charge, provided the latter is large enough. As a consequence, for most situations, the following simple and practical sufficient condition follows: if, as the electric potential psi--> infinity, the local theory predicts that the highest valency counterions density diverges as psi(nu) with some nu>1 or faster, then the electrostatic potential will saturate. Otherwise, if the counterion density diverges as psi or slower, or does not diverge as psi--> infinity, the electric potential will not saturate. Using this condition, we investigate the possibility of the saturation phenomenon within the framework of recent theories proposed in the literature to describe electrical double layer beyond the Poisson-Boltzmann description.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1978

Assessment of ovarian function in perimenopausal women after stopping oral contraceptives.

Ovarian function was assessed by measuring plasma gonadotrophins, urinary oestrogen and urinary pregnanediol levels, every week for four weeks, in 34 women, aged 45 to 57 years, after withdrawal of oral contraceptive therapy. A rise in urinary pregnanediol excretion occurred in 14 patients suggesting that ovulation had occurred and that these patients were "premenopausal". Elevated serum gonadotrophin values and persistently low urinary oestrogen and pregnanediol excretion occurred in 13 patients suggesting ovarian failure or a "postmenopausal" state. However, one apparently "postmenopausal" patient later showed hormonal evidence of ovulation, indicating fluctuation in ovarian function. There were 7 patients with "indeterminate" hormone profiles whose ovarian function was difficult to assess. All patients excreting more than 45 nmol of oestrogen a day had a spontaneous period within 45 days of stopping hormone therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2026

Two worlds beneath: Distinct microbial strategies of the rock-attached and planktonic subsurface biosphere.

BACKGROUND: Microorganisms in groundwater ecosystems exist either as planktonic cells or as attached communities on aquifer rock surfaces. Attached cells outnumber planktonic ones by at least three orders of magnitude, suggesting a critical role in aquifer ecosystem function. However, particularly in consolidated carbonate aquifers, where research has predominantly focused on planktonic microbes, the metabolic potential and ecological roles of attached communities remain poorly understood. RESULTS: To investigate the differences between attached and planktonic communities, we sampled the attached microbiome from passive samplers filled with crushed carbonate rock exposed to oxic and anoxic groundwater in the Hainich Critical Zone Exploratory and compared it to a previously published, extensive dataset of planktonic communities from the same aquifer ecosystem. Microbial lifestyle (attached vs. planktonic) explained more variance in community composition than redox conditions, prompting us to further investigate its role in shaping functional and activity profiles. Metagenomic analysis revealed a striking taxonomic and functional segregation: the 605 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from attached communities were dominated by Proteobacteria (358 MAGs) and were enriched in genes for biofilm formation, chemolithoautotrophy, and redox cycling (e.g., iron and sulfur metabolism). In contrast, the 891 MAGs from planktonic communities were dominated by Cand. Patescibacteria (464 MAGs) and Nitrospirota (60 MAGs) and showed lower functional versatility. Only a few genera were shared, and even closely related MAGs (> 90% average nucleotide identity) differed in assembly size and metabolic traits, demonstrating lifestyle-specific functional adaptation. Analysis of active replication indicated that the active fraction of the attached community was primarily represented by the most abundant MAGs. Planktonic communities featured a higher fraction of active MAGs compared to attached communities, but overall with lower relative abundances. CONCLUSIONS: The high abundance, metabolic specialization, and carbon fixation potential of attached microbes suggest that they are key drivers of subsurface biogeochemical processes. Carbonate aquifers may act as much larger inorganic carbon sinks than previously estimated based on CO2 fixation rates of the planktonic communities alone. Our findings underscore the need to incorporate attached microbial communities into models of subsurface ecosystem function. Video Abstract.

Plankton↗
PubMed2005

Falls by elders with moderate levels of movement functionality.

PURPOSE: To trace the socio-functional and clinical profiles of elders with moderate levels of movement functionality as determined by the Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA Ia), and to compare the groups having high and moderate levels of functionality regarding the frequency of falls and identifiable risk factors. METHODS: The research involved 49 elders (with an average age of 71.24, SD 5.47) who were seeking medical care in the geriatric unit of a tertiary care hospital. Study participants were evaluated regarding their balance and gait (POMA Ia assessment), muscle strength (chair-stand test), gait velocity (timed up and go test), incidence of falls, and other clinical risk factors. RESULTS: The moderate functionality group reported significantly more falls (14) compared with the high functionality group (3). Of the risk factors evaluated, the presence of depression or of a psychiatric record was significantly more frequent in the moderate-functionality group but was not correlated with an increase in falls., Muscle weakness was found significantly more frequently in the moderate-functionality group and was significantly correlated with an increased frequency of falls. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the POMA Ia assessment can identify individuals with an increased risk of falling, and the treatment of risk factors such as depression or a psychiatric record, and muscle weakness could help prevent the occurrence of falls in elders with moderate functionality as determined by the POMA Ia assessment.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Quality of life in hemodialyis patients: the effect of educational status].

INTRODUCTION: Hemodialysis has a major influence on the quality of life of chronic renal failure patients. Great attention is currently paid to the development of supporting programmes for this patient group. Aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life in maintenance dialysis and to research the influence of various factors related to treatment and ESRD on quality of life, taking into account also the level of school instruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Reduced functional abilities, as measured by the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), and Functional Living Test (FLT), derived by Karnofsky Activity Scale were assessed; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and semistructured interviews, including a clinical grading of symptoms were considered vs. age, duration of dialysis, level of school instruction. The study was performed with 40 hemodialysis patients, aged 57.4 +/- 14.9 years (range 22-79), treated since at least three years. RESULTS: Significant (P < 0.05) independent correlates with higher SIP scores (greater disability) and Functional Living Test were lower educational level, and the score of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). No correlation was found for any of the three scales vs. age and vs. dialytic age; no gender difference was observed. DISCUSSION: A greater care in considering Quality of Life questionnaires is warranted, especially for the severe interference of instruction level of patients on results. QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Years), used as a tool for decision-making in clinical and political subsets, can include critical bias that invalidate conclusion.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Small-angle X-ray studies of soot inception and growth.

The high spectral intensity of X-rays produced by the undulator at the Basic Energy Sciences Synchrotron Radiation Center of Argonne's Advanced Photon Source has allowed us to perform small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of the initial distribution of soot particles formed by various fuels. SAXS provides an in situ probe of the morphology of soot in the region between 1 and 100 nm and complements the ex situ technique of electron microscopy. The basic aspects of SAXS and its potential are illustrated with measurement on a laminar flame of acetylene in air. The more complex fuel toluene has been studied in a flat-flame burner that supports a CH4/H2/air or CO/H2/air diffusion flame stabilized by N2 co-flow. This burner produces a nearly constant temperature region above the flame where the pyrolysis and combustion of the heavier fuels occurs. Kinetic information is obtained by performing measurements of the scattered intensity profile as a function of the height above the burner. These profiles have been reduced to give the mean radius and dispersion of a distribution of spherical particles. Mean radii between 0.8 and 18 nm have been observed. The smallest of these is a factor of ten smaller than previously detected with Lorentz-Mie scattering. Near 1550 K, the soot distribution found in toluene shows a distinct step behavior that is consistent with model calculations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1978

[Interferences between prolactin and ovarian function (author's transl)].

In the normal subject, hypoprolactinic agents have a dose-dependent effect on the fall in prolactin (PRL). The depression of the secretion of progesterone is proportional to the inhibition of PRL. Certain hyperprolactinic substances do not alter pituitary-ovarian function. Others induce a luteal deficiency. The prolactinic profile of ovarian function without galactorrhoea is inconstant. There is no precise link between the possibility of inducing ovulation and PRL levels. Galactorrhoea without amenorrhoea is often accompanied by a normal PRL. By contrast, a high PRL, whilst not necessarily causing galactorrhoea, is usually accompanied by hypo-oestrogenic amenorrhoea (normo- or hypo-gonadaotrophic). Puerperal lactation results in a state of relative hyperprolactinaemia, which does not prevent relatively rapid restoration of FSH gonadotrophic function, to which the ovary fails to respond. Artificial weaning by bromocriptine permits a more rapid return of pituitary-ovarian function than natural weaning. Amenorrhoea-galactorrhoea is characterised by a PRL level which is abnormally high or at the upper limit of normal, and FSH gonadotrophic and ovarian/oestrogenic function which is abnormally low or at the lower limit of normal. LH gonadotrophic function and the ovarian production of progesterone are diminished.

Amenorrhea↗
PubMed2005

Gene expression profiling of cerebellar development with high-throughput functional analysis.

We measured the expression levels of 450 genes during mouse postnatal cerebellar development by quantitative PCR using RNA purified from layers of the cerebellar cortex. Principal component analysis of the data matrix demonstrated that the first and second components corresponded to general levels of gene expression and gene expression patterns, respectively. We introduced 288 of the 450 genes into PC12 cells using a high-throughput transfection assay based on atelocollagen and determined the ability of each gene to promote neurite outgrowth or cell proliferation. Five genes induced neurite outgrowth, and seven genes enhanced proliferation. Evaluation of the functional data and gene expression patterns showed that none of these genes exhibited elevated expression at maturation, suggesting that genes characteristic of mature neurons are not likely to participate in neuronal development. These results demonstrate that functional data can facilitate interpretation of expression profiles and identification of new molecules that participate in biological processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

X-ray scattering of vesicles of N-acyl sphingomyelins. Determination of bilayer thickness.

A series of N-acyl sphingomyelins (C16:0, C18:0, C20:0, C22:0, and C24:0) have been synthesized and single bilayer vesicles formed by sonication and ultracentrifugation. X-ray scattering data have been collected from the sphingomyelin vesicles at 50 degrees C in the melted-chain state. The x-ray scattering data have been transformed to the corresponding Patterson functions and Fourier electron density profiles; analysis of these functions has provided the intrabilayer phosphate-phosphate separation dp-p, a measure of the lipid bilayer thickness. The bilayer thickness increases linearly with increasing chain length (increment 1.3-1.4 A) and the intercept, 14.3-15.0 A, suggests a contribution of 7.0-7.5 A for each phosphorylcholine group to the bilayer thickness. The electron-density profiles have features suggestive of chain interdigitation when the length of the N-acyl chain (C20:0, C22:0, and C24:0) exceeds significantly the length of the invariant sphingosine chain.

Lipid Bilayers↗
PubMed2004

Gene Ontology friendly biclustering of expression profiles.

The soundness of clustering in the analysis of gene expression profiles and gene function prediction is based on the hypothesis that genes with similar expression profiles may imply strong correlations with their functions in the biological activities. Gene Ontology (GO) has become a well accepted standard in organizing gene function categories. Different gene function categories in GO can have very sophisticated relationships, such as 'part of' and 'overlapping'. Until now, no clustering algorithm can generate gene clusters within which the relationships can naturally reflect those of gene function categories in the GO hierarchy. The failure in resembling the relationships may reduce the confidence of clustering in gene function prediction. In this paper, we present a new clustering technique, Smart Hierarchical Tendency Preserving clustering (SHTP-clustering), based on a bicluster model, Tendency Preserving cluster (TP-Cluster). By directly incorporating Gene Ontology information into the clustering process, the SHTP-clustering algorithm yields a TP-cluster tree within which any subtree can be well mapped to a part of the GO hierarchy. Our experiments on yeast cell cycle data demonstrate that this method is efficient and effective in generating the biological relevant TP-Clusters.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2003

Antibody repertoire and gene expression profile: implications for different developmental and functional traits of splenic and peritoneal B-1 lymphocytes.

In L2 mice, a high expression level of the transgenic lambda2(315) L chain results in nearly complete exclusion of endogenous L chains and a predominance of B-1a cells. In this study, we show that splenic and peritoneal B-1a cells differ considerably in their Ab repertoire and gene expression profile. Splenic B-1a cells exhibit a more diversified repertoire under L chain limitation. Despite oligoclonal overlaps between both B-1a compartments, some B cell receptor specificities are clearly restricted to the peritoneum. The capacity of peritoneal B-1a cells to enter the splenic B-1a compartment was found to be very limited. Gene expression profiling revealed genes up-regulated in splenic B-1a cells that are involved in mediating specialized first-line-of-defense effector functions and interaction with T cells. Thus, splenic and peritoneal B-1a cells differ not only in their developmental program but also in functional properties.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Quality of life in elderly patients with recurrent major depression: a factor analysis of the General Life Functioning Scale.

Quality of life profiles measured by the General Life Functioning (GLF) Scale were examined in elderly patients with recurrent major depression, before and during combined treatment with nortriptyline and interpersonal psychotherapy. The study group included 110 patients, 91 recovered and 19 nonrecovered, aged 60 to 80 years, suffering from at least their second lifetime episode of major depression. Repeated measures analysis of covariance (with Hamilton and Beck depression scores as time-dependent covariates) was used to compare the temporal course of overall GLF scores for the recovered and the nonrecovered groups. Factor analysis was used to examine whether the GLF Scale yielded an overall score and measured specific aspects of well-being and coping. There were significant differences in the overall GLF scores between recovered and nonrecovered patients, with the differences increasing from week 8 of treatment onward. Analysis revealed significant improvements in quality of life, as measured by overall GLF scores, over the course of treatment in both recovered and nonrecovered patients. Even when changes in Hamilton and Beck depression ratings were controlled for in the statistical analysis, improvements in GLF scores were found to be greater in recovered than in nonrecovered patients. Thus, the GLF measures more than change in level of depression. Its overall score also has high internal reliability.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Normal Doppler ultrasound values of the anterior cerebral artery of premature and newborn infants with reference to cardiac function parameters and intestinal blood flow profile].

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamic impairements play an important role in the development of cerebral lesions. These changes may be detected by dopplersonographic flow measurements in cerebral arteries. For that reason it is necessary to establish normal values in relation to cardiac function and intestinal perfusion. METHODS & PATIENTS: 62 neonates with uncomplicated postnatal adaptation were investigated by dopplersonographic measurements of ant. cerebral artery (ACA) at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th day of life. Relations to left ventricular ejection time (LVET) and systemic blood pressure were described. An index of parameters from ACA and sup. mesenteric artery was determined. RESULTS: We demonstrated a significant increase of flow velocities and a decrease of pulsatility index in relation to increased gestational and postnatal age. There was a positive correlation between LVET and systemic blood pressure to peak flow velocities and a negative correlation to pulsatility index. The index of the parameters from ACA to sup. mesenteric artery was not depended on gestational age. The index of the flow velocities of both arteries increased from first to fifth day of life, whereas the index of the pulsatility index decreased. CONCLUSION: With these results it is possible to evaluate cerebral hemodynamic changes by dopplersonographic measurements in relation to gestational and postnatal age and under consideration of cardiac function and mesenteric perfusion.

Anterior Cerebral Artery↗
PubMed2001

Prefrontal blood flow dysregulation in drug naive ADHD children without structural abnormalities.

Recent studies suggest a role for prefrontal cortex abnormalities in the pathogenesis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We evaluated young drug-naive ADHD outpatients without MRI structural abnormalities to detect prefrontal cortex regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) functional dysregulation; correlation between age and rCBF; and correlation between symptoms profile and rCBF. Functional brain activities (i.e. rCBF), neuropsychological attention performance and symptom profile were evaluated respectively by single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scan, Stroop Test and the Child Attention Problem Rating Scale. There was a decreased rCBF in the left dorso lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) compared to the right DLPFC of the subjects. In addition, there were positive correlations between age and relative rCBFs of the dorsolateral and orbital prefrontal cortex, and negative correlations between age and absolute rCBFs of the dorsolateral and orbital prefrontal cortex. Finally, higher levels of right relative rCBF and lower levels of left relative rCBF were predictors of higher severity of clinical symptom expression and neuropsychological attention impairment. The results of this study highlight the role of the DLPFC blood flow impairment in the pathogenesis of ADHD even in young subjects without structural abnormalities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Density and chain conformation profiles of square-well chains confined in a slit by density-functional theory.

Density and chain conformation profiles of square-well chains between two parallel walls were studied by using density-functional theory. The free energy of square-well chains is separated into two contributions: the hard-sphere repulsion and the attraction. The Heaviside function is used as the weighting function for both of the two parts. The equation of state of Hu et al. is used to calculate the excess free energy of the repulsive part. The equation of state of statistical associating fluid theory for chain molecules with attractive potentials of variable range [A. Gil-Villegas et al. J. Chem. Phys. 106, 4168 (1997)] is used to calculate the excess free energy of the attractive part. Because the wall is inaccessible to a mass center of a longer chain, there exists a sharp fall in the distribution of end-to-end distance near the wall as the chain length increases. When the average density of the system is not too low, the prediction of this work is in good agreement with computer simulation results for the density profiles and the chain conformation over a wide range of chain length, temperature, and attraction strength of the walls. However, when the average density and the temperature are very low, the prediction deviates to a certain degree from the computer simulation results for molecules with long chain length. A more accurate functional approximation is needed.

Journal Article↗