A new type of insect lipoprotein was isolated from the hemolymph of the female cochineal insect Dactylopius confusus. The lipoprotein from the cochineal insect hemolymph was found to have a relative ...molecular mass of 450 000. It contains 48% lipid, mostly diacylglycerol, phospholipids and hydrocarbons. The protein moiety of the lipoprotein consists of two apoproteins of approximately 25 and 22 kDa, both of which are glycosylated. Both apolipoproteins are also found free in the hemolymph, unassociated with any lipid. Purified cochineal apolipoproteins can combine with Manduca sexta lipophorin, if injected together with adipokinetic hormone into M. sexta. This could indicate that the cochineal lipoprotein can function as a lipid shuttle similar to lipophorins of other insects, and that the cochineal insect apolipoproteins have an overall structure similar to insect apolipophorin‐III.
Abstract Objectives This study sought to assess long-term clinical outcomes in adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) who are ineligible for oral anticoagulation therapy and underwent left ...atrial appendage (LAA) ligation with the Lariat device. Background LAA exclusion has been used to prevent thrombus formation within the LAA in AF patients and is believed to decrease the risk of cardioembolic events. Methods LAA ligation with the Lariat device was performed in 139 patients with nonvalvular AF. LAA closure was verified during the procedure by LA angiography and transesophageal echocardiography. A follow-up transesophageal echocardiography was performed at 30 to 45 days post-procedure. After the procedure, patients received aspirin only, clopidogrel only, aspirin plus clopidogrel, or no antithrombotic drugs. Patients did not receive transition oral anticoagulation therapy post-LAA ligation. Patients were followed for LAA closure and adverse events, including stroke, systemic events, and death. Results Acute closure was accomplished in 138 of 139 treated patients (99%). In 1 patient, a posterior lobe was partially closed. At the day-30 to day-45 transesophageal echocardiography (n = 127), 114 (90%) had complete LAA closure, and 13 (10%) had a 2- to 4-mm leak. There were no leaks ≥5 mm. The periprocedural adverse event rate was 11.5%, including 2 cardiac perforations and 1 death due to pulmonary embolus. Over a mean follow-up of 2.9 ± 1.1 years, the event rate for the composite endpoint of stroke and systemic embolism was 1.0% per year (n = 4). The combined stroke, embolism, and death of any cause event rate was 2.8% (n = 11) per year. Conclusions The findings from this analysis of post-procedure event rates suggest that LAA ligation with the Lariat device effectively closes the LAA and may be a beneficial approach to reduce the risk of embolic events in AF patients ineligible to oral anticoagulation therapy. However, future randomized clinical trials are needed to verify these results and to determine device and procedural safety.
OBJECTIVES To assess the risk of local recurrence, systemic progression, and death from cancer among patients who experience biochemical relapse after radical retropubic prostatectomy and to stratify ...those patients by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time (DT). PATIENTS AND METHODS We identified patients who experienced biochemical recurrence (defined as a PSA level ≥0.4 ng/mL) after radical prostatectomy from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 1999, for prostate adenocarcinoma. The PSA-DT was calculated by log linear regression using all PSA values within 2 years of biochemical recurrence. Local recurrence- and systemic progression-free survival and cancer-specific survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and analyzed by the log-rank test and Cox models. RESULTS Biochemical recurrence was noted in 1521 (27%) of 5533 men during the follow-up period. Of the 1064 patients with a calculable PSA-DT, 322 (30%) had a PSA-DT of less than 1 year, 357 (34%) had a PSA-DT of 1 to 9.9 years, and 385 (36%) had a PSA-DT of 10 years or more. Patients with a PSA-DT of 10 years or more were less likely to have a higher preoperative PSA level, Gleason score, advanced pathologic stage, and seminal vesicle invasion. Patients with a PSA-DT of 10 years or more were at low risk of local recurrence (hazard ratio HR, 0.09; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.06-0.14; compared with patients with a PSA-DT of <1 year), systemic progression (HR, 0.05; 95% CI, 0.02-0.13), or death from cancer (HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05-0.43). CONCLUSIONS Prostate-specific antigen DT is an independent predictor of clinical disease recurrence and mortality after surgical biochemical failure. Risk stratification into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk categories based on the PSA-DT provides helpful clinical information and assists in the development of salvage therapy trials.
In a model to investigate postoperative gastrointestinal motility with strain gauge transducers in awake rats, we tested the effects of intraluminal capsaicin infusion into the cecum 2 days or 14 ...days prior to abdominal surgery. Acute infusion of capsaicin into the cecum for 30 minutes increased the gastric, small intestinal, and colonic motility index by up to 115%, 34%, and 59%, respectively, compared to vehicle infusion. Intraluminal capsaicin infusion 2 days prior to abdominal surgery significantly increased the intraoperative gastric and colonie motility index by 166% and 100%, respectively, compared to vehicle, but had no effect on small intestinal motility. The postoperative decrease in gastric or colonie motility was completely prevented by capsaicin pretreatment, representing a 73% and a 72% increase in the motility index during the first postoperative hour and a 40% and a 29% increase in the motility index during the second postoperative hour compared to vehicle, whereas the postoperative decrease in small intestinal motility was not altered by capsaicin pretreatment. In contrast, intraluminal capsaicin infusion 14 days prior to abdominal surgery had no effect on postoperative inhibition of gastrointestinal motility. Our results suggest that capsaicin-sensitive visceral afferent C-fibers, presumably of the submucosa, piay an important role in mediating postoperative ileus. Intraluminal capsaicin does probably ablate these nerve fibers temporarily, with no systemic side effects observed with the use of the tail flick test as a measure of skin nociception.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
High-density lipophorin (HDLP), the major insect plasma lipoprotein in resting insects, has been postulated to function as a 'reusable shuttle' for lipid transport between tissues, capable of ...accepting or depositing lipids with maintenance of the structural properties of the particle. Injection of differentially radiolabeled HDLp into resting death's-head hawkmoths revealed that disappearance of the 14Cpalmitate labeled lipid component of HDLp (principally diacylglycerol) was relatively quickly (half-life approx. 3 h), whereas turnover time of the apolipoproteins (marked with 14Cprotein hydrolysate) was considerably longer (half-life approx. 26 h). These results strongly support the above proposal. To fuel long-distance flight, insects transport lipid in the hemolymph in the form of diacylglycerol-rich low-density lipophorin (LDLp) resulting from a conversion of HDLp to LDLp. By injection of differentially radiolabeled LDLp into flying hawkmoths we demonstrate for the first time in vivo that this mechanism of lipoprotein conversion also functions as a 'reusable shuttle'. While half-life of the lipid moiety of LDLp labeled with 14Cpalmitate or 14Cglycerol (mainly diacylglycerol) during night was only 43 and 94 min, respectively, turnover rate of its apolipoprotein moiety, was considerably lower (half-life approx. 30 h). The results demonstrate the unique role of HDLp, i.e., the reversible conversion to LDLp, in lipid delivery to insect flight muscles.
A technique for measurement of respiration-based lung deposition of an aerosol was investigated and subsequently applied in a pilot study with a marmoset monkey. The technique consisted of an aerosol ...exposure system for a marmoset using a face mask and a previously constructed monkey chair, a method for recovery of fluorescent dextrane from lung material, and respiration measurement of the marmoset by whole-body plethysmography. In the pilot study, a ketamine-anesthetized marmoset was exposed for 20 min to an FITC-dextrane aerosol atmosphere (200 μg/L air, particle size 1.5 μm mass median aerodynamic diameter MMAD). It was found that 3.4% of the inhaled aerosol was deposited in the lungs; the aerosol was distributed over the lung lobes with an higher concentration at the distal side.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Unprecedented levels of wealth, technology and institutional capacity can forge a just, peaceful and ecologically resilient future. However, the authors argue, social polarization, geo-political ...conflict and environmental degradation are threatening the long-term well-being of humanity and the planet. Global Sustainabilityexplores the alternative futures that could emerge from the resolution of these antagonisms. Based on extensive international and interdisciplinary research, the book identifies the perils of market-driven scenarios and considers the possibility of the failure of conventional approaches. It also, however, presents a vision of the possibility of a 'Great Transition' in which revised human values and development goals bring a new stage of civilization. It will be essential reading for all scholars and professionals interested in the future of the environment, international affairs, and sustainable development.
PDF
