Focused ion beam (FIB) milling has been used to fabricate magnetic nanostructures (wires, squares, discs) from single magnetic layers (Co, permalloy) and spin-valve (permalloy/Cu/Co) multilayers ...(thicknesses 5-50 nm) prepared by ion beam sputtering deposition. Milled surfaces of metallic thin films typically exhibit residual roughness, which is also transferred onto the edges of the milled patterns. This can lead to domain wall pinning and influence the magnetization behaviour of the nanostructures. We have investigated the milling process and the influence of the FIB parameters (incidence angle, dwell time, overlap and ion beam current) on the roughness of the milled surface. It has been found that the main reasons for increased roughness are different sputter yields for various crystallographic orientations of the grains in polycrystalline magnetic thin films. We have found that the oblique ion beam angle, long dwell time and overlap < 1 are favourable parameters for suppression of this intrinsic roughness. Finally, we have shown how to determine the ion dose necessary to mill through the whole thin film up to the silicon substrate from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images only.
Effects of supplemental feeding with cereals (rye, triticale, maize and the unsupplemental control group) on fat content in flesh of 3-year-old common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were the subject of study ...carried out at four ponds (Czech Republic, Central Europe) during the growing season. The main result was that supplemental feeding with cereals to the same energetic level was associated with varying growth and fat content in the flesh of common carp. At the end of the experiment, the stock of fish supplementally fed with maize was found to have the highest fat content (112.7 ± 15.6 g kg⁻¹), while the lowest value of fat content was found in the control group (56.8 ± 9.4 g kg⁻¹). The carps supplementally fed with rye were found to have a higher fat content (90.1 ± 19.0) than those supplementally fed with triticale (84.3 ± 15.7 g kg⁻¹). Established average fat content values (except for maize) were at the level that indicate a high sensory quality of carp flesh during the whole growing season.
Context: Little is known about genes that contribute to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We previously found linkage and association of PCOS with the dinucleotide marker D19S884 in two independent ...sets of families; allele 8 of D19S884 confers increased risk.
Objective/Design: The objectives of the study were: 1) use the transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) to assess linkage and association between PCOS and D19S884 (and nearby markers) in a third set of families; and 2) test D19S884 and surrounding DNA sequence for in vitro regulatory activity in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and granulosa cells.
Setting/Subjects: We studied 98 new families with a PCOS proband, father, mother, and other available offspring. We analyzed data from these families separately and in combination with data obtained previously.
Interventions: Interventions were venipuncture.
Main Outcome Measures: Measures were transmission frequencies and in vitro functional studies.
Results: The first result we found was that in the 98 new families, the TDT was significant for allele 8 of D19S884 (P = 0.043). In the total collection of 465 families, the TDT evidence is very strong (nominal P < 7 × 10−5). Results for all other genetic markers near D19S884 were nonsignificant after correction for multiple testing. The second result was that an approximately 800-bp fragment containing various alleles of D19S884 showed modest but reproducible promoter activity in LCLs. However, no allelic differences were detected. No activity of this fragment was detected in granulosa cells.
Conclusions: This is the second independent confirmation of linkage and association of D19S884 with PCOS. We found in addition that some sequence in the region of D19S884 confers in vitro promoter activity in LCLs.
Altered sex hormone levels are thought to play an important role in adult-onset diseases including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. They contribute to these complex diseases through ...changes in their availability, which is influenced, in part, by binding proteins. Insulin resistance, which is characteristic of these diseases, along with increased insulin secretion, is a physiologic change that occurs normally during pregnancy. To determine the relationship between insulin resistance and sex hormone levels, we examined the associations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and testosterone with measures of glycemia and insulinemia in a healthy pregnant population. We measured fasting serum SHBG and testosterone levels in 215 Hispanic mothers of Mexican ancestry from the HAPO Study cohort and tested for associations between SHBG and testosterone levels and maternal plasma glucose and C-peptide. After adjusting for confounding variables, serum total testosterone (TT) was positively associated with fasting C-peptide (0.18 μg/l higher for TT higher by 1 SD, p=0.001) and 1-h C-peptide (0.79 μg/l higher for TT higher by 1 SD, p<0.001). Free testosterone (FT) was also positively associated with fasting C-peptide (0.19 μg/l higher for FT higher by 1 SD, p<0.001), and 1-h C-peptide (0.83 μg/l higher for FT higher by 1 SD, p<0.001). Although these findings are from a single cohort, this study provides evidence for an association between testosterone and C-peptide during pregnancy in a nondiabetic Hispanic obstetric population.
BACKGROUND
American Samoa and Samoa are now characterized by one of the world's highest levels of adult overweight and obesity. Our objective was to investigate patterns of menstrual cyclicity ...reported by Samoan women and examine the relationship to adiposity and select hormone levels.
METHODS
A cross-sectional analysis was performed among Samoan women, aged 18–39 years (n = 322), using anthropometric and biomarker measures of adiposity and reproductive health, including insulin, adiponectin, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, free androgen index (FAI) and mullerian-inhibiting substance (MIS). Menstrual regularity was assessed from self-reported responses. Multivariable models were estimated to adjust for potential confounding of the associations between menstrual patterns and other measures.
RESULTS
A high proportion of the women (13.7%) reported oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea (OM/AM). More than three-quarters, 80.7%, of women were either overweight or obese, using Polynesian-specific criteria, and OM/AM was significantly associated with higher BMI. Abdominal circumference and insulin levels were significantly higher, and adiponectin levels were lower, in those who reported OM/AM versus regular menstruation. The FAI was higher in women with increased BMI. MIS levels declined with age, more slowly in those reporting OM/AM.
CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported OM/AM was associated with an elevated BMI, abdominal adiposity and serum insulin, and with reduced adiponectin levels. These findings support a high rate of metabolic syndrome, and perhaps PCOS and reproductive dysfunction, among Samoan women.
The pathogenesis of perinatal brain injury is multifactorial. In animal models of adult brain injury the sigma-1-receptor agonist 4-phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl) piperidine (PPBP) was shown to be ...neuroprotective due to modulation of inflammatory and apoptotic pathways and affection of excitotoxic signaling cascades. In the current study we evaluated the effect of PPBP in a neonatal animal model of excitotoxic brain injury. We performed an intracranial injection of ibotenate in CD1 mice on postnatal day 5 (P5) to induce excitotoxic injury. A single injection of vehicle or PPBP, in a dosage of 1, 5 or 50 µg/g body weight, was applied intraperitoneally one hour after the insult. Primary study endpoints were evaluated 24 (P6) and 120 (P10) hours after the insult by analysis of lesion size, number of cells stained positively for cleaved caspase-3 and isolectin B4. Systemic application of PPBP resulted in a significant reduction of lesion size in cortical gray matter in all dosages (p<0.05). and underlying white matter in 1 and 50µg/g (p<0.05) at P10. At P6 microglial cell activation was significantly diminished by PPBP in cortical gray (p<0,001) and underlying white matter (p<0.05). Lesion size on P6 and number of cells stained positively for activated caspase-3 at P6 was not affected by the treatment (p>0.05). In this neonatal animal model we were able to demonstrate a beneficial effect of the sigma-1 receptor agonist PPBP. This data suggest that PPBP may be a potential therapeutic approach in neonatal brain injury.
Context: The high incidence of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in Western societies and their impact on quality of life emphasize the importance of identifying underlying ...susceptibility loci for metabolic diseases. The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) susceptibility locus D19S884 allele 8 (A8) is associated with measures of insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, and other metabolic phenotypes in PCOS families. We now investigate the role of D19S884 A8 in pregnancy.
Objective: Using the multiethnic Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome cohort, we assessed the associations of D19S884 A8 with measures of maternal glycemia and fetal size.
Design: We tested for association of maternal D19S884 A8 with maternal outcomes (fasting, 1-h, and 2-h plasma glucose, and fasting and 1-h C-peptide from an oral glucose tolerance test) and fetal and maternal D19S884 A8 with fetal outcomes (birth weight, length, head circumference, sum of skin folds, fat mass, cord C-peptide, and 2-h neonatal plasma glucose).
Subjects: We analyzed 4424 Caucasian mothers and 3347 offspring of northern European ancestry, 1957 Thai mothers and 2089 offspring from Bangkok, 1208 Afro-Caribbean mothers and 1209 offspring from Barbados, and 774 Hispanic mothers and 762 offspring from Bellflower, California.
Results: After adjusting for confounding variables and multiple testing, neither maternal nor fetal D19S884 A8 showed significant evidence for association with any of the outcomes tested.
Conclusions: The PCOS susceptibility locus, D19S884 A8, is not a major factor contributing to glycemia during pregnancy or fetal size in a general obstetric population.
The PCOS susceptibility locus D19S884 A8 is not associated with maternal glycemia or fetal size in the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome cohort.
PDF
