Plasma beta-thromboglobulin levels in lung cancer

beta-Thromboglobulin (beta-TG) is a platelet-specific protein that is released into plasma when platelets are activated in vivo. The involvement of platelets in tumor metastasis has been shown in animal studies. To study the role of platelets in tumor metastasis in humans, we measured plasma concentrations of beta-TG in 20 patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer and 11 healthy control subjects. The mean plasma concentration of beta-TG was significantly elevated in patients with advanced or metastatic lung cancer when compared with concentrations in healthy controls or patients with limited disease. This study suggests there is in vivo activation of platelets in patients with advanced or metastatic lung cancer.

Pseudocholinesterase/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in serum of normal persons and of hyperlipoproteinemics

The proposed complementary risk factor, pseudocholinesterase/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, was significantly higher in patients with type IIb and IV hyperlipoproteinemias then in controls. In contrast, the established risk factor, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, was significantly higher in patients with type IIa and IV hyperlipoproteinemias. Discriminant analysis indicated that prediction of risk for coronary heart disease on the basis of lipoprotein phenotypes can be improved by about 20% when both the above factors are assessed concurrently. On the basis of earlier studies in humans and animals, we also suggest that the proposed risk factor may provide a better understanding of events leading to enhanced risk for coronary heart disease as a consequence of nutrition and of abnormal metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins.

Pseudocholinesterase/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in serum of normal persons and of hyperlipoproteinemics

The proposed complementary risk factor, pseudocholinesterase/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, was significantly higher in patients with type IIb and IV hyperlipoproteinemias then in controls. In contrast, the established risk factor, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, was significantly higher in patients with type IIa and IV hyperlipoproteinemias. Discriminant analysis indicated that prediction of risk for coronary heart disease on the basis of lipoprotein phenotypes can be improved by about 20% when both the above factors are assessed concurrently. On the basis of earlier studies in humans and animals, we also suggest that the proposed risk factor may provide a better understanding of events leading to enhanced risk for coronary heart disease as a consequence of nutrition and of abnormal metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins.

The influence of chenodeoxycholic acid on cholesterol and bile acid turnover in humans with cholelithiasis

The in vivo dynamics of cholesterol were determined in 8 individuals who were part of a national double-blind study testing the efficacy of chenodeoxycholic acid ingestion on the dissolution of gallstones. Despite the ingestion of this bile acid in amounts in excess of its normal endogenous flux, the conversion of neutral sterol to chenodeoxycholic acid continued. The flux of neutral sterol to endogenous chenodeoxycholate was lower for the patients ingesting bile acid than for one of the patients on placebo, but was similar to that of the other control and similar to previously published chenodeoxycholate flux in patients with cholesterol cholelithiasis. The remaining flux was on the basis of the very efficiently absorbed dietary chenodeoxycholate. The total cholesterol fractional catabolic rate and flux were not appreciably diminished by the administration of either high or low dose chenodeoxycholate to these individuals with cholesterol cholelithiasis.

Direct computation of the focus of expansion

Optical flow carries valuable information about the nature and depth of surfaces and the relative motion between observer and objects. In the extraction of this information, the focus of expansion plays a vital role. In contrast to the current approaches, this paper presents a method for the direct computation of the focus of expansion using an optimization approach. The optical flow can then be computed using the focus of expansion.

Optimal quadtrees for image segments

Quadtrees are compact hierarchical representations of images. In this paper, we define the efficiency of quadtrees in representing image segments and derive the relationship between the size of the enclosing rectangle of an image segment and its optimal quadtree. We show that if an image segment has an enclosing rectangle having sides of lengths x and y, such that 2N-1 × max (x, y) ¿ 2N, then the optimal quadtree may be the one representing an image of size 2N × 2N or 2N+1 × 2N+1. It is shown that in some situations the quadtree corresponding to the larger image has fewer nodes. Also, some necessary conditions are derived to identify segments for which the larger image size results in a quadtree which is no more expensive than the quadtree for the smaller image size.

Structure of the Tetrahymena pyriformis rRNA gene. Nucleotide sequence of the transcription termination region

The 3'-terminal regions of the 25 S rRNA and 35 S rRNA were mapped in the HindIIIC fragment of the T. pyriformis rRNA gene (Niles, E. G., and Jain, R. K. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 905-909). The precise locations of these termini were identified by S1 nuclease mapping. The 35 S rRNA was shown to contain two major 3'-ends, one identical to the 3'-end of the mature 25 S rRNA and one which is 15 bases longer. The nucleotide sequence of 440 base pairs of DNA in the terminator region was determined. There are several oligo T stretches and regions of dyad symmetry. Three models of transcription termination are presented which are based on possible secondary structures in the 3'-terminal region of the 35 S rRNA.

Tissue chromium exchange in the rat

This study of chromium (Cr) exchange in the rat combined measurements of 51Cr distribution and tissue Cr content to permit an assessment of tissue Cr exchange under control conditions and during varied Cr intakes. Liver Cr was found to be 50 to 100% exchangeable whereas pancreas Cr was only 34% exchangeable. In kidney, the specific activity of 51Cr exceeded that of serum by more than 100%, indicating a complex type of exchange involving both a rapidly exchanging Cr pool and an "inner" Cr pool with "sink-like" characteristics. Chromium deprivation of moderate degree reduced serum Cr and tissue exchangeable Cr pools but did not change total tissue Cr, 51Cr distribution, or glucose tolerance. Chromium supplementation and Cr overload increased serum Cr and total, exchangeable, and nonexchangeable tissue Cr pools but did not alter 51Cr distribution. These results indicate that the merging of tracer techniques with tissue Cr analyses yields a more complete view of Cr exchange than 51Cr distribution alone. The data support the hypothesis that specific transport characteristics exist in tissues that may regulate the biological role of Cr.

Serum pseudocholinesterase: high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as an index of risk for cardiovascular disease

A significant increase in the ratio of serum pseudocholinesterase/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (the Complementary Risk Factor ratio) was found in individuals classified as high risk for cardiovascular disease on the basis of the ratio of total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (the Established Risk Factor ratio) compared to the individuals with average and low risks. This Complementary Risk Factor ratio also showed good correlation with serum low density lipoprotein, triglycerides and the Established Risk Factor ratio. These results indicate that serum cholinesterase has a parallel relationship with low density lipoproteins and a reciprocal relationship with high density lipoproteins. We propose that the Complementary Risk Factor ratio may be an additional marker in predicting the risks for cardiovascular disease.

Extraction of motion information from peripheral processes

This paper is mainly concerned with low-level processes in machine perception of motion. A motion analysis system should exploit information contained in ``early warning signals'' during the intensity based peripheral phase of motion perception. We show that intensity based difference pictures contain motion information about objects in a dynamic scene, and present methods for the extraction of motion information in the peripheral phase. Some experiments with laboratory generated and real world scenes demonstrate the potential of the technique.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation in pregnancy. The role of heparin therapy

Treatment of the underlying cause and supportive care constitute the basic principles of management of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The role of anticoagulation with heparin is controversial in the absence of any controlled studies. This case report describes two patients with acute obstetric disseminated intravascular coagulation in whom the use of heparin resulted in marked clinical improvement. Treatment with heparin may be of help in situations where there is a delay in elimination of the underlying cause.

Radiochromium distribution in hypophysectomized and adrenalectomized rats

The effects of hypophyseal and adrenal ablation (HYPOX, ADX) on trivalent radiochromium (51Cr) distribution and of GH and T4 replacement in HYPOX rats were determined. Hypophysectomy increased body retention of 51Cr by 20--35%, and hormonal replacement restored body retention to normal. Serum 51Cr was increased 300--800%, resulting in depressed tissue to serum 51Cr ratios. GH replacement partially restored the 51Cr distribution abnormalities in HYPOX rats to normal. The combination of T4 with GH enhanced the restoration of normal 51Cr distribution, and tissue to serum 51Cr ratios returned to baseline levels. ADX had no effect on body retention of 51Cr but had a small effect on increases in serum and tissue 51Cr levels. As a result, tissue to serum 51Cr ratios did not change. These data indicate that in the HYPOX state there is a marked disturbance in Cr metabolism which is due to deficiencies of both GH and T4. Whether or not adrenal hormones are envolved in 51Cr distribution will require further study.

On the analysis of accumulative difference pictures from image sequences of real world scenes

The count of events where sample areas from the second and subsequent frames of a TV-image sequence are incompatible with the corresponding sample area of the first frame are accumulated in a first-order difference picture (FODP). Analysis of this FODP provides a separate estimate for images of moving objects and of stationary scene components. We start from the hypothesis that the first frame represents the stationary scene component. Once it has been recognized that a subarea of this initial estimate corresponds to the image of a moving object, the grey values in this subarea are replaced by later estimates of the stationary background at this position. No knowledge specific to a particular scene is utilized in the algorithm. The results for two scene sequences are presented.

Iatrogenic pancreatitis. A fatal complication in the induction therapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia

A patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia developed acute pancreatitis during induction therapy with corticosteroids and asparaginase. Postmortem examination showed changes consistent with hemorrhagic pancreatitis and fat necrosis over the pancreas and omentum. Corticosteroids were thought to be responsible for pancreatitis in this patient since "hemorrhagic pancreatitis" has not been previously described with asparaginase. We recommend careful follow-up of serum and urinary amylase values in patients receiving induction therapy with these agents.

Growth and cytopathic effect of rubella virus in primary and progeny guinea pig kidney cells

A culture system useful for the demonstration of cytopathology of rubella virus in guinea pig kidney cells is described. Not only were cytopathic rubella infections dependent on cell type (primary lung cells were not responsive), but infection early in primary passage was also necessary. Secondary-passage kidney cells were unresponsive. The cytopathic phenomenon did not appear to depend on any special medium or on inhibition of the normal interferon response.

Acute renal failure in the neonate

With advances in diagnostic technology, the diagnosis of renal failure from prerenal and renal causes is being made more frequently. With better clinical understanding of etiologic causes, early prevention and diagnostic and therapeutic measures can be taken. Proper and controlled use of fluids, calories, and drugs is essential. Because of its relative ease, peritoneal dialysis is usually preferred over hemodialysis when renal failure cannot be handled more conservatively. Although the incidence of renal failure has apparently increased with the advent of neonatal intensive care, survival rates are increasing and the potential for prevention is better.

Nonfunctioning adrenocortical carcinoma: a study of 12 cases

Background: Adrenal cortical carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor. Several systems were proposed for diagnosis and evaluation of adrenocortical tumors.Weiss system is most commonly used method for assessment of malignancy, but only few studies has applied this criteria, for assesement of prognosis. The aim of this study was to analyzethe histological features & immunostaining status of adrenocortical carcinoma diagnosed according to Weiss criteria and correlate the data with patient clinical finding and outcomes. Materials and Methods: In this study clinicopathological features of 12 cases were reviewed and diagnosed as adrenocortical carcinoma on the basis of Weiss criteria and immunostaining. Grading was done according to the nine histopathological criteria of Weiss and is applied for assessment of prognosis. Each tumor was labeled malignant, when it scored ≥4 point of this histological criteria, tumors with ≤3 points were considered as adenoma and not included in the series. Immunostains applied were, Vimentin, Cytokeratin, synaptophysin, chromogranin, Vinyl mandilic acid, epithelial membrane antigen and Melan A. Results: All cases studied, presented at least four of the Weiss criteria and thus diagnosed as adrenocortical carcinoma. Patients with 7 and more score of Weiss criteria is considered as high grade carcinoma. Immunostains, have role in the diagnosis of adrenal cortical tumor, but does not have any significant clinical outcome.Conclusion: Weiss criteria was found to be a good prognostic factor in adrenal cortical carcinoma. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v2i3.6020 JPN 2012; 2(3): 193-197

Conformational characteristics of peptides containing alpha, beta-dehydroamino acid residues

The structural preferences of synthetic peptides containing alpha, beta-dehydroamino acid residues, as determined by theoretical studies, x-ray diffraction analyses, and spectroscopic studies, are reviewed. The role of delta ZPhe residues in stabilizing type II beta-turn structures in small peptides and in nucleating helical structure in longer peptides is exemplified by several crystal as well as solution structural studies. From the few studies reported so far it appears that delta ZLeu influences the peptide backbone, much like the delta ZPhe residue, whereas delta Ala prefers the extended conformation, suggesting that the nature of beta substituents might influence the conformation restriction behavior of the dehydroresidues. Conformational studies on synthetic peptides containing delta E, delta ZAbu, and delta Val have also been described.