Coherent combination of high-power, zigzag slab lasers

We demonstrate a scalable architecture for a high-power, high-brightness, solid-state laser based on coherent combinations of master oscillator power amplifier chains. A common master oscillator injects a sequence of multikilowatt Nd:YAG zigzag slab amplifiers. Adaptive optics correct the wavefront of each amplified beamlet. The beamlets are tiled side by side and actively phase locked to form a single output beam. The laser produces 19 kW with beam quality <2x diffraction limited. To the best of our knowledge, this is the brightest cw solid-state laser demonstrated to date.

Three-dimensional analysis of alignment error in using femoral intramedullary guides in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

We used computerized simulations with 3-dimensional models of 20 cadaver femora, calculated from computed tomographic scans, and a model of a rod measuring 200 x 5 mm to study femoral alignment accuracy for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty via minimally invasive reconstruction. The anatomical axis and insertion site were identified on each femur. A simulation of all feasible flexion-extension and varus-valgus orientations was performed. The average rod orientation was 3.2 degrees flexion and 2.5 degrees valgus. The range of orientation was 3.2 degrees extension to 9.7 degrees flexion and 4.5 degrees varus to 8.9 degrees valgus. The study suggests that a short narrow intramedullary rod inserted according to the manufacturer's specifications does not accurately find the anatomical axis and may lead to poor alignment of the femoral prosthesis. Given our finding of consistent bias toward excessive flexion and valgus alignment, we recommend that the operating surgeon carefully plan the insertion point of the intramedullary rod during surgery to compensate for this bias.

Natural language processing of spoken diet records (SDRs)

Dietary assessment is a fundamental aspect of nutritional evaluation that is essential for management of obesity as well as for assessing dietary impact on chronic diseases. Various methods have been used for dietary assessment including written records, 24-hour recalls, and food frequency questionnaires. The use of mobile phones to provide real-time dietary records provides potential advantages for accessibility, ease of use and automated documentation. However, understanding even a perfect transcript of spoken dietary records (SDRs) is challenging for people. This work presents a first step towards automatic analysis of SDRs. Our approach consists of four steps - identification of food items, identification of food quantifiers, classification of food quantifiers and temporal annotation. Our method enables automatic extraction of dietary information from SDRs, which in turn allows automated mapping to a Diet History Questionnaire dietary database. Our model has an accuracy of 90%. This work demonstrates the feasibility of automatically processing SDRs.

Computer-assisted guidewire insertion for hip fracture fixation

OBJECTIVE

: This study was designed to test in a laboratory setting a novel computer-assisted fluoroscopic technique and a conventional fluoroscopic technique for open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of hip fractures. Our hypothesis is that a novel computer-assisted fluoroscopic technique will achieve acceptable guidewire placement in one pass, with decreased fluoroscopic time and with accuracy and precision better than conventional technique.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized trials.

SETTING

Laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty, Sawbone, femur phantoms.

INTERVENTION

Dynamic hip screw guidewires were inserted into 15 femur phantoms under fluoroscopic guidance by using computer-assisted fluoroscopic ORIF technique, and 15 femurs were inserted by using a conventional fluoroscopic-assisted ORIF technique.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Ideal guidewire placement was defined as the center of the femoral head, 5 mm from the apical bone edge on anteroposterior and lateral views. Accuracy was measured as distance to ideal placement, and the number of passes and fluoroscopic time were noted for each trial.

RESULTS

The computer-assisted technique achieved an average guidewire placement that was as accurate as the conventional technique in fewer passes, 1.1 +/- 0.2 (mean +/- standard deviation) compared with 2.4 +/- 1.1 (P < 0.0001), respectively, and with fewer fluoroscopic images, 2 +/- 0 compared with 13.5 +/- 3 (P < 0.0002), respectively. Guidewire placement in both groups was within the tip-apex distance defined by Baumgaertner et al.

CONCLUSIONS

The computer-assisted technique was significantly more accurate and precise than conventional technique. It also required fewer drill tracks through the femur and exposed the patient and the surgical team to significantly less ionizing radiation.

Extracting diagnoses from discharge summaries

We have developed a program for extracting the diagnoses and procedures from the past medical history and discharge diagnoses in the discharge summary of a case and coding these using SNOMED-CT in the UMLS. The program uses a limited amount of natural language processing. Rather, it makes use of the relatively standard structure of the discharge summary, a small dictionary to divide the text into phrases, and the extensive collection of phrases for concepts in the UMLS to do the coding. With this approach the program finds 240 of 250 desired concepts with 19 false positives in 23 discharge summaries.

Simple fiber-optic-based sensors for process monitoring: an application in wine quality control monitoring

The goal of this research was to develop a simple and economical fiber-optic sensor technology for agrifood process monitoring. Toward this end, two fiber-optic sensors were developed to be used in combination: a single reflection V-bend sensor and a single fiber air-gap probe. The former is designed to be sensitive toward refractive index and the latter towards absorption. Experiments indicate that the micromachined V-bend fiber refractometer is most sensitive when the bend angle is centered around 140 degrees, at which angle the sensor may resolve changes in refractive index as small as 0.00015. Additionally, the V-bend sensor was found to be non-responsive toward sample absorption even in extremely absorbing solutions. The air-gap design absorption sensor, most commonly used for measurements in highly colored media, was found to be slightly sensitive towards refractive index. When the two sensors are used together, the response of the absorption sensor may be corrected for. This sensor combination is able to provide accurate measurements in situations where Beer's law is not obeyed. Results are presented that show that the sensor pair was successfully used to monitor wine sugar content (Brix), and color density and hue, parameters related to the age of the wine.

Urgent and emergent thoracotomy for penetrating chest trauma

BACKGROUND

Resuscitative thoracotomy (TCY) after trauma has an overall dismal survival rate, yet patients with isolated penetrating chest wounds have the best chance of meaningful recovery. Although the major factor in outcome is presenting physiology, the site of the TCY may influence survival, with the operating room offering a superior environment to the emergency room.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of location of TCY on outcome after penetrating chest injury.

METHODS

This was a multicenter study of patients admitted with either stab (SW) or gunshot wound (GSW) to the chest, with systolic blood pressure < or = 90 mm Hg, and who underwent TCY within 60 minutes of arrival. Time to TCY, Injury Severity Score, location of TCY (emergency room, operating room, or resuscitation room), and detectable systolic pressure at admission were among the factors studied.

RESULTS

Over a 4-year period, 78 SW and 140 GSW victims underwent TCY. GSW victims had greater Injury Severity Scores (39.4 +/- 23.1 for GSW vs. 27.2 +/- 15.7 for SW, p < 0.001) and mortality (69% for GSW vs. 37% for SW, p < 0.001). No parameter studied was found to be significantly associated with survival after SW. After GSW, survival was 13.5 times more likely if TCY was performed in the resuscitation room (confidence interval, 3.3-54.6) and 22 times more likely if it was performed in the operating room (confidence interval, 6.7-73.7).

CONCLUSION

Although patient selection is the primary factor determining outcome, there may be an independent benefit for performing TCY after GSW in a specialized resuscitation room or the operating room.

Polyethylene liner cementation into fixed acetabular shells

A patient presenting with a secure cementless acetabular component and with femoral head penetration through the polyethylene liner is a common clinical problem. Cementing a new liner into the fixed shell is one option. We evaluated this option in a clinical series of 17 cases and with a preliminary mechanical study. In the 1 clinical failure (5.9%), the failure occurred at the cement-liner interface. The most important variable in optimizing the mechanical strength of the cemented liner construct was adequate preparation of the cement-liner interface. This approach to treating the patient with a fixed cementless shell and a worn polyethylene liner can provide a durable construct with minimal morbidity.

Matched-pair analysis of all-polyethylene versus metal-backed tibial components

Forty-eight matched pairs of osteoarthritic knees from patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty with a round-on-round, Apollo Knee System were studied to evaluate the outcome between all-polyethylene and metal-backed tibial components. Patients were matched for patient factors, preoperative deformities, cruciate salvage or sacrifice, and surgical technique. At the last follow-up (average, 38.4 months), there was no statistically significant difference in terms of knee scores, patient self-assessment, and radiographic outcomes. No component required revision, and no revisions were pending. Maintenance of these results over time would project into better long-term success for all-polyethylene tibial components because of the amount of wear and osteolysis with current modular metal-backed tibial components. We advocate the use of a more cost-effective all-polyethylene tibial component in elderly patients (>70 years old) who are not likely to need the versatility of exchange of a modular polyethylene insert because of wear.

[Study on the determination of photophysical parameters of the non-protected fluid room temperature phosphorescence by lifetime method]

The heavy atom pertuber (HAP) can promote the intersystem crossing and the rates of radiative and nonradiative processes of triplet state, thus shortens the phosphorescence lifetime. The determination of kinetic parameters for luminescence process is very importance to understand luminescence process and the mechanisms of the heavy atom effects. In this paper, 1-chloronaphthalene and 1-bromonaphthalene were selected as the modal compounds, the possibility of determination of photophysical parameters for emission of nonprotected fluid room temperature phosphorescence (NP-RTP) by RTP lifetime method was studied based on the definition on the phosphorescence lifetime and relation with the concentration of HAP. The results obtained by two ways prove that the RTP lifetime method can be used to determine photophysical parameters for RTP emission.

[Clinical and MRI diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with orbital spread]

OBJECTIVE

To study the routes, clinical manifestations and MRI characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with orbital spread.

METHODS

Twenty (23 eyes) such cases were selected, including 6 (7 eyes) preradiotherapy cases and 14 (16 eyes) postradiotherapy cases. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) axial, coronal, sagittal routine procedures and gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (GD-DTPA) contrast-enhanced scan were performed. Fatty-restraint scan was performed after enhancement only on 3 cases. The diagnosis in all the patients was proved by the biopsy from the nasopharynx.

RESULTS

(1) Single orbit involvement was seen in 17 patients, 12 in the left and 5 in the right orbit. Bilateral orbit involvement was only found in 3 patients. (2) Major clinical manifestations of orbital involvement by NPC included: 13 cases (15 eyes) suffered from decrease of visual acuity, 9 cases (10 eyes) with exophthalmos, 11 patients (12 eyes) with ocular movement disorder, 7 cases (9 eyes) with diplopia and 5 cases (7 eyes) with blepharoptosis. (3) MRI appearances: There were 13 cases (15 eyes) with optic nerve involvement, 9 patients (11 eyes) with abnormalities in extraocular muscle, 8 cases (9 eyes) with retrobulbar tumor and 15 cases (17eyes) with orbital apex and orbital lamina bony involvement. (4) The three main routes for orbital involvement in NPC patients were as follows: (a) through cavernous sinus (the skull base) to superior orbital fissure. (b) through paranasal sinus (particularly the ethmoid sinus). (c) through pterygopalatine fossa to inferior orbital fissure.

CONCLUSION

MR imaging is very useful to demonstrate the presence, location and extent of orbital involvement in NPC patients.

Branched chain amino acids activate messenger ribonucleic acid translation regulatory proteins in human skeletal muscle, and glucocorticoids blunt this action

Branched chain amino acids (BCAA) are particularly effective anabolic agents. Recent in vitro studies suggest that amino acids, particularly leucine, activate a signaling pathway that enhances messenger ribonucleic acid translation and protein synthesis. The physiological relevance of these findings to normal human physiology is uncertain. We examined the effects of BCAA on the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (eIF4E-BP1) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70(S6K)) in skeletal muscle of seven healthy volunteers. We simultaneously examined whether BCAA affect urinary nitrogen excretion and forearm skeletal muscle protein turnover and whether the catabolic action of glucocorticoids could be mediated in part by inhibition of the action of BCAA on the protein synthetic apparatus. BCAA infusion decreased urinary nitrogen excretion (P < 0.02), whole body phenylalanine flux (P < 0.02), plasma phenylalanine concentration (P < 0.001), and improved forearm phenylalanine balance (P = 0.03). BCAA also increased the phosphorylation of both eIF4E-BP1 (P < 0.02) and p70(S6K) (P < 0.03), consistent with an action to activate the protein synthetic apparatus. Dexamethasone increased plasma phenylalanine concentration (P < 0.001), prevented the BCAA-induced anabolic shift in forearm protein balance, and inhibited their action on the phosphorylation of p70(S6K). We conclude that in human skeletal muscle BCAA act directly as nutrient signals to activate messenger ribonucleic acid translation and potentiate protein synthesis. Glucocorticoids interfere with this action, and that may be part of the mechanism by which they promote net protein catabolism in muscle.

Dexamethasone inhibits the stimulation of muscle protein synthesis and PHAS-I and p70 S6-kinase phosphorylation

Glucocorticoids inhibit protein synthesis in muscle. In contrast, insulin and amino acids exert anabolic actions that arise in part from their ability to phosphorylate ribosomal p70 S6-kinase (p70(S6k)) and eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)4E binding protein (BP)1 (PHAS-I), proteins that regulate translation initiation. Whether glucocorticoids interfere with this action was examined by giving rats either dexamethasone (DEX, 300 microg. kg(-1). day(-1), n = 10) or saline (n = 10) for 5 days. We then measured the phosphorylation of PHAS-I and p70(S6k) in rectus muscle biopsies taken before and at the end of a 180-min infusion of either insulin (10 mU. min(-1). kg(-1) euglycemic insulin clamp, n = 5 for both DEX- and saline-treated groups) or a balanced amino acid mixture (n = 5 for each group also). Protein synthesis was also measured during the infusion period. The results were that DEX-treated rats had higher fasting insulin, slower glucose disposal, less lean body mass, and decreased protein synthetic rates during insulin or amino acid infusion (P < 0.05 each). DEX did not affect basal PHAS-I or p70(S6k) phosphorylation but blocked insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of PHAS-I- and amino acid-stimulated phosphorylation of both PHAS-I and p70(S6k) (P < 0.01, for each). DEX also increased muscle PHAS-I concentration. These effects can, in part, explain glucocorticoid-induced muscle wasting.

[Local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with normal mucous membrane after radiation therapy: MR imaging findings]

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this work was to investigate and analyze the MR imaging features of postradiation local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with normal mucous membrane.

METHODS

24 such cases were studied. The diagnosis of NPC recurrence was pathologically confirmed in 15 patients, and was corroborated by repeated radiation therapy and serial follow-ups in 9 patients. MR imaging routine procedures and Gd-DTPA enhancement were performed for all patients.

RESULTS

The MR imaging findings were as follows: 1. The recurrent tumor mass was located in the prestyloid space in 8 patients, with skull base erosion and intracranial infiltration in 7 patients; 2. Retrostyloid space recurrence in 2 patients; 3. Direct bony erosion of the skull base in 7 patients; 4. Recurrence in nasal cavity and ethmoid sinuses in 3 patients; 5. Submucous cystic recurrence in 2 patients; 6. Mixed patterns of recurrence in 2 patients. Except 2 cases of cystic tumor recurrence, all cases exhibited slight hypo- or iso-intensity on T1-weighted images, slight hyper-intensity on T2-weighted images, and moderate to marked enhancement after Gd-DTPA administration.

CONCLUSION

There are several special patterns of local NPC tumor recurrence after radiation therapy in the presence of normal nasopharyngeal mucosa. MR imaging is the method of choice to depict the location and extent of NPC tumor recurrence.

Study of properties on non-protected room temperature phosphorescence and delayed excimer fluorescence of pyrene solution

A strong and stable room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and delayed excimer fluorescence signal located at 596 and 475 nm, respectively, can be induced for pyrene solution in the absence of any protective medium only use KI or TlNO3 as a heavy atom perturber (HAP) and Na2SO3 as a deoxygenator. Both lifetimes of RTP and the delayed fluorescence are in the order of X-ms and the intensities are changed with kind and amount of HAP, but the peak positions are same and there is a iso-luminescent point in the emission spectra corresponding to emission at 475 nm and at 596 nm. The optimum conditions and the effects of kind and amount of HAP and organic solvents on luminescence properties of pyrene solution were studies in detail, and the photophysical process in the presence of KI or TlNO3 for phosphorescence and delayed excimer fluorescence emission of pyrene solution was discussed.

Molecular identification using flow cytometry histograms and information theory

Flow cytometry is a common technique for quantitatively measuring the expression of individual molecules on cells. The molecular expression is represented by a frequency histogram of fluorescence intensity. For flow cytometry to be used as a knowledge discovery tool to identify unknown molecules, histogram comparison is a major limitation. Many traditional comparison methods do not provide adequate assessment of histogram similarity and molecular relatedness. We have explored a new approach applying information theory to histogram comparison, and tested it with histograms from 14 antibodies over 3 cell types. The information theory approach was able to improve over traditional methods by recognizing various non-random correlations between histograms in addition to similarity and providing a quantitative assessment of similarity beyond hypothesis testing of identity.

Physiological hyperinsulinemia stimulates p70(S6k) phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle

Using tracer methods, insulin stimulates muscle protein synthesis in vitro, an effect not seen in vivo with physiological insulin concentrations in adult animals or humans. To examine the action of physiological hyperinsulinemia on protein synthesis using a tracer-independent method in vivo and identify possible explanations for this discrepancy, we measured the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (P70(S6k)) and eIF4E-binding protein (eIF4E-BP1), two key proteins that regulate messenger ribonucleic acid translation and protein synthesis. Postabsorptive healthy adults received either a 2-h insulin infusion (1 mU/min.kg; euglycemic insulin clamp; n = 6) or a 2-h saline infusion (n = 5). Vastus lateralis muscle was biopsied at baseline and at the end of the infusion period. Phosphorylation of P70(S6k) and eIF4E-BP1 was quantified on Western blots after SDS-PAGE. Physiological increments in plasma insulin (42 +/- 13 to 366 +/- 36 pmol/L; P: = 0.0002) significantly increased p70(S6k) (P: < 0.01), but did not affect eIF4E-BP1 phosphorylation in muscle. Plasma insulin declined slightly during saline infusion (P: = 0.04), and there was no change in the phosphorylation of either p70(S6k) or eIF4E-BP1. These findings indicate an important role of physiological hyperinsulinemia in the regulation of p70(S6k) in human muscle. This finding is consistent with a potential role for insulin in regulating the synthesis of that subset of proteins involved in ribosomal function. The failure to enhance the phosphorylation of eIF4E-BP1 may in part explain the lack of a stimulatory effect of physiological hyperinsulinemia on bulk protein synthesis in skeletal muscle in vivo.

Cerebral artery K(ATP)- and K(Ca)-channel activity and contractility: changes with development

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that in cerebral arteries of the fetus, ATP-sensitive (K(ATP)) and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (K(Ca)) play an important role in the regulation of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and that this differs significantly from that of the adult. In main branch middle cerebral arteries (MCA) from near-term fetal ( approximately 140 days) and nonpregnant adult sheep, simultaneously we measured norepinephrine (NE)-induced responses of vascular tension and [Ca(2+)](i) in the absence and presence of selective K(+)-channel openers/blockers. In fetal MCA, in a dose-dependent manner, both the K(ATP)-channel opener pinacidil and the K(Ca)-channel opener NS 1619 significantly inhibited NE-induced tension [negative logarithm of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (pIC(50)) = 5.0 +/- 0.1 and 8.2 +/- 0.1, respectively], with a modest decrease of [Ca(2+)](i). In the adult MCA, in contrast, both pinacidil and NS 1619 produced a significant tension decrease (pIC(50) = 5.1 +/- 0.1 and 7.6 +/- 0.1, respectively) with no change in [Ca(2+)](i). In addition, the K(Ca)-channel blocker iberiotoxin (10(-7) to 10(-6) M) resulted in increased tension and [Ca(2+)](i) in both adult and fetal MCA, although the K(ATP)-channel blocker glibenclamide (10(-7) to 3 x 10(-5) M) failed to do so. Of interest, administration of 10(-7) M iberiotoxin totally eliminated vascular contraction and increase in [Ca(2+)](i) seen in response to 10(-5) M ryanodine. In precontracted fetal cerebral arteries, activation of the K(ATP) and K(Ca) channels significantly decreased both tension and [Ca(2+)](i), suggesting that both K(+) channels play an important role in regulating L-type channel Ca(2+) flux and therefore vascular tone in these vessels. In the adult, K(ATP) and the K(Ca) channels also appear to play an important role in this regard; however, in the adult vessel, activation of these channels with resultant vasorelaxation can occur with no significant change in [Ca(2+)](i). These channels show differing responses to inhibition, e.g., K(Ca)-channel inhibition, resulting in increased tension and [Ca(2+)](i), whereas K(ATP)-channel inhibition showed no such effect. In addition, the K(Ca) channel appears to be coupled to the sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptor. Thus differences in plasma membrane K(+)-channel activity may account, in part, for the differences in the regulation of contractility of fetal and adult cerebral arteries.

Dual role of PKC in modulating pharmacomechanical coupling in fetal and adult cerebral arteries

This study tested the hypothesis that protein kinase C (PKC) has dual regulation on norepinephrine (NE)-mediated inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate [Ins (1,4,5)P(3)] pathway and vasoconstriction in cerebral arteries from near-term fetal ( approximately 140 gestational days) and adult sheep. Basal PKC activity values (%membrane bound) in fetal and adult cerebral arteries were 38 +/- 4% and 32 +/- 4%, respectively. In vessels of both age groups, the PKC isoforms alpha, beta(I), beta(II), and delta were relatively abundant. In contrast, compared with the adult, cerebral arteries of the fetus had low levels of PKC-epsilon. In response to 10(-4) M phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu; PKC agonist), PKC activity in both fetal and adult cerebral arteries increased 40-50%. After NE stimulation, PKC activation with PDBu exerted negative feedback on Ins(1,4,5)P(3) and intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in arteries of both age groups. In turn, PKC inhibition with staurosporine resulted in augmented NE-induced Ins(1,4,5)P(3) and [Ca(2+)](i) responses in adult, but not fetal, cerebral arteries. In adult tissues, PKC stimulation by PDBu increased vascular tone, but not [Ca(2+)](i). In contrast, in the fetal artery, PKC stimulation was associated with an increase in both tone and [Ca(2+)](i). In the presence of zero extracellular [Ca(2+)], these PDBu-induced responses were absent in the fetal vessel, whereas they remained unchanged in the adult. We conclude that, although basal PKC activity was similar in fetal and adult cerebral arteries, PKC's role in NE-mediated pharmacomechanical coupling differed significantly in the two age groups. In both fetal and adult cerebral arteries, PKC modulation of NE-induced signal transduction responses would appear to play a significant role in the regulation of vascular tone. The mechanisms differ in the two age groups, however, and this probably relates, in part, to the relative lack of PKC-epsilon in fetal vessels.

Duplication of chromosome region 4q28.3-qter in monozygotic twins with discordant phenotypes

We describe monozygotic twins with partially discordant phenotypes who were found to have a duplication of chromosome region 4q28.3-qter. The duplicated region of chromosome 4 resulted from an unbalanced segregation of a balanced maternal (4;22)(q28.3;p13) translocation. Duplication of the long arm of chromosome 4 has been described in >60 patients; however, it usually results from the unbalanced segregation of a parental balanced translocation and has an associated monosomy. Twenty cases of dup 4q without an associated monosomy have been reported, and this is the only case of dup 4q28. 3-qter. All cases of dup 4q are reviewed, and phenotypic aspects are analyzed. Issues of monozygotic twinning and other birth defects also are addressed.

Cerebral artery sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) stores and contractility: changes with development

To test the hypothesis that sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) stores play a key role in norepinephrine (NE)-induced contraction of fetal and adult cerebral arteries and that Ca(2+) stores change with development, we performed the following study. In main branch middle cerebral arteries (MCA) from near-term fetal ( approximately 140 days) and nonpregnant adult sheep, we measured NE-induced contraction and intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in the absence and presence of different blockers. In adult MCA, after thapsigargin (10(-6) M), the NE-induced responses of tension and [Ca(2+)](i) were 37 +/- 5 and 47 +/- 7%, respectively, of control values (P < 0.01 for each). In the fetal artery, in contrast, this treatment resulted in no significant changes from control. When this was repeated in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), adult MCA increases in tension and [Ca(2+)](i) were 32 +/- 5 and 13 +/- 3%, respectively, of control. Fetal cerebral arteries, however, showed essentially no response. Ryanodine (RYN, 3 x 10(-6) to 10(-5) M) resulted in increases in tension and [Ca(2+)](i) in both fetal and adult MCA similar to that seen with NE. For both adult and fetal MCA, the increased tension and [Ca(2+)](i) responses to RYN were essentially eliminated in the presence of zero extracellular Ca(2+). These findings provide evidence that in fetal MCA, in contrast to those in the adult, SR Ca(2+) stores are of less importance in NE-induced contraction, with such contraction being almost wholly dependent on Ca(2+) flux via plasma membrane L-type Ca(2+) channels. In addition, they suggest that in both adult and fetal MCA, the RYN receptor is coupled to the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel and/or L-type Ca(2+) channel.

Amino acids regulate skeletal muscle PHAS-I and p70 S6-kinase phosphorylation independently of insulin

Refeeding reverses the muscle protein loss seen with fasting. The physiological regulators and cellular control sites responsible for this reversal are incompletely defined. Phosphorylation of phosphorylated heat-acid stabled protein (PHAS-I) frees eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and stimulates protein synthesis by accelerating translation initiation. Phosphorylation of p70 S6-kinase (p70(S6k)) is thought to be involved in the regulation of the synthesis of some ribosomsal proteins and other selected proteins with polypyrimidine clusters near the transcription start site. We examined whether phosphorylation of PHAS-I and p70(S6k) was increased by feeding and determined the separate effects of insulin and amino acids on PHAS-I and p70(S6k) phosphorylation in rat skeletal muscle in vivo. Muscle was obtained from rats fed ad libitum or fasted overnight (n = 5 each). Other fasted rats were infused with insulin (3 microU x min(-1) x kg(-1), euglycemic clamp), amino acids, or the two combined. Gastrocnemius was freeze-clamped, and PHAS-I and p70(S6k) phosphorylation was measured by quantifying the several phosphorylated forms of these proteins seen on Western blots. We observed that feeding increased phosphorylation of both PHAS-I and p70(S6k) (P < 0.05). Infusion of amino acids alone reproduced the effect of feeding. Physiological hyperinsulinemia increased p70(S6K) (P < 0.05) but not PHAS-I phosphorylation (P = 0.98). Addition of insulin to amino acid infusion was no more effective than amino acids alone in promoting PHAS-I and p70(S6k) phosphorylation. We conclude that amino acid infusion alone enhances the activation of the protein synthetic pathways in vivo in rat skeletal muscle. This effect is not dependent on increases in plasma insulin and simulates the activation of protein synthesis that accompanies normal feeding.

Microbial risk assessment: dose-response relations and risk characterization

Characterizations of the risks associated with foodborne pathogens are dependent on the availability of information on the population's exposure to the biological agents. However, by itself, exposure data are insufficient to assess the public health impact of pathogenic microorganisms. This requires the availability of effective dose-response models. Successful development of models that describe dose-response relations for enteric pathogens is dependent on a sound understanding of the mechanisms of pathogenicity associated with individual pathogens. This includes knowledge of how the various pathogen, host, and food matrix factors influence pathogenicity. Currently, a group of sigmoidal mathematical equations are used to empirically describe dose-response relations. While these have proven to be highly useful, advances in microbial food safety risk assessment will likely require the development of mechanistic models that more effectively consider the range of factors that influence the frequency and severity of foodborne infections in a population.