3,618 research outputs found
Ryanodine receptor autoantibodies in myasthenia gravis patients with a thymoma.
No full textSera from patients with myasthenia gravis were examined by Western blot for the presence of antibodies to proteins of the sarcoplasmic reticulum from rabbit skeletal muscle. Fourteen of 30 patients with myasthenia gravis and a thymoma had IgG autoantibodies to the calcium release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (the ryanodine receptor), which plays a crucial role in the mechanism of excitation-contraction coupling in striated muscle. Ryanodine receptor autoantibodies were not detected in any of the 45 sera from patients with myasthenia gravis without a thymoma. Ryanodine receptor autoantibodies may have pathogenetic relevance in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis
Genistein-mediated diet tends to increase oxidative stress in the vasculature of female ob/ob mice
No full textabstract: Morbid obesity is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. A major contributor to the pathogenesis of these diseases is impaired vasodilation resulting from elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). This is because certain ROS such as superoxide are raised with obesity and scavenge the endogenous vasorelaxant nitric oxide, resulting in hypertension. The objective of this study was to measure the ability of genistein to quench superoxide in the vasculature of ob/ob mice, an animal model of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Genistein is an isoflavonic phytoestrogen naturally found in soy products. While genistein has documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is not known whether this protects the vasculature from oxidative stress. Genistein was hypothesized to reduce superoxide in arteries from female ob/ob mice. The superoxide indicator dihydroethidium (DHE) [2µL/mL HEPES buffer] was added to isolated aortae and mesenteric arteries from mice fed either a control (standard rodent chow containing 200-300 mg genistein/kg) or genistein-enriched (600mg genistein/kg rodent chow) diets for 4 weeks. Frozen tissues sections were collected onto glass microscope slides and examined using confocal microscopy. Contrary to the hypothesis, a diet containing twice the amount of genistein found in standard chow did not significantly reduce superoxide concentrations in aortae (p=0.287) or mesenteric arteries (p=0.352). Superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme that breaks down superoxide, was significantly upregulated in the genistein-enriched diet group (p=0.004), although this elevation did not promote the breakdown of superoxide. In addition, the inflammatory marker iNOS was not downregulated in the genistein-enriched diet group (p>0.05). The results indicate that high amounts of isoflavones, like genistein, may not exhibit the purported antioxidant effects in the vasculature of obese or diabetic subjects. Further studies examining arteries from ob/ob mice fed a genistein-free diet are needed to elucidate the true effects of genistein on oxidative stress
Sc-26196, a delta-6 desaturase inhibitor, normalizes glucose tolerance in ob/ob mice
No full text2012 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.The incidence of diabetes has reached epidemic levels worldwide, and while researchers know more about the phenomenon than ever, an effective treatment still remains elusive. Recently, chronic low-grade inflammation has been shown to play a key role in insulin resistance and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a role for the delta-6 desaturase (D6D) in diabetes, and furthermore to elucidate the potential mechanism by which inhibition of D6D by sc-26196 treatment could restore glucose tolerance in obese insulin resistant ob/ob mice. Treatment of 4-month-old male ob/ob mice with the selective D6D inhibitor sc-26196 (SC, 100 mg/kg/d for 4 weeks) improved response to an acute glucose challenge (1 mg/g BW i.p.), as indicated by lower peak (146% vs. 219% of fasting) and final (85% vs. 180% of fasting 2 hours-post bolus) blood glucose levels versus untreated ob/ob mice (p<0.01). Increased hepatic macrophage infiltration in addition to increased phosphorylation of JNK proteins and inhibitory IRS phosphorylation in untreated ob mice was attenuated by sc-26196 treatment, which suggests that D6D inhibition improves glucose tolerance by decreasing inflammation and restoring insulin signaling by way of the IRS/PI3K pathway. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of sc-26196 treatment for glucose intolerance in ob/ob mice and results warrant future studies for use of sc-26196 in the clinical treatment of insulin resistance and diabetes
Naravna in kulturna dediščina ob reki Dravi med Ptujem in Središčem ob Dravi na primeru zgodovinopisja ptujsko-ormoškega območja
No full textOn the example of the historiography of the Ptuj-Ormož area the author presents the knowledge about the natural and cultural heritage of the area at the Drava River between Ptuj and Središče ob Dravi which was gained as a consequence of the development of the places being located next to the river. The author is dealing with the relation of the society towards the natural and cultural heritage. She has focused on the presentation of natural parks with their specialties and on the results gained from protective and scientific archaeological researches that had been done because of planed environmental interventions. The extraordinary natural and archaeological richness between Ptuj and Središče ob Dravi - long ago this area gave shelter to people who had developed here their culture and enriched with it our everyday life - has been described in this paper by presenting the articles accessible in the literature from the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century. Because of the extensiveness of the topic the author has limited herself to the survey of results about the natural and cultural heritage being presented by experts from the Ptuj-Ormož area.Na primeru zgodovinopisja ptujsko-ormoškega območja avtorica v prispevku predstavlja spoznanja o naravni in kulturni dediščini ob reki Dravi med Ptujem in Središčem ob Dravi, ki so nastala kot posledica razvoja krajev ob njej. Obravnava odnos družbe do naravne in kulturne dediščine. Osredotočila se je na prikaz naravnih parkov z njihovimi posebnostmi in na izsledke, pridobljene iz zaščitnih in znanstvenih arheoloških raziskovanj, opravljenih zaradi načrtovanih posegov v okolje. Izredno naravno in arheološko bogastvo med Ptujem in Središčem ob Dravi - to območje je že davno dajalo zavetje ljudem, ki so tu razvijali kulturo in z njo bogatili naš vsakdan - je v prispevku navedeno s predstavitvijo člankov v dostopni literaturi s konca 20. in začetka 21. stoletja. Zaradi obsežnosti teme se je avtorica omejila na prikaz izsledkov o naravni in arheološki dediščini, ki so jo predstavili strokovnjaki s ptujsko-ormoškega območja
OB-EIAD175 - Copper plates from Tummalagudem (set II), reign of Vikramendravarman II, year 11
No full textCopper plates from Tummalagudem (set II), reign of Vikramendravarman II, year 1
Štrekljeva zbirka ljudskih pesmi ob prelomu stoletja
No full textThe author presents the most significant work of the Slovene folklorist and Slavist Karl Štrekelj, the book Slovenske narodni pesni 1-4 (1895-1923). He also discloses historical and social background which influenced the publication of teh collection. Štrekelj's significant views, particularly hist stand towards the folk culture, are introduced, and his work appraised.The author revises some earlier evaluations of Štrekelj's opus, made by Štrekelj's contemporaries and followers. By pointing to the both deficiencies and still valid aspects of Štrekelj's work, the author qualifies his contribution as exceptional for Slovenian folkloristics. He emphaisises however, the necessity of historical approach since by using contemporary criteria Štrekelj's work would be misprized.Avtor v svojem delu predstavlja najpomembnejše delo slovenskega slavista in folklorista Karla Štreklja, knjigo Slovenske narodne pesmi 1-4. Ob zbirki razgrinja zgodovinsko in družbeno ozadje, ki je vplivalo na zasnovo in izdajo zbirke, hkrati pa avtor predstavlja Štrekljev znanstveni nazor in njegov pogled na ljudsko kulturo in oceni Štrekljevo delo. Avtor revidira nekatere ocene Štrekljevih sodobnikov in nadaljevalcev njegovega dela. Ob opozarjanju na pomanjkljivosti in prispevek dobre srani Štrekljevega dela pa prikaže Štrekljev izjemni slovenskii folkloristiki, hkrati pa poudarja nujnost zgodovinskega pogleda, saj bi le z današnjimi merili krivično ovrednotili Štrekljevo ime
Suppressing hyperinsulinemia prevents obesity but causes rapid onset of diabetes in leptin-deficient Lepob/ob mice
No full textObjective: Hyperinsulinemia is commonly associated with obesity. Mice deficient in the adipose-derived hormone leptin (Lepob/ob) develop hyperinsulinemia prior to onset of obesity and glucose intolerance. Whether the excess of circulating insulin is a major contributor to obesity and impaired glucose homeostasis in Lepob/ob mice is unclear. It has been reported previously that diet-induced obesity in mice can be prevented by reducing insulin gene dosage. In the present study, we examined the effects of genetic insulin reduction in Lepob/ob mice on circulating insulin, body composition, and glucose homeostasis. Methods: Leptin expressing (Lepwt/wt) mice lacking 3 insulin alleles were crossed with Lepob/ob mice to generate Lepob/ob and Lepwt/wt littermates lacking 1 (Ins1+/+;Ins2+/−), 2 (Ins1+/+;Ins2−/−) or 3 (Ins1+/−;Ins2−/−) insulin alleles. Animals were assessed for body weight gain, body composition, glucose homeostasis, and islet morphology. Results: We found that in young Lepob/ob mice, loss of 2 or 3 insulin alleles reduced plasma insulin levels by 75–95% and attenuated body weight gain by 50–90% compared to Ins1+/+;Ins2+/−;Lepob/ob mice. This corresponded with ∼30% and ∼50% reduced total body fat in Ins1+/+;Ins2−/−;Lepob/ob and Ins1+/−;Ins2−/−;Lepob/ob mice, respectively. Loss of 2 or 3 insulin alleles in young Lepob/ob mice resulted in onset of fasting hyperglycemia by 4 weeks of age, exacerbated glucose intolerance, and abnormal islet morphology. In contrast, loss of 1,2 or 3 insulin alleles in Lepwt/wt mice did not significantly alter plasma insulin levels, body weight, fat mass, fasting glycemia, or glucose tolerance. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings indicate that hyperinsulinemia is required for excess adiposity in Lepob/ob mice and sufficient insulin production is necessary to maintain euglycemia in the absence of leptin. Author Video: Author Video Watch what authors say about their articles Keywords: Hyperinsulinemia, Lepob/ob, Obesity, Hyperglycemi
Adaptive Evolution of Leptin in Heterothermic Bats
No full textPMCID: PMC3217946This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Refinement of solutions to the linear complimentarity problem
No full textNash equilibrium;game theaory;matrices
Note on a Possible OB Association in Scorpius
No full textDuring a survey of Hα-emission stars, a clustering of OB and A-type stars was noticed in the constellation Scorpius. It is believed that these stars form a new association extending in R.A. from 17h00m to 17h16m (1900) and in Dec. from -31°30' to -34°30' (1900). The distance to this association is probably 1400 psc.In the course of recent survey of Hα-emission stars (1) in the vicinity of the emission nebulosities NGC 6334 and NGC 6357, the author noticed a clustering of Hα-emission stars to the north of dark nebula. This nebula is believed to form a connection between the two emission nebulae. The group of Hα-emission stars is centered about the Hα-emission stars HD 155806 (R.A.= 17h08.m7, Dec.=-33Ëš26';1900), which is classified as Oe5p in the Henry Draper extension, while in the Henry Draper Catalog it is classified as B3p.A total of 13 Hα-emission stars were found in circular area of 1,5 degree radius, centered on the star HD 155806. Two of these stars are of late spectral type, six are early spectral type, and the remaining five are too faint to classify on both red and blue plates. They might possibly be T-Tauri type star, as may also be the case for the faint Hα-emission stars which are seen projected on the dark nebulosity mentioned above.It is well known that T associations are sometimes found together with OB associations. In order to determine whether or not an OB associations exists together with the above mentioned possible T association, the author made a preliminary search for such an association in circular area of one degree radius centered on the star HD 155806. Chart No. 180 in the Henry Draper Extension was used for this survey. Within the prescribed area, 49 OB-Type and 85 A-type stars were found.The corresponding surface densities are thus 15.6 and 27.0 stars per square degre
- …
