80 research outputs found
Stimulation of cell surface F1-ATPase activity by apolipoprotein A-I inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis and promotes proliferation
No full textOBJECTIVES - Several findings argue for a protective effect of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) against endothelial dysfunction. The molecular mechanisms underlying this protective effect are not fully understood, although recent works suggest that the actions of HDL on the endothelium are initiated by multiple interactions between HDLs (lipid or protein moiety) and cell surface receptors. We previously showed that the mitochondrial related F1-ATPase is a cell surface receptor for HDLs and their main atheroprotective apolipoprotein (apoA-I). Herein we test the hypothesis that the cell surface F1-ATPase may contribute to the ability of apoA-I and HDLs to maintain endothelial cell survival. METHODS AND RESULTS - Cell imaging and binding assays confirmed the presence of the F1-ATPase at the surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and its ability to bind apoA-I. Cell surface F1-ATPase activity (ATP hydrolysis into ADP) was stimulated by apoA-I and was inhibited by its specific inhibitor IF1-H49K. Furthermore the antiapoptotic and proliferative effects of apoA-I on HUVECs were totally blocked by the F1-ATPase ligands IF1-H49K, angiostatin and anti-βF1-ATPase antibody, independently of the scavenger receptor SR-BI and ABCA1. CONCLUSION - This study suggests an important contribution of cell surface F1-ATPase to apoA-I-mediated endothelial cell survival, which may contribute to the atheroprotective functions of apoA-I. © 2009 American Heart Association, Inc
Temperature dependence of densities and excess molar volumes of the ternary mixture (1-butanol plus chloroform plus benzene) and its binary constituents (1-butanol plus chloroform and 1-butanol plus benzene)
No full textDensities rho of the 1-butanol + chloroform + benzene ternary mixture and the 1-butanol + chloroform and 1-butanol + benzene binaries have been measured at six temperatures (288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, and 313.15) K and atmospheric pressure, using an oscillating U-tube densimeter. From these densities, excess molar volumes (V(E)) were calculated and fitted to the Redlich-Kister equation for all binary mixtures and to the Nagata and Tamura equation for the ternary system. The Radojkovic et al. equation has been used to predict excess molar volumes of the ternary mixtures. Also, V(E) data of the binary systems were correlated by the van der Waals (vdW1) and Twu-Coon-Bluck-Tilton (TCBT) mixing rules coupled with the Peng-Robinson-Stryjek-Vera (PRSV) equation of state. The prediction and correlation of V(E) data for the ternary system were performed by the same models
Infant-mother interaction as a predictor of child's chronic health problems
No full textBackground Psychological stress is associated with physical illnesses like asthma or infections. For an infant, situations perceived as stressful are highly dependent on the relationship with the caregiver. Constantly poor mother-infant interaction increases the child's vulnerability to stressful conditions and experiences. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the quality of early mother-infant interaction on the subsequent physical health of the child. Poor mother-infant interaction was hypothesized to be associated with chronic or recurrent health problems in the child. Participants Fifty-seven mother-infant dyads from families at risk of psychosocial problems and 63 from non-risk families, altogether 120 dyads, participated in the study. Families were drawn from normal population, from well-baby clinics in the city of Tampere, Finland. Infants were full-term and healthy, families with severe risks like psychotic illnesses of the parents or a history of child protection concerns were excluded from the study. Methods After the initial interview with the mother, the mother-infant interaction was videotaped when the infants were 8-11 weeks of age and the interaction was assessed using the Global Rating Scale for Mother-Infant Interaction (Murray et al . 1996a). After the 2-year follow-up mothers were interviewed again and the health problems of the child were elicited. Results Poor dyadic mother-infant interaction and infant's poor interactive behaviour assessed at two months were separately associated with the physical health of the child during the two-year follow-up. After adjusting for other factors in the logistic regression analysis infant's poor interactive behaviour remained as a significant predictor of chronic or recurrent health problems in the child. Infant's health problems at the time of the initial interview and day care centre attendance were also significant predictors. Conclusions The results suggest that interactional issues between a mother and her infant are related to the child's subsequent physical health. Children with recurrent or chronic health problems may have relationship difficulties with which they need help. Also, early avoidant behaviour of the infant should be regarded as an indicator of the infant's distress with possibly adverse outcomes in the child's physical health, among other consequences
Role of home visiting in improving parenting and health in families at risk of abuse and neglect : results of a multicentre randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation
No full textObjectives – To evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an intensive home visiting programme in improving outcomes for vulnerable families.
Design – Multicentre randomised controlled trial in which eligible women were allocated to receive home visiting (n=67) or standard services (n=64). Incremental cost analysis.
Setting – 40 GP practices across two counties in the UK
Participants – 131 vulnerable pregnant women.
Intervention: Selected health visitors were trained in the Family Partnership Model to provide a weekly home visiting service from 6-months antenatally to 12 months postnatally.
Main outcome measures – mother-child interaction, maternal psychological health attitudes and behaviour, infant functioning and development, and risk of neglect or abuse.
Results – At 12-months differences favouring the home visited group were observed on an independent assessment of maternal sensitivity (p<0.04) and infant cooperativeness (p<0.02). No differences were identified on any other measures. There was a non-significant increase in the likelihood of intervention group infants being the subject of child protection proceedings, or being removed from the home, and one death in the control group. The mean incremental cost per infant of the home visiting intervention was £3,246 (bootstrapped 95% confidence interval for the difference: £1,645 - £4,803).
Conclusion – This intervention may have the potential to improve parenting and increase the identification of infants at risk of abuse and neglect in vulnerable families. Further investigation is needed together with long term follow up to assess possible sleeper effects
Osteoporoza - multidisciplinarna i radioloska tema
No full textOsteoporosis in one of the most common diseases among the elderly individuals. Bone hardness is reduced to the critically low level. Even the smallest trauma makes previously healthy individual severely ill patient. In the USA, 1.6 million people sustain fractures due to osteoporosis each year, while approximately 14 billion dollars is spent on their treatment. The costs of osteoporosis treatment exceed the costs of prevention. The studies on the incidence, prevalence and socioeconomic aspects of osteoporosis, its prevention and treatment are expected to be carried out in our country in the future. Prevention of osteoporosis is not an individual problem, but it has wide social implications. Osteoporosis may be prevented and further loss of bone substance may be discontinued.</jats:p
Substituent and solvent effects on the UV/vis absorption spectra of 3-<i>N</i>-alkyl-5-carboxy uracils
No full text1137-1140Absorption spectra
of ten 3-N-alkyl-5-carboxy uracils are recorded in fourteen solvents in the
range 200-400 nm. The absorption frequencies of carboxy carbonyl electronic transitions
are correlated by dual substituent parameter (DSP) treatment involving both
polar (σ*) and steric (Es or vc) substituent constants.
The effect of solvent polarity and solvent/solute hydrogen bonding interactions
on the absorption spectra are interpreted by means of linear solvation energy relationships
(LSER) using a general equation of the form v = vo + sπ*
+ bβ + aα where π* is a measure of the solvent polarity, β is the scale
of the solvent hydrogen bond acceptor basicities and a is the scale of the solvent
hydrogen bond donor acidities
Terror threat perception and its consequences in contemporary Britain
No full textThe terrorist attacks of 9/11, and subsequent terrorist acts around the world, have alerted social psychologists to the need to examine the antecedents and consequences of terrorist threat perception. In these two studies we examined the predictive power of demographic factors (age, sex, location), individual values and normative influences on threat perception and the consequences of this perception for behavioural change and close relationships. In study 1 (N = 100) gender, benevolence values and normative influences were all correlates of threat perception, whilst sense of personal threat was correlated with increased contact with friends and family. In study 2 (N = 240) age, sex, location, and the values of Openness to Change and Hedonism, all predicted threat perception, which in turn predicted behavioural change and relationship contact. Such findings point to the important role social psychologists should play in understanding responses to these new terrorist threats
1-Butanol + hexylamine plus n-heptane at temperature range (288.15-323.15 K): Experimental density data, excess molar volumes determination and modeling with cubic EOS
No full textDensities rho of the ternary system 1-butanol + hexylamine + n-heptane and binaries: 1-butanol + hexylamine and hexylamine + n-heptane within the temperature range (288.15-323.15K) and atmospheric pressure are reported. Excess molar volumes V-E were calculated from the density data and fitted by the Redlich-Kister and Nagata and Tamura equations. The results are analyzed in terms of the molecular interactions between the components of mixtures. Several empirical relationships (Radojkovic, Kohler, Jacob-Fitzner, Colinet,Tsao-Smith,Toop, Scatchard and Rastogi) were applied for prediction of V-E data of the ternary system from the corresponding binary data. For the correlation of binary V-E, the Peng-Robinson-Stryjek-Vera cubic equation of state (PRSV CEOS) coupled with the van der Waals (vcIW1) and CEOS/G(E) mixing rule introduced by Twu et al. (TCBT) were chosen. Prediction of V-E of ternary system was performed by the same vdW1 and TCBT models. For the correlation of the V-E of ternary data only TCBT mixing rules were used
Volumetric properties of the ternary system ethanol plus chloroform plus benzene at temperature range (288.15-313.15) K: Experimental data, correlation and prediction by cubic EOS
No full textDensities p of the ternary system (ethanol + chloroform + benzene) and binaries (ethanol + chloroform) and (chloroform + benzene), have been measured at six temperatures (288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, 313.15) K and pressure 101.33 kPa with an Anton Paar DMA 5000 digital vibrating tube densimeter. Excess molar volumes V-E were calculated from these densities data and fitted by the polynomial Redlich-Kister (for binary data) and Nagata and Tamura (for ternary data) equations. Radojkovic et al. equation was used for the prediction of the V-E of ternary data. The obtained results have been explained in terms of different effects between molecules of present species, taking into consideration influence of temperature on them. For the correlation of binary and prediction of ternary V-E with cubic equation of state (CEOS), the Peng-Robinson-Stryjek-Vera equation of state (PRSV CEOS) coupled with two different types of independent and temperature dependent mixing rules: (i) the composition dependent (vdW1) and (ii) CEOS with G(E) equation (CEOS/G(E)) Twu and co-workers (TCBT) model were used. For the correlation of ternary V data only Twu and co-workers (TCBT) mixing rules were used. Rh
Molecular characteristics and prognostic significance of bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement in Serbian follicular lymphoma patients
No full textFollicular lymphoma (FL) is characterized by the presence of a t(14; 18) chromosomal translocation that results in overexpression of bcl-2 protein. Bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement is detected in 80-90% of follicular lymphomas in Western countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the bcl-2/IgH rearrangement in FL lymphoma patients in Serbia, by PCR technique, correlate molecular findings with clinical characteristics and outcome and assess the prognostic significance of these rearrangements. One hundred-seven patients (median age, 54 years; male/female ratio:60/47) diagnosed with FL were included in the study. DNA samples were obtained from paraffin embedded lymphoid tissue of patients. Bcl-2/IgH rearrangement was assessed for the major breakpoint region (MBR), 5MBR and the minor cluster region (mcr) breakpoints by PCR technique. We detected a t(14;18) in 81.3% (87/107) of patients. The distribution of bcl-2-IgH rearrangement was as follows: 88,5% (77/87) in MBR breakpoint, 10,35% (9/87) in 5MBR, whereas mcr bcl-2-IgH rearrangement was observed in one patient (1.15%). No rearrangements were detected in remaining 20 patients (18.7%). This is the first analyses of the frequency of the bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement in Serbian FL patients, as well as in Eastern European countries. There was no correlation between presence of bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement and clinical outcome of disease. Incidence of bcl-2/IgH gene rearrangement in Serbian FL patients is relatively high, and similar to frequency in Western countries. Presence of this rearrangement in tumor tissue is not of prognostic significance
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