Can ECG changes predict the long-term outcome in patients admitted to hospital for suspected acute myocardial infarction?

SETTING: The activity of KRM 1648 (KRM), a new benzoxazinorifamycin, and rifabutin (RBT), alone or in combination with clarithromycin (CLA), was evaluated against Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) that multiplied in human alveolar macrophages (AM). DESIGN: AM were recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage, incubated in RPMI 1640 medium with 10% human AB serum, infected with four strains of MAC (of non-acquired immune deficiency syndrome [AIDS] origin), and then treated with each drug alone or in combination. After incubation for 7 days, colony forming units in each well were counted on 7H10 agar. RESULTS: Although concentrations between 0.2 microgram/ml and 20 micrograms/ml of both rifamycins showed clear dose-dependent activities against all MAC strains tested, only 20 micrograms/ml of each drug had modest bactericidal effect. In combination with 2.0 micrograms/ml of CLA, however, 0.2 microgram/ml of both drugs caused a bactericidal response against two of the four MAC strains examined. CONCLUSION: According to this human alveolar macrophage model of MAC infection, KRM and RBT in combination with CLA was found to be a promising candidate against human pulmonary MAC infection, and deserves clinical evaluation.     

Effect of mandibular and tongue protrusion on upper airway size during wakefulness

Oral appliances for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) produce either mandibular or tongue protrusion, and are thought to enlarge the upper airway (UA). We used videoendoscopy to measure UA cross-sectional area (CSA) and shape in the hypopharynx, oropharynx, and velopharynx during various stages of active mandibular and tongue protrusion during wakefulness in 10 patients with OSA and nine control subjects. Measurements were made in the supine position at end-tidal expiration, and were normalized to the CSA in the normal bite position. Airway shape was expressed as the anteroposterior/lateral (AP/L) diameter ratio. There were no differences between OSA patients and controls in the effects of mandibular and tongue protrusion on UA caliber. Both mandibular and tongue protrusion increased CSA in the hypopharynx and oropharynx (p < 0.001), whereas only tongue protrusion increased CSA in the velopharynx (p < 0.001). Tongue protrusion caused a greater increase in oropharyngeal and velopharyngeal CSA than did mandibular protrusion (p < 0.05). Mandibular protrusion caused a greater increase in CSA in the hypopharynx than in the oropharynx or velopharynx (p < 0.05). Obese patients had a larger relative increase in oropharyngeal CSA with mandibular and tongue protrusion than did subjects of normal weight. Tongue protrusion increased the AP/L diameter ratio in the oropharynx and velopharynx (p < 0.001), and mandibular protrusion did so to a lesser extent in the oropharynx (p < 0.01), resulting in a more circular airway shape. We conclude that mandibular and tongue protrusion increase the CSA and alter the shape of the UA during wakefulness.     

Disruption of syntaxin-mediated protein interactions blocks neurotransmitter secretion

The membrane protein syntaxin participates in several protein-protein interactions that have been implicated in neurotransmitter release. To probe the physiological importance of these interactions, we microinjected into the squid giant presynaptic terminal botulinum toxin C1, which cleaves syntaxin, and the H3 domain of syntaxin, which mediates binding to other proteins. Both reagents inhibited synaptic transmission yet did not affect the number or distribution of synaptic vesicles at the presynaptic active zone. Recombinant H3 domain inhibited the interactions between syntaxin and SNAP-25 that underlie the formation of stable SNARE complexes in vitro. These data support the notion that syntaxin-mediated SNARE complexes are necessary for docked synaptic vesicles to fuse.     

基于离差最大化与灰关联耦合的空调冷热源优选模型

本文针对在进行空调系统冷热源方案优选时存在复杂性、模糊性和不确定性的问题,提出了一种基于离差最大化与灰色关联耦合的空调冷热源优选模型。模型依据方案在评价指标下各属性值之间的差异进行客观赋权,根据各方案与理想中最佳方案之间的关联度大小进行方案优选决策。通过在某工程项目空调冷热源优选中的应用,表明其计算简单、结果令人满意。