Exchangeability of actin in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts as determined by fluorescence photobleaching recovery

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether hypertension is a risk factor for hysterectomy performed for benign diseases. METHODS: Self-report questionnaires were collected from 77% of 2301 Danish women aged 30, 40, 50, or 60 years selected at random in 1982 for a prevalence study. Information about cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, use of medicine, weight and dieting history, life-styles, psychologic factors, gynecologic history (including history of hysterectomy), and social background were recorded. Weight, height, and blood pressure were measured. In an incidence study, the cohort was followed during 1982-1990 via central registers to assess the incidence of hysterectomy. Logistic and Cox regressions were used to analyze data. RESULTS: In the prevalence study, history of hypertension partly explained the relation between hysterectomy and cardiovascular diseases. In the incidence study, history of hypertension and use of diuretics were significant risk factors for hysterectomy. After confounder control, use of diuretics was explained by weight-related variables, and hypertension was a risk factor for hysterectomy in educated women (adjusted relative risk [RR] 2.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07, 7.76) and in women with weight fluctuations (adjusted RR 3.31, 95% CI 1.35, 8.14). Weight cycling and lack of education remained significant risk factors for hysterectomy in women with and without hypertension, respectively. CONCLUSION: History of hypertension, weight cycling, and lack of education are closely related risk factors for premenopausal hysterectomy. These three risk factors contribute to women undergoing hysterectomy having an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. We proposed that hypertension might be a plausible biological cause of menorrhagia and an indication for hysterectomy.     

Novel hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors: thiazolidine derivatives

This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of thiazolidine derivatives on hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease and other human serine proteases. The inhibition efficacy was tested with a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay system using a NS3-NS4A fusion protein as the HCV protease and a synthetic peptide substrate that mimics the NS5A-5B junction. Nine thiazolidine derivatives showed more than 50% inhibition at 50 microg/ml. The most potent derivative was RD4-6250, with 50% inhibition at a concentration of 2.3 microg/ml; this concentration was lower than those of other protease inhibitors reported previously. The most selective derivative was RD4-6205, with 50% inhibition at a concentration of 6.4 microg/ml, a lower concentration than those on other serine proteases (chymotrypsin, trypsin, plasmin, and elastase). These results suggest that the RD4-6205 skeleton is an important structure for inhibitory activity on the HCV protease NS3-NS4A.     

Study on Interface between Sub—micron Particles and Matrix in Al2O3p／Al Composites

The microstructural characteristic of 1070Al matrix composites reinforced by 0.15μm Al2O3 particles whose volume fraction was 40% was investigated by TEM and HREM.The results showed that the interface between the matrix and reinforcements was clean and bonded well,without any interfacial reaction products.There were some preferential crystallographic orientation relationships between Al matrix and Al2O3 particle because of the lattice imperfection on the surface of Al2O3 particles.     

Property of eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for an interface V-notch in antiplane elasticity

The so-called pseudo-orthogonal property of the eigenfunction expansion form is proved to be valid for the case of an antiplane interface V-notch and the corresponding path-independent integral is derived. The relation between the path-independent integral and the stress intensity factor of the notch is found. The influence of loads on the related integral is also presented.     

The effects of R-75,317 on antiglomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis in rats

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent inflammatory mediator which is released by various inflammatory cells and produced by certain tissues, including the kidney. PAF has been shown to increase glomerular permeability to protein and to decrease glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by contracting mesangium. On the basis of these observations, it has been suspected that PAF may play a role as mediator of glomerular damage in glomerular nephritis. To examine this possibility, we studied the effects of a specific PAF antagonist, R-75,317, on the development of an experimental model of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) glomerulonephritis. Glomerulonephritis was initiated by injecting rabbit anti-rat GBM serum into rats. Proteinuria gradually developed after serum injection, plateaued at week 2, and remained at the high level of week 2 throughout the experimental period (6 wk). Chronic treatment with R-75,317 (10 mg/kg/day i.p.) tended to delay the onset of proteinuria and significantly accelerated the recovery phase. Creatinine clearance (Ccr) fell to 40% at week 3. R-75,317 treatment completely prevented this decline of Ccr. Histological changes in this model (glomerular hypertrophy, proliferation of mesangial matrix and interstitial fibrosis) were also ameliorated by the R-75,317 treatment. The results suggest that PAF may play a role in the development of glomerulonephritis and that PAF antagonists could be used in the treatment of human renal disease. Based on a paper presented at the Third International Conference on Platelet-Activating Factor and Structurally Related Alkyl Ether Lipids, May 1989.     

High-Speed TDM–WDM Techniques for Long-Haul Submarine Optical Amplifier Systems

Optical amplifier techniques have led to the installation of large-capacity submarine systems and further capacity increases seem likely. This paper reviews the FSA submarine system, which flexibly operates at both 2.5 and 10 Gb/s and offers maximum transmission capacity of 60 Gb/s for commercial use. The system configuration as well as its characteristics and upgradability will be introduced, including measurement results on time-division-multiplexing/wavelength-division-multiplexing (TDM–WDM) transmission at bit rates of 10 and 20 Gb/s using non-return-to-zero or soliton pulses. To further increase transmission capacity, TDM–WDM techniques that permit more than 10 Gb/s signal transmission in each data channel should be developed. Thus, pulse formats, which include non-return-to-zero, return-to-zero, or soliton pulses, and dispersion allocation in transmission fibers are significant issues. We introduce and discuss our recent results from high-speed (10 to 40 Gb/s) TDM–WDM signal transmission experiments with regard to the above aspects.     

Grafting of polyesters onto carbon black. III. Polymerization of β-propiolactone initiated by quaternary ammonium carboxylate groups on the surface of carbon black

By use of carbon black containing quaternary ammonium carboxylate (COO^?N⁺R₄) groups as catalyst, the anionic ring opening polymerization of β-propiolactone (PL) was carried out at 50°C. Although carbon black itself was unable to initiate the polymerization of PL, carbon black containing COO^?N⁺R₄ groups, which was prepared by the reaction of carboxyl groups with corresponding quaternary ammonium hydroxide, was found to be able to initiate the polymerization. The carbon black obtained from the polymerization gave a stable colloidal dispersion in an organic solvent, and it was confirmed that the polyester formed was effectively grafted onto the surface. In addition, the effect of quaternary ammonium countercation on the polymerization was investigated.     

Studies on propylene polymerization with a highly active MgCl2 supported TiCl4 catalyst system

Summary Propylene polymerization was performed with a highly active MgCl supported TiCl₄ in conjunction with Et₃Al and ethyl benzoate (EB). The obtained polypropylene sample was separated into four fractions by successive extraction with pentane, heptane and trichloroethylene (trichlene). Yield, Mn, Tm and microtacticity of each fraction were determined, and the effects of the concentration of EB on these items of results were investigated. It has been found that EB enhances yield, Mn and stereospecificity of trichlene insoluble (the most stereospecific) fraction, and in contrast, it decreases rapidly yields of other three fractions without changing the character of the polymers. From these findings, the functions of EB to the active centers were discussed.