Here, we summarize and analyze the currently available data from

Here, we summarize and analyze the currently available data from our own laboratory and other groups, providing a comprehensive overview of miRNA function in the heart, including a brief introduction of miRNA biology, expression profile of miRNAs in cardiac tissue, role of miRNAs in cardiac hypertrophy ABT-263 and heart failure, the arrhythmogenic potential of miRNAs, the involvement of miRNAs in vascular angiogenesis, and regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis by miRNAs. The target genes and signaling pathways linking the miRNAs to cardiovascular disease are highlighted. The applications of miRNA interference technologies for manipulating

miRNA expression, stability, and function as new strategies for molecular therapy of human disease are evaluated. Finally, some specific issues related to future directions of the research on miRNAs relevant to cardiovascular disease are pinpointed and speculated.”
“This is a comparison study that is aimed to investigate and compare the frequency and

severity of secondary social anxiety disorder (SAD) in patients with hyperkinesias, which is associated with a significant sense of disfigurement and compromised Napabucasin research buy social interaction. Patients with hemifacial spasm (n = 20), cervical dystonia (n = 20), and essential tremor (n = 20) were evaluated by SCID-I, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Rating Scales, and Sheehan Disability Scale. The DSM-IV H criterion excluding social anxiety related to a medical condition was disregarded for the diagnosis of secondary SAD. The control group (n = 60) consisted of matched healthy subjects. The frequency of the diagnosis and severity RSL3 of symptoms were compared and associations with sociodemographic and clinical factors were explored. There was no difference between three patient groups in terms of the

frequency or the severity of secondary SAD. Younger age and depressive symptoms were associated with the severity of secondary SAD, while severity or duration of the movement disorder or social disability was not. This study revealed a high frequency of secondary SAD in hyperkinesias, emphasizing the need for psychiatric assessment, especially for younger and depressed patients, who seem to be at greater risk. (c) 2008 Movement Disorder Society.”
“Background and Purpose-Randomized trials suggested a different benefit of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) between men and women with anterior circulation stroke because of a worse outcome of women in the control group.\n\nMethods-We compared outcome and recanalization in men and women with basilar artery occlusion treated with antithrombotic treatment alone, IVT or combined IVT-IAT, or IAT in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study.\n\nResults-Overall, 389 male and 226 female patients were analyzed.

It is concluded that HRAM offered as part of the feed alter bioma

It is concluded that HRAM offered as part of the feed alter biomarkers of inflammation in SF of LPS-challenged horses. Larger studies that seek to clarify effects of HRAM on synovial fluid cell counts and possible role of HRAM-induced interference with complement

signalling are warranted.”
“A compact integrated dual-port diversity antenna is presented, which is suitable for long-term Selleckchem GW786034 evolution (LTE) and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) applications in handheld devices. The antenna design merges two planar inverted F-shaped antennas (PIFAs) into a single-antenna structure that not only occupies less volume in a handheld device but also eliminates the need to separate two individual antenna elements, which provides further space-saving efficiency. This can be accomplished even while maintaining desirable isolation and diversity characteristics. The proposed design can thus be utilized in compact wireless handheld communication devices that require signal diversity. An example design is described for 2.6-GHz LTE/Wi-Fi bands (2.5-2.7 GHz), which has been implemented in real-world cellular phone environments and include interactions between the antenna, other components see more of the device, and a model of a human head ( the specific anthropomorphic mannequin

phantom). The simulated and experimental results, including S-parameters, radiation patterns, signal correlations, and mean effective gain values, have validated the proposed antenna design as useful for compact mobile devices.”
“We study Birinapant chemical structure the global asymptotic stability of the positive equilibrium in a population model with a piecewise constant argument. Gopalsamy and Liu conjectured that the positive equilibrium N* = 1/a+b is globally asymptotically stable if and only if the following inequality holds,\n\nr <=

(r) over bar(r) over cap(alpha) 1+alpha/alpha ln 1+alpha/1-alpha\n\nwhich has been solved by Muroya and Kato (2005)[2], Li and Yuan (2008)[1] for alpha := a/b is an element of [0.1). But, for alpha is an element of(-1, 0), is the above inequality the necessary and sufficient condition for the global asymptotic stability of the positive equilibrium 1/a+b ? In this paper, we will give an affirmative answer to the extended Gopalsamy and Liu’s conjecture. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A 38-year-old man with a history of uncontrolled hypertension was investigated for atypical chest pains and found to have an aneurysm of the ascending aorta and a coexisting coarctation of the aorta. The timing and sequence of surgical repair of these 2 pathologies are controversial. We report an elective single-stage operation in which the ascending aorta was replaced and an extracardiac bypass from the ascending to the descending aorta was performed with excellent results.

The animals developed higher systemic and mucosal antibody respon

The animals developed higher systemic and mucosal antibody responses than vaccine made of the HA-split influenza LB-100 virus alone. The CS/TPP-HA vaccine could induce also a cell-mediated immune response shown as high numbers of IFN-gamma-secreting cells in spleens while the HA vaccine alone could not. Besides, the CS nanoparticle encapsulated HA-split vaccine reduced markedly the influenza morbidity and also conferred 100% protective rate to the vaccinated

mice against lethal influenza virus challenge. Overall results indicated that the CS nanoparticles invented in this study is an effective and safe delivery vehicle/adjuvant for the influenza vaccine.”
“Herbs have been a huge source of natural substances used to treat and prevent several illnesses; therefore it is vital to identify

the probable toxicity that might take place as a consequence of using herbal combinations.\n\nThis study was undertaken in rabbits to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of herbal drug in normal and CCl4-induced hepatic damage. Herbal drug was tested in 3 Lonafarnib solubility dmso different doses, each group comprising of seven rabbits of either sex followed by the administration of CCl4 with herbal drug and saline for 45 days. Liver function tests and histopathological evaluation were carried out at the end of dosing using standards kits.\n\nThe result shows that normal dose of herbal drug (0.43 ml/kg) possess hepatoprotective effects against CCl4 induced liver damage in rabbits which may be due to the various active ingredients present in herbal drug combination. Present study also suggests that there FK228 clinical trial was a significant (P<0.05) increase in serum alkaline phosphatase and gamma-GT in animals kept on high dose of herbal drug (10 ml/kg); however studies on huge number of animals

and humans are requisite before reaching to definite conclusion.”
“In acute pancreatitis, neutrophil elastase is secreted which damages the endothelial cells. This study was designed to demonstrate that the plasma levels of soluble E-selectin (sES) and soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) serve as endothelial molecular markers; the former is used as an endothelial activation marker, while the latter, as an endothelial injury marker.\n\nA total of 27 acute pancreatitis patients were enrolled. The plasma sES and sTM levels were assessed for 10 days after admission.\n\nThe plasma sES levels of all the patients in different disease stages were elevated at the time of admission day (day 1). The plasma sTM levels correlated with the severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis. The required cutoff to predict a fatal outcome was set as 32 Teijin Units (TU)/ml (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 91%). On day 1, the mortality rate of patients with the sTM levels of a parts per thousand yen32 TU/ml (67%, 4/6) was significantly higher than of those with the sTM levels of < 32 TU/ml (5%, 1/21).

These experiments typically examined effects of elevated atmosphe

These experiments typically examined effects of elevated atmospheric CO(2), warming or drought (driver variables) on ecosystem processes such as the carbon and water cycle (response variables). Because experiments are inevitably constrained in the number of driver variables tested simultaneously, as well as in time and space, a key question is how results are scaled up to predict net ecosystem responses. In this review, we argue that there might be a general trend for the magnitude of the responses to decline with higher-order interactions, longer

time periods and larger spatial scales. This means that on average, both positive and negative global change impacts on the biosphere might be dampened more than previously assumed.”
“The cell wall of budding yeast is a rigid

structure composed of multiple components. To thoroughly understand Proteasome inhibitor its see more involvement in morphogenesis, we used the image analysis software CalMorph to quantitatively analyze cell morphology after treatment with drugs that inhibit different processes during cell wall synthesis. Cells treated with cell wall-affecting drugs exhibited broader necks and increased morphological variation. Tunicamycin, which inhibits the initial step of N-glycosylation of cell wall mannoproteins, induced morphologies similar to those of strains defective in alpha-mannosylation. The chitin synthase inhibitor nikkomycin Z induced morphological changes similar to those of mutants defective in chitin transglycosylase, possibly due to the critical role of chitin in anchoring the beta-glucan network. To define the mode of action of echinocandin B, a 1,3-beta-glucan synthase inhibitor, we compared the morphology it induced with mutants of Fks1 that contains the catalytic domain for 1,3-beta-glucan synthesis. Echinocandin B exerted morphological effects similar to those observed in some fks1 mutants,

with defects in cell polarity and reduced glucan synthesis activity, suggesting that echinocandin B affects not only 1,3-beta-glucan click here synthesis, but also another functional domain. Thus our multivariate analyses reveal discrete functions of cell wall components and increase our understanding of the pharmacology of antifungal drugs.”
“Restricting time for grazing and concentrate supplementation affects feeding motivation, altering grazing behaviour, and performance of grazing ruminants. This study evaluated the combination of three lengths of restricting time at pasture and two levels of concentrate supplementation on behaviour, intake, and productive performance of dairy cows. Times out of pasture were 0, 4 (0800-1200 h) and 8.5 (0800-1630 h) hours. Levels of concentrate supplementation were 3 and 6 kg DM/cow/day. Measurements were: herbage dry matter intake and digestibility, grazing, ruminating and idling time, bite rate, milk yield and composition, as well as changes in live weight and body condition score.

p values of < 0 05 were considered statistically significant \

p values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.\n\nThe LSSPAD group comprised 38 HSP990 cell line patients (6.7 %); 20 (3.5 %) had pre-diagnosised PAD while 18 (3.2 %) had undetected

PAD. The clinical characteristics of these patients were advanced age, diabetes, and a history of ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disorder. 570 patients enrolled, and 448 (78.6 %) of those patients were followed up at three months after enrollment. Pain in buttocks and legs improved less in the LSSPAD group than in the LSS group (p < 0.05). Improvements in the “general health” score in SF-36 were lower in the LSSPAD group than in the LSS group (p < 0.05).\n\nAdvanced age, diabetes, and a history of cerebrovascular disorder and ischemic heart disease were associated with LSSPAD. Because LSSPAD patients show less improvement in QOL than patients with LSS but without PAD do, clinicians should consider the coexistence of PAD in LSS patients.”
“Genotoxicity of pressmud (PM) to Allium cepa was investigated to assess its toxic potential and to elucidate the effect of vermicomposting to reduce its

toxicity. The PM produced as a waste by product of the sugar cane industry was mixed with cow dung (CD) at different ratios of 0:100 (V-0), 25:75 (V-25), 50:50 (V-50), 75:25 (V-75) and 100:0 (V-100) (PM:CD) on a dry weight basis for vermicomposting with Eisenia fetida. Different concentrations of 100 % PM sludge extract (10 %, 20 %, 40 AZ 628 %, 60 %, 80 % and 100 %) and negative control (distilled

water) and positive control (maleic hydrazide) were analyzed with A. cepa assay to evaluate frequency of chromosomal aberrations before and after vermicomposting. Percent aberration was greatest (30.8 %) after exposure to 100 % PM extract after 6 h PF-00299804 mw but was reduced to 20.3 % after vermicomposting. Exposure to the extract induced c-mitosis, delayed anaphase, laggards, stickiness and vagrant aberrations. Microscopic examination of root meristem exposed to PM sludge extract showed significant inhibition of mitotic index. Also, the mitotic index decreased with increase in concentration of PM sludge extract. After vermicomposting the mitotic index was increased. However, increasing percentages of PM significantly affected the growth and fecundity of the worms and maximum population size was reached in the 25:75 (PM:CD) feed mixture. Nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium, electrical conductivity (EC) and pH increased from initial feed mixture to the final products (i.e., vermicompost), while organic carbon, C/N ratio and potassium declined in all products of vermicomposting. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was recorded to identify the changes in texture with numerous surface irregularities and high porosity that proves to be good vermicompost manure.

Due to the opportunity for longer scan times in free respiration,

Due to the opportunity for longer scan times in free respiration, a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was achieved, facilitating identification of the disease as compared to standard half-Fourier-acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) scans. Additionally, post-processing allowed modifying the T-2 contrast retrospectively,

further improving the diagnostic fidelity. The proposed radial TSE sequence allowed for high-resolution imaging with limited obscuring artifacts. The radial k-space traversal allowed for versatile post-processing that may help to improve the diagnosis of subtle diseases.”
“Laminin-5 (Ln-5), a heterotrimer composed of three different laminin chains [laminin-alpha 3 (Ln-alpha 3), laminin-beta 3 (Ln-beta 3), and laminin-gamma 2 H 89 in vivo (Ln-gamma 2)], is a major component of the basement membrane in most adult tissues. One of the chains, Ln-gamma 2, is a specific marker of invasive tumors because it is frequently expressed as a monomer in malignant tumors. However, there is no simple and direct method to detect the monomeric form of Ln-gamma

2 selectively in the presence of Ln-5 because all available antibodies recognize both monomeric and heterotrimeric forms of Ln-gamma 2. In this study, we developed a new monoclonal antibody (mAb) termed 1H3 that reacts specifically with human Ln-gamma 2 monomers during immuno-precipitation, ELISA, Western blotting, and immunostaining. Ln-5 was selleck not recognized by mAb 1H3 after BIIB057 denaturation with detergents under nonreducing conditions, but reactivity was recovered when denaturation was done under reducing conditions. The epitope of the antibody was mapped to region on the coiled-coil structure formed between Ln-gamma 2 and its partner chains Ln-alpha

3 and Ln-beta 3 in Ln-5, whose structure is further stabilized by disulfide bonds. In normal tissue samples, the basement membrane was stained with conventional antibody against Ln-gamma 2 but not by mAb 1H3. In contrast, tumor cells in tissue sections could be stained with mAb 1H3 as efficiently as with conventional antibody. Thus, mAb 1H3 holds promise as a powerful tracking tool for the specific detection of monomeric Ln-gamma 2 in vivo and in vitro and is potentially useful as a diagnostic tool for detecting tumors and as a vehicle for drug delivery to cancer tissues.”
“MYH9-related disease (MYH9-RD) is one of the most frequent forms of inherited thrombocytopenia. It is transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion and derives from mutations of MYH9, the gene for the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin IIA. Patients present with congenital macrothrombocytopenia with mild bleeding tendency and may develop kidney dysfunction, deafness and cataracts later in life. The term MYH9-RD encompasses four autosomal-dominant thrombocytopenias that were previously described as distinct disorders, namely May-Hegglin Anomaly, Sebastian, Fechtner and Epstein syndromes.

Here we tested the hypothesis that disrupted ontogeny of RFamide

Here we tested the hypothesis that disrupted ontogeny of RFamide signaling pathways may

be a mechanism underlying advanced puberty. To test this, we used a transgenic strain of Wistar rats whose GnRH neurons express enhanced green fluorescent protein. Pups were exposed by daily subcutaneous injection to vehicle, 17beta-estradiol (E2), 50 mu g/kg BPA, or 50 mg/kg BPA, from Postnatal Day (PND) 0 through PND 3, and then cohorts were euthanized on PNDs 17, 21, 24, 28, and 33 (5-8 animals per age per exposure; LY3023414 mouse males were collected on PNDs 21 and 33). Vaginal opening was advanced by E2 and 50 mu g/kg BPA. On PND 28, females exposed to E2 and 50 mu g/kg BPA had decreased RFRP-3 fiber density and contacts on GnRH neurons. RFRP3 perikarya were also decreased in females exposed to 50 mu g/kg BPA. Data suggest that BPA-induced premature puberty results from

decreased inhibition of GnRH neurons.”
“Background and objective: Physical activity level and obesity are both partly determined by genes and childhood environment. To determine the associations between long-term leisure-time physical activity, weight gain and waist circumference and whether these are independent of genes and childhood effects.\n\nDesign and subjects: The study design is a 30-year follow- up twin study in Finland. For this study, 146 twin pairs were comprehensively identified from the large Finnish Twin Cohort. These twin pairs were discordant for both intensity and volume of leisure physical activity in 1975 and 1981 and were healthy in 1981. At follow- up in 2005, both members of 89 17DMAG cost pairs were alive and participated in a structured

telephone interview. In the interview self-measured weight and waist circumference, and physical activity level for the whole follow- up were assessed. Paired tests were used in the statistical analyses.\n\nMain outcome measures: Waist circumference at 30-year follow- up (2005) and change in weight from 1975 to 2005. Results: In the 42 twin pairs discordant for physical activity at all time points during the 30-year period, the mean weight gain from 1975 through 2005 was 5.4 kg (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-8.9) less in the active compared to inactive co-twins (paired t-test, P = 0.003). In 2005, the mean waist circumference was 8.4 cm (95% CI 4.0-12.7) less in the active compared with inactive co-twins (P < GSK461364 0.001). These trends were similar for both monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs. Pairwise differences in weight gain and waist circumference were not seen in the 47 twin pairs, who were not consistently discordant for physical activity.\n\nConclusion: Persistent participation in leisure-time physical activity is associated with decreased rate of weight gain and with a smaller waist circumference to a clinically significant extent even after partially controlling for genetic liability and childhood environment.”
“The TRPA1 receptor is a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels expressed in nociceptive neurons.

5 and 3mm thicknesses of both Hydrogum and Blue Print Cremix (PAI

5 and 3mm thicknesses of both Hydrogum and Blue Print Cremix (PAIRED SAMPLE t test p<0.05). The 1.5mm samples showed much higher shrinkage than 3mm samples.\n\nConclusion: Immersion of the alginates

in the same disinfectant showed variable linear shrinkage indicating that slight changes in composition could lead AZD9291 solubility dmso to variable results. In addition, there were significant differences in the linear shrinkage between the two thicknesses of the same alginate material; this indicates the possibility of distortion in actual impressions where the geometry is complex.”
“Objective-To investigate the genetic contributions to the expression of cell surface adhesion molecules on endothelial cells (ECs) and to the release by ECs of chemokines, which are responsible for local inflammation.\n\nMethods and Results-Monocyte adhesion to ECs and transmigration

across the endothelial barrier are the key steps in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and the rupture of the existing plaques. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the femoral arteries of 131 pedigreed baboons (65 males and 66 females) aged 10.4 +/- 1.5 years (mean +/- SD); arterial ECs were harvested and cultured up to the second passage and then subjected to in vitro challenge with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, 10 ng/mL, or vehicle for 4 hours. Endothelial surface adhesion molecules were SBC-115076 supplier measured using flow cytometry, and chemokines released by the ECs were measured by immunoassay. In response VX-680 solubility dmso to TNF-alpha treatment, interleukin 8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 released by ECs were increased 3.4- and 26-fold, respectively (P<0.001). The expressions of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 were increased 12.2-, 41.4-, and 3.5-fold, respectively (P<0.001). The quantitative levels of several traits were heritable after TNF-alpha stimulation:

h(2)=0.24 (P=0.02) for interleukin 8 and h(2)=0.28 (P=0.003) for E-selectin in culture medium; h(2)=0.21 (P=0.03) for intercellular adhesion molecule-1; and h(2)=0.37 (P<0.001) for vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression on EC surfaces. Furthermore, significant heritability was observed for lysate protein level, which is a measure of cell growth rate, with (h(2)=0.64, P<0.001) or without (h(2)=0.51, P<0.001) TNF-alpha stimulation.\n\nConclusion-This study reports on the heritability of adhesion molecules in ECs when activated by TNF-alpha. This finding suggests genetic regulation of key arterial wall inflammatory processes that are responsible for the initiation of atherosclerotic lesions and the plaque rupture of existing atheromas. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010;30:16281633.)”
“An inappropriate prosthetic fit could cause stress over the interface implant/bone.

Non-haematologic grade 3/4 toxicities included fatigue, condition

Non-haematologic grade 3/4 toxicities included fatigue, condition aggravated, hypokalaemia, tumour pain, acneiform dermatitis, diarrhoea, hyperbilirubinaemia and pulmonary haemorrhage, in one patient each. Of 25 patients evaluable for tumour response, 2 patients had partial response and 20 patients had stable disease.

The recommended doses for oral vinflunine and erlotinib combination were, respectively, 115 mg/day from day 1 to day 5 and from day 8 to day 12 every 3 weeks and 150 mg/day. There was no mutual impact on pharmacokinetics. The combination was safe but evaluation in phase II is needed to further refine the activity and ABT 263 toxicity that can buy 3-MA be expected

with prolonged administration of this dose schedule.”
“Background: Increasing evidence indicates that brain kappa-opioid receptors (KORs) are involved in regulation of mood states. In animal models often used to study psychiatric illness, KOR agonists produce depressive-like effects (e.g., anhedonia), whereas KOR antagonists produce antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects. The ability of KOR agonists to produce anhedonia-like signs in laboratory animals raises the possibility that this class of drugs might be useful to ameliorate states characterized by excess reward or motivation, such as mania or stimulant intoxication.\n\nMethods: We examined how the selective KOR agonist U69,593 affects cocaine-induced facilitation of intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS), a model of the abnormally increased reward function that characterizes mania and stimulant intoxication. Rats with stimulating electrodes implanted in the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) were tested with intraperitoneal injections of U69,593 (.063-.5 mg/kg) alone, cocaine (1.25-10 mg/kg) alone, and combinations of the drugs.\n\nResults: Cocaine dose-dependently decreased ICSS thresholds, indicating that it enhanced the CAL-101 in vitro rewarding

impact of MFB stimulation. In contrast, U69,593 dose-dependently increased ICSS thresholds, indicating that it decreased the rewarding impact of the stimulation. Pretreatment with U69,593 blocked cocaine-induced decreases in ICSS thresholds at doses that had negligible effects on their own.\n\nConclusions: Activation of KORs reduces the reward-related effects of cocaine. Inasmuch as cocaine-induced behavioral stimulation in rodents may model key aspects of enhanced mood in humans, these findings raise the possibility that KOR agonists might ameliorate symptoms of conditions characterized by increased motivation and hyperfunction of brain reward systems, such as mania and stimulant intoxication.

The laparoscopy group demonstrated a significantly shorter mean (

The laparoscopy group demonstrated a significantly shorter mean (SD) length of stay (19 [14] hours vs 42 [20] hours; p smaller than .001) and less blood loss (126 [140] mL vs 241 [238] mL; p smaller than .001). The minilaparotomy group experienced a shorter procedure time (113 [47] minutes vs 197 [124] minutes; p smaller than .001). There was no difference between the groups insofar as patient morbidity selleckchem including intraoperative and postoperative complications, emergency visits, readmissions, or repeat operations. Conclusion: Compared with minilaparotomy, laparoscopic hysterectomy is associated with shorter length of hospital stay, longer operating time, and no increased patient morbidity. Published by Elsevier

Inc. on behalf of AAGL.”
“OBJECTIVE-Diabetic nephropathy clusters in families, suggesting that genetic factors play a role in its pathogenesis. We investigated whether similar clustering exists for proliferative retinopathy in families with two or more siblings with type 1 diabetes.\n\nRESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-The FinnDiane Study has characterized https://www.selleckchem.com/products/blz945.html 20% (4,800 patients) of adults with type I diabetes in Finland. In 188 families, there were at least two siblings with type 1 diabetes. Ophthalmic records were obtained for 369 of 396 (93%) and fundus

photographs for 251 of 369 (68%) patients. Retinopathy was graded based on photographs and/or repeated ophthalmic examinations using the Early Treatment of GSK2126458 research buy Diabetic Retinopathy grading scale.\n\nRESULTS-Mean age at onset of diabetes was 14.3 +/- 10.2 years, and mean duration was 25.9 +/- 11.8 years. Proliferative retinopathy was found in 115 of 369 patients (31%). The familial risk of proliferative retinopathy was estimated in 168 of 188 sibships, adjusted for A1C,

duration, and mean blood pressure. Proliferative retinopathy in the probands (48 of 168) was associated with an increased risk (odds ratio 2.76 [950/6 CI 1.25-6.11], P = 0.01) of proliferative retinopathy in the siblings of probands (61 of 182). The heritability of proliferative retinopathy was h(2) = 0.52 +/- 0.31 (P < 0.05).\n\nCONCLUSIONS-We found a familial clustering of proliferative retinopathy in patients with type I diabetes. The observation cannot be accounted for by conventional risk factors, suggesting a genetic component in the pathogenesis of proliferative retinopathy in type 1 diabetes.”
“We have investigated the effect of NaHCO3 on menadione redox cycling and cytotoxicity. A cell-free system utilized menadione and ascorbic acid to catalyze a redox cycle, and we utilized murine hepatoma (Hepa 1c1c7) cells for in vitro experiments. Experiments were performed using low (2 mmol/L) and physiological (25 mmol/L) levels of NaHCO3 in buffer equilibrated to physiological pH. Using oximetry, ascorbic acid oxidation, and ascorbyl radical detection, we found that menadione redox cycling was enhanced by NaHCO3.