The upper limit of normal for thyrotropin is 3 or 4 milli-int. units/L.

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCMP) is characterized by excessive left ventricular (LV) trabeculation. The involvement of the right ventricle (RV) is still questionable, furthermore, the normal range for RV trabeculation is undefined. Our aim was to describe the RV functional and strain values of patients with NCMP with preserved LV ejection fraction (EF) using cardiac MRI and to compare these parameters with healthy control subjects, furthermore, we aimed to define the normal range for RV trabeculation. We included 81 NCMP patients with good LV-EF (mean age: 37.0 ± 14 years; EF: 69.4 ± 13.2%) and without comorbidities. Their parameters were compared to an age and sex matched control group (mean age: 37.2 ± 13.7 years; EF: 77.2 ± 15.0%). MR examinations were performed with 1,5T Philips Achieva and Siemens Aera devices. The Medis Suite software was used for post-processing analysis, the MedCalc software for statistics, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The RV trabecular mass index (RV-TRABi) was significantly greater and the RV-EF significantly smaller in the NCMP group compared with the controls (NCMP vs. control; TRABi: 20.6 ± 7.0 vs. 16.9 ± 4.2 g/m2; RV-EF: 62.8 ± 5.5 vs. 64.5 ± 4.5%; p < 0.05). As for the RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) the results were close to significant (NCMP vs. control: -25.1 ± 4.0 vs. -26.4 ± 4.3%; p = 0.05). We defined the normal range of RV-TRABi with a lower limit of 8.2 g/m2 (90% confidence interval (CI): 6.8-9.5) and the upper limit of 22.1 g/m2 (90% CI: 23.6-26.5). 27.2% of the NCMP patients exceeded the upper limit of RV-TRABi. The described differences in the RV-EF, RV-TRABi and RV-GLS draws attention to the possibility of the involvement of RV in patients with NCMP. Further follow-up studies would be necessary to evaluate the clinical importance of these alterations.

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Characterization of the Composition and Biological Activity of the Venom from Vespa bicolor Fabricius, a Wasp from South China

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins14010059 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 59

Author(s):

Yong-Hua Wu ◽

Yu Zhang ◽

Dan-Qiao Fang ◽

Jing Chen ◽

Jing-An Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South China ◽

Anaerobic Bacteria ◽

Clinical Importance ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Inflammatory Activity ◽

Raw 264.7 Cells ◽

Antiproliferative Effects ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Cytotoxicity Studies ◽

Allergenic Activity

We analyzed, for the first time, the major components and biological properties of the venom of Vespa bicolor, a wasp from South China. Using HPLC and SDS-PAGE, combined with LC–MS/MS, MALDI-TOF-MS, and NMR data to analyze V. bicolor venom (VBV), we found that VBV contains three proteins (hyaluronidase A, phospholipase A1 (two isoforms), and antigen 5 protein) with allergenic activity, two unreported proteins (proteins 5 and 6), and two active substances with large quantities (mastoparan-like peptide 12a (Vb-MLP 12a), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)). In addition, the antimicrobial activity of VBV was determined, and results showed that it had a significant effect against anaerobic bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration for Propionibacterium acnes were 12.5 µg/mL. Unsurprisingly, VBV had strong antioxidant activity because of the abundance of 5-HT. Contrary to other Vespa venom, VBV showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, even at low concentrations (1 µg/mL), and we found that Vb-MLP 12a showed pro-inflammatory activity by promoting the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells. Cytotoxicity studies showed that VBV had similar antiproliferative effects against all tested tumor cell lines (HepG2, Hela, MCF-7, A549, and SASJ-1), with HepG2 being the most susceptible. Overall, this study on VBV has high clinical importance and promotes the development of Vespa bicolor resources.

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Microtubule nucleation sequence studied by time-resolved x-ray scattering and electron microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100077402 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. 766-767

Author(s):

Eva-Maria Mandelkow ◽

Eckhard Mandelkow ◽

Joan Bordas

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Dynamic Equilibrium ◽

Time Resolved ◽

X Ray ◽

Additional Information ◽

X Ray Scattering ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Microtubule Growth ◽

Ray Patterns ◽

Ray Scattering

When a solution of microtubule protein is changed from non-polymerising to polymerising conditions (e.g. by temperature jump or mixing with GTP) there is a series of structural transitions preceding microtubule growth. These have been detected by time-resolved X-ray scattering using synchrotron radiation, and they may be classified into pre-nucleation and nucleation events. X-ray patterns are good indicators for the average behavior of the particles in solution, but they are difficult to interpret unless additional information on their structure is available. We therefore studied the assembly process by electron microscopy under conditions approaching those of the X-ray experiment. There are two difficulties in the EM approach: One is that the particles important for assembly are usually small and not very regular and therefore tend to be overlooked. Secondly EM specimens require low concentrations which favor disassembly of the particles one wants to observe since there is a dynamic equilibrium between polymers and subunits.

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The CM120 Biotwin: a high-contrast objective lens, optimum cryo-vacuum and improved EDX performance

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100139299 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 584-585

Author(s):

Uwe Lücken ◽

Michael Felsmann ◽

Wim M. Busing ◽

Frank de Jong

Keyword(s):

Life Science ◽

Focal Length ◽

Objective Lens ◽

High Contrast ◽

Contrast Imaging ◽

X Ray ◽

Forming Mechanism ◽

Similar Image ◽

High Contrast Imaging ◽

Low Concentrations

A new microscope for the study of life science specimen has been developed. Special attention has been given to the problems of unstained samples, cryo-specimens and x-ray analysis at low concentrations.A new objective lens with a Cs of 6.2 mm and a focal length of 5.9 mm for high-contrast imaging has been developed. The contrast of a TWIN lens (f = 2.8 mm, Cs = 2 mm) and the BioTWTN are compared at the level of mean and SD of slow scan CCD images. Figure 1a shows 500 +/- 150 and Fig. 1b only 500 +/- 40 counts/pixel. The contrast-forming mechanism for amplitude contrast is dependent on the wavelength, the objective aperture and the focal length. For similar image conditions (same voltage, same objective aperture) the BioTWIN shows more than double the contrast of the TWIN lens. For phasecontrast specimens (like thin frozen-hydrated films) the contrast at Scherzer focus is approximately proportional to the √ Cs.

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Immunogold labeling of CMP-KDO synthetase produced by recombinant E. Coli cells

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100128900 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 924-925

Author(s):

F. A. Durum ◽

R. G. Goldman ◽

T. J. Bolling ◽

M. F. Miller

Keyword(s):

Inclusion Bodies ◽

Large Scale ◽

Recombinant Dna ◽

Test System ◽

Cell Protein ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Cytoplasmic Inclusions ◽

Isolation And Purification ◽

E Coli ◽

Low Concentrations

CMP-KDO synthetase (CKS) is an enzyme which plays a key role in the synthesis of LPS, an outer membrane component unique to gram negative bacteria. CKS activates KDO to CMP-KDO for incorporation into LPS. The enzyme is normally present in low concentrations (0.02% of total cell protein) which makes it difficult to perform large scale isolation and purification. Recently, the gene for CKS from E. coli was cloned and various recombinant DNA constructs overproducing CKS several thousandfold (unpublished data) were derived. Interestingly, no cytoplasmic inclusions of overproduced CKS were observed by EM (Fig. 1) which is in contrast to other reports of large proteinaceous inclusion bodies in various overproducing recombinant strains. The present immunocytochemical study was undertaken to localize CKS in these cells.Immune labeling conditions were first optimized using a previously described cell-free test system. Briefly, this involves soaking small blocks of polymerized bovine serum albumin in purified CKS antigen and subjecting them to various fixation, embedding and immunochemical conditions.

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Phase behavior of cationic and anionic surfactants at low concentrations

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100123878 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 694-695

Author(s):

E. Naranjo

Keyword(s):

Phase Behavior ◽

Structural Characterization ◽

Dynamic Systems ◽

Anionic Surfactants ◽

Intermolecular Forces ◽

Stable Form ◽

Surfactant Mixtures ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Cationic And Anionic Surfactants ◽

General Method

Equilibrium vesicles, those which are the stable form of aggregation and form spontaneously on mixing surfactant with water, have never been demonstrated in single component bilayers and only rarely in lipid or surfactant mixtures. Designing a simple and general method for producing spontaneous and stable vesicles depends on a better understanding of the thermodynamics of aggregation, the interplay of intermolecular forces in surfactants, and an efficient way of doing structural characterization in dynamic systems.

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Research Consumerism 101: Evaluating External Evidence of Treatment Effectiveness

Perspectives on Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) ◽

10.1044/sasd17.2.43 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 43-49

Author(s):

James L. Coyle

Keyword(s):

Treatment Effectiveness ◽

Code Of Ethics ◽

Oropharyngeal Dysphagia ◽

Clinical Importance ◽

Professional Services ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Professional Judgment ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Intervention Selection ◽

Published Research

Abstract The modern clinician is a research consumer. Rehabilitation of oropharyngeal impairments, and prevention of the adverse outcomes of dysphagia, requires the clinician to select interventions for which evidence of a reasonable likelihood of a successful, important outcome exists. The purpose of this paper is to provide strategies for evaluation of published research regarding treatment of oropharyngeal dysphagia. This article utilizes tutorial and examples to inform and educate practitioners in methods of appraising published research. It provides and encourages the use of methods of efficiently evaluating the validity and clinical importance of published research. Additionally, it discusses the importance of the ethical obligation we, as practitioners, have to use evidence-based treatment selection methods and measurement of patient performance during therapy. The reader is provided with tactics for evaluating treatment studies to establish a study's validity and, thereby, objectively select interventions. The importance of avoiding subjective or unsubstantiated claims and using objective methods of generating empirical clinical evidence is emphasized. The ability to evaluate the quality of research provides clinicians with objective intervention selection as an important, essential component of evidence-based clinical practice. ASHA Code of Ethics (2003): Principle I, Rule F: “Individuals shall fully inform the persons they serve of the nature and possible effects of services rendered and products dispensed…” (p. 2) Principle I, Rule G: “Individuals shall evaluate the effectiveness of services rendered and of products dispensed and shall provide services or dispense products only when benefit can reasonably be expected.” (p. 2) Principle IV, Rule G: “Individuals shall not provide professional services without exercising independent professional judgment, regardless of referral source or prescription.” (p. 4)

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