The frequency of JAK2 exon 12 mutations in idiopathic erythrocytosis patients with low serum erythropoietin levels

Idiopathic erythrocytosis (IE) is characterized by erythrocytosis in the absence of megakaryocytic or granulocytic hyperplasia, and is associated with variable serum erythropoietin (Epo) levels. Most patients with IE lack the JAK2 V617F mutation that occurs in the majority of polycythemia vera patients. Four novel JAK2 mutant alleles have recently been described in patients with V617F-negative myeloproliferative disorders presenting with erythrocytosis. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of JAK2 exon 12 mutations in IE patients, and to determine the associated clinicopathological features.

Persistently raised C-reactive protein levels are associated with advanced periodontal disease

Objective: The aim was to investigate whether there was an association between periodontitis or tooth loss in a homogeneous group of 60-70-year-old Western European men and either a sustained high or low level of C-reactive protein (CRP).
Material and Methods: Men enrolled in a cohort study of cardiovascular disease in Northern Ireland were screened in 1990-1994 and rescreened in 2001-2004, when a periodontal examination was completed. High-sensitivity CRP was measured from fasting blood samples. There were 806 men with six or more teeth who had either a high level (>3 mg/l) or a lower level of CRP at both time points. Multivariate analysis was carried out using logistic regression with adjustment for possible confounders. Models were constructed with the CRP level as the outcome variable and various measures of periodontal status (low and high threshold periodontitis) or tooth loss as predictor variables. Confounders included in the analysis were known cardiovascular risk factors of age, smoking, diabetes, BMI and socioeconomic status.
Results: There were 67 men who had a high value of CRP (>3 mg/l) and 739 men who had a CRP value =3 mg/l at both time points. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for advanced periodontitis to be associated with high CRP was 3.62, p=0.0003. The association was somewhat attenuated but remained significant (OR=2.49, p=0.02) after adjustment for confounders. A high level of tooth loss was also associated with high CRP with an adjusted OR of 2.17, p=0.008. Low threshold periodontitis was not associated with the level of CRP.
Conclusion: There was an association between advanced periodontitis and elevated CRP levels as measured at two time points at a 10-year interval in the 60-70-year-old European males investigated. This association was adjusted for various cardiovascular risk factors. There was also an association between high levels of tooth loss and high CRP in the men studied.

Energy levels, radiative rates, and excitation rates for transitions in OIV

Aims. In this paper we report calculations for energy levels, radiative rates, and excitation rates for transitions in O IV. Methods. The grasp (general-purpose relativistic atomic structure package) and FAC (flexible atomic code) were adopted for calculating energy levels and radiative rates, and the Dirac atomic R-matrix code (DARC) used to determine the excitation rates. Results. Oscillator strengths and radiative rates are reported for all E1, E2, M1, and M2 transitions among the lowest 75 levels of O IV. Additionally, lifetimes are reported for all levels and comparisons made with those available in the literature. Finally, effective collision strengths are reported for all transitions over a wide temperature range below 106 K. Comparisons are made with earlier results and the accuracy of the data is assessed.

Energy levels and radiative rates for transitions in B-like to F-like Kr ions (Kr XXXII-XXVIII)

Energy levels, radiative rates, oscillator strengths, line strengths, and lifetimes have been calculated for transitions in B-like to F-like Kr ions, Kr XXXIII-XXVIII. For the calculations, the fully relativistic GRASP code has been adopted, and results are reported for all electric dipole (E1), electric quadrupole (E2), magnetic dipole (M1), and magnetic quadrupole (M2) transitions among the lowest 125, 236, 272, 226, and 113 levels of Kr XXXII, Kr XXXI, Kr XXX, Kr XXIX, and Kr XXVIII, respectively, belonging to the n

Energy levels and radiative rates for transitions in Mg-like iron, cobalt and nickel

Energy levels and radiative rates for electric dipole (E1) transitions among the lowest 141 levels of the (IS2 2s(2) 2P(6)) 3l(2) , 3l3l', and 3l4l configurations of Fe XV, Co XVI, and Ni XVII are calculated through the CIV3 code using extensive configuration-interact ion (CI) wavefunctions. The important relativistic effects are included through the Breit-Pauli approximation. In order to keep the calculated energy splittings close to the experimental values, we have made small adjustments to the diagonal elements of the Hamiltonian matrices. The energy levels, including their orderings, are in excellent agreement with the available experimental results for all three ions. However, experimental energies are only available for a few levels. Since mixing among some levels is found to be very strong, it becomes difficult to identify these uniquely. Additionally, some discrepancies with other theoretical work (particularly for Ni XVII) are very large. Therefore, in order to confirm the level ordering as well as to assess the accuracy of energy levels and radiative rates, we have performed two other independent calculations using the GRASP and FAC codes. These codes are fully relativistic, but the CI in the calculations is limited to the basic (minimum) configurations only. This enables us to assess the importance of including elaborate Cl for moderately charged ions. Additionally, we report results for electric quadrupole (E2), magnetic dipole (MI), and magnetic quadrupole (M2) transitions, and list lifetimes for all levels. Comparisons are made with other available experimental and theoretical results, and the accuracy of the present results is assessed. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of angiotensin-related antihypertensives on brain neurotransmitter levels in rats.

The extensive clinical experience of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonists as antihypertensive agents provide numerous examples of anecdotal evidence of improvements in cognition and mood. This study aimed to determine the effect of chronic treatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, perindopril, and the angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonist, candesartan, on central neurotransmitter levels in the rat. Perindopril (1.0mg/kg/day) or candesartan (10mg/kg/day) was administered via the drinking water at for 1 week, while controls received water alone. At the end of treatment rats were sacrificed, brains removed and discrete regions dissected and analysed for noradrenaline, dopamine and its major metabolites, and serotonin content. As shown previously we found an increase in striatal dopamine levels after perindopril treatment, though this did not extend to the mesolimbic system with neurotransmitter levels unchanged in the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex. Conversely, candesartan administration produced no change in dopamine, but significant decreases in both DOPAC and HVA in the striatum. In addition chronic candesartan infusion produced a significant increase in the levels of hippocampal noradrenaline and serotonin; and frontal cortex serotonin content. These results demonstrate that while angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonists act as antihypertensives by affecting the renin-angiotensin system, they have divergent actions on brain neurochemistry.

Energy levels, radiative rates and excitation rates for transitions in Ni XI

Aims. In this paper we report calculations for energy levels, radiative rates and excitation rates for transitions in Ni xi.
Methods. The grasp (General-purpose Relativistic Atomic Structure Package) and fac (Flexible Atomic Code) have been adopted
for calculating energy levels and radiative rates, and the Dirac Atomic R-matrix Code (darc) has been used to determine the excitation
rates.
Results. Oscillator strengths, radiative rates and line strengths are reported for all E1, E2, M1 and M2 transitions among the lowest
250 levels of Ni xi. Additionally, lifetimes are also reported for all levels. However, results for excitation rates are presented only for
transitions among the lowest 17 levels.

Levels and distribution of genetic diversity of coconut (Cocos nucifera L., var. Typica form typica) from Sri Lanka assessed by microsatellite markers

The coconut variety Typica, form typica, commonly known as Sri Lanka tall coconuts is the most widely exploited and grown variety in Sri Lanka. Under the coconut bio-diversity conservation programme, several Typica populations have been collected by island-wide surveys and planted ex situ. Thirty-three coconut populations were subjected to microsatellite assay with eight coconut-specific microsatellite primer pairs in order to study the levels and distribution of genetic variation of the collected materials for formulating future collection strategies and selecting parents for the breeding programme. A total of 56 alleles were detected ranging from 3 to 10 alleles per primer pair with an average of 7 alleles per locus. Overall a very high level of genetic diversity was detected (0.999) for all the populations studied ranging from 0.526 for population Debarayaya to 0.683 for population Dickwella. Only four introduced coconut populations, i.e. Clovis, Margeret, Dickwella, Mirishena and an embryo-cultured population were clearly separated from the resulting dendrogram. A very high level of within population variation (99%) accounted for native populations suggests a common history and a restricted genetic base for native Sri Lankan tall coconuts. Categorization of alleles into different classes according to their frequency and distribution confirmed the results of the dedrogram and concluded the adequacy of single large collection from the entire target area to represent the total genetic diversity in Sri Lanka. This study discusses useful information regarding conservation and breeding of coconut in Sri Lanka.

Critical stages of the brewing process for changes in antioxidant activity and levels of phenolic compounds in ale

Samples were taken at each stage of brewing (malt, milling, mashing, wort separation, hop addition, boiling, whirlpool, dilution, fermentation, warm rest, chill-lagering, beer filtration, carbonation and bottling, pasteurization, and storage). The level of antioxidant activity of unfractionated, low-molecular-mass (LMM) and high-molecular-mass (HMM) fractions was measured by the 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfortic acid) radical cation (ABTS(.+)) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) procedures. Polyphenol levels were assessed by HPLC. The LMM fraction ( 0.001) in catechin and ferulic acid levels. Increases in antioxidant activity levels were observed after mashing, boiling, fermentation, chill-lagering, and pasteurization, in line with previous studies on lager. Additionally, increases in the level of antioxidant activity occurred after wort separation and carbonation and bottling and were accompanied by increases in levels of most monitored polyphenols. Data from the ABTS(.-) and FRAP assays indicated that the compounds contributing to the levels of antioxidant activity responded differently in the two procedures. Levels of ferulic, vanillic, and chlorogenic acids and catechin accounted for 45-61% of the variation in antioxidant activity levels.

Experimentally elevated plasma testosterone levels do not influence singing behaviour of male blue tits (Parus caeruleus) during the early breeding season

Sexual selection theory suggests that females might prefer males on the basis of testosterone (T)-dependent secondary sexual traits such as song. Correlational studies have linked high plasma T-levels to high diurnal song output. This has been confirmed in experiments where T-levels were kept high at times when natural T-levels have decreased. However, surprisingly little is known about the relation between T-levels during the early breeding season and song. In many passerine birds males sing at a high rate at dawn early in the breeding season, referred to as the dawn chorus. In blue tits (Parus caeruleus), the dawn chorus coincides with the fertile period of the female, whereas diurnal song occurs throughout the breeding season. Previous studies on blue tits showed that characteristics of the dawn chorus correlate with male reproductive success. We experimentally elevated plasma T-levels in male blue tits during the pre-fertile and fertile period. Our aim was to test whether increased plasma T-levels affect dawn song characteristics and increase the amount of diurnal song. Although T-implants successfully raised circulating T-levels, we did not find any difference between T- and control males in temporal performance measures of dawn song or in diurnal song output. Our results suggest that either there is no direct causal link between song output or quality and individual T-levels, or experimental manipulations of T-levels using implants do not permit detection of such effects during the early breeding season. Although we cannot exclude that individual T-levels are causally linked to other (e.g. structural) song parameters, our results cast doubt on T-dependence as the mechanisms that enforces honesty on song as a sexually selected trait.

Energy levels and radiative rates for transitions in Co XI

Aims.In this paper we report calculations for energy levels and radiative rates for transitions in Co XI.