Measurement of apolipoprotein B-48 in the Svedberg flotation rate (Sf) > 400, Sf 60 – 400 and Sf 20 – 60 lipoprotein fractions reveals novel findings with respect to the effects of dietary fatty acids on triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins in postmenopausal women

The present study was designed to examine whether the type of fat ingested in an initial test meal influences the response and density distribution of dietary-derived lipoproteins in the Svedberg flotation rate (Sf)>400, Sf 60 - 400 and Sf 20 - 60 lipoprotein fractions. A single-blind randomized within-subject crossover design was used to study the effects of palm oil, safflower oil, a mixture of fish and safflower oil, and olive oil on postprandial apolipoprotein (apo) B-48, retinyl ester and triacylglycerol responses in each lipoprotein fraction following an initial test meal containing one of the oils and a second standardized test meal. For all dietary oils, late postprandial (300min) concentrations of triacylglycerol and apo B-48 were significantly higher in the Sf 60 - 400 fraction than in the Sf>400 fraction (P<0.02). Significantly greater apo B-48 incremental areas under the curve (IAUCs) were also observed in the Sf 60 - 400 fraction than in the Sf>400 fraction following palm oil, safflower oil and olive oil (P<0.04), with a similar non-significant trend for fish/safflower oil. Olive oil resulted in a significantly greater apo B-48 IAUC in the Sf>400 fraction (P<0.02) than did any of the other dietary oils, as well as a tendency for a higher IAUC in the Sf 60 - 400 fraction compared with the palm, safflower and fish/safflower oils. In conclusion, we have found that the majority of intestinally derived lipoproteins present in the circulation following meals enriched with saturated, polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fatty acids are of the density and size of small chylomicrons and chylomicron remnants. Olive oil resulted in a greater apo B-48 response compared with the other dietary oils following sequential test meals, suggesting the formation of a greater number of small (Sf 60 - 400) and large (Sf>400) apo B-48-containing lipoproteins in response to this dietary oil.

Quantitation of apolipoprotein B-48 in triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

This paper describes the use of an antiserum, specific for apolipoprotein (apo) B-48, in a competitive, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for apo B-48 in triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein (TRL) fractions prepared from fasting and post-prandial plasma samples. Previously we showed the antiserum to act as an effective immunoblotting agent following sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Its use in this ELISA indicates that the antiserum recognises the C-terminal region of the protein on the surface of lipoprotein particles. The ELISA had a sensitivity of less than 37 ng/ml and intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of 3.8% and 8.6%, respectively. There was no cross-reaction in the ELISA against serum albumin, ovalbumin, thyroglobulin, or apo B-100 (purified by immunoaffinity chromatography), and high lipid concentrations (as Intralipid) did not interfere. A low density lipoprotein fraction reacted in the ELISA but SDS-PAGE-Western blot analysis confirmed the presence, in the fraction, of a small amount of apo B-48, indicating the existence of low density dietary-derived lipoprotein particles. ELISA and SDS-PAGE-Western blot analysis were used to measure apo B-48 in 12 series of postprandial samples collected from 4 diabetic and 8 normal subjects, following test meals of varying fat content. The mean correlation between the two methods was r = 0.74. The mean fasting concentration of apo B-48 in the TRL fractions from 15 healthy men was 0.46 μg/ml of plasma.

A novel antiserum specific to apolipoprotein B-48: application in the investigation of postprandial lipidaemia in humans

1. Apolipoprotein B-48, the transport protein for chylomicrons, is identical with apolipoprotein B-100 for the first 48% of its sequence. No antiserum has yet been reported that can recognize apolipoprotein B-48, but not apolipoprotein B-100. 2. In the present study an antiserum was raised to the C-terminal sequence of apolipoprotein B-48, using specific chemical reactions to ensure that the charged carboxyl group of the C-terminal isoleucine residue was free. In a Western blot the antiserum was shown to bind to a protein band having the characteristics of apolipoprotein B-48, but not to apolipoprotein B-100. 3. In the early evening 11 subjects were given a test meal which contained 40 g of mixed oil and retinyl palmitate. Blood samples were collected over 9 h. Chylomicron-enriched fractions were prepared and analysed for triacylglycerol, retinyl palmitate and apolipoprotein B-48, the latter after separation using SDS/PAGE and visualization by chemiluminescence on a Western blot. Both triacylglycerol and apolipoprotein B-48 showed an early peak at 1 h, which was not seen with retinyl palmitate. All three substances gave a broader peak between 5 and 6 h postprandially. Retinyl palmitate concentrations declined rapidly during the late (6-9 h) postprandial period, but apolipoprotein B-48 concentrations remained elevated. 4. This study has shown that an antiserum has been produced which is specific for apolipoprotein B-48. This has enabled measurement of postprandial concentrations of the protein that revealed features of chylomicron metabolism which have not been reported previously.

The embedded cluster DBSB 48 in the nebula Hoffleit 18: Comparison with Trumpler 14

We derive fundamental parameters of the embedded cluster DBSB 48 in the southern nebula Hoffleit 18 and the very young open cluster Trumpler 14, by means of deep JHK(s) infrared photometry. We build colour-magnitude and colour-colour diagrams to derive reddening and age, based on main sequence and pre-main sequence distributions. Radial stellar density profiles are used to study cluster structure and guide photometric diagram extractions. Field-star decontamination is applied to uncover the intrinsic cluster sequences in the diagrams. Ages are inferred from K-excess fractions. A prominent pre-main sequence population is present in DBSB 48, and the K-excess fraction f(K) = 55 +/- 6% gives an age of 1.1 +/- 0.5 Myr. A mean reddening of A(Ks) = 0.9 +/- 0.03 was found, corresponding to A(v) = 8.2 +/- 0.3. The cluster CMD is consistent with the far kinematic distance of 5 kpc for Hoffleit 18. For Trumpler 14 we derived similar parameters as in previous studies in the optical, in particular an age of 1.7 +/- 0.7 Myr. The fraction of stars with infrared excess in Trumpler 14 is f(K) = 28 +/- 4%. Despite the young ages, both clusters are described by a King profile with core radii R-core = 0.46 +/- 0.05 pc and R-core = 0.35 +/- 0.04 pc, respectively, for DBSB 48 and Trumpler 14. Such cores are smaller than those of typical open clusters. Small cores are probably related to the cluster formation and/or parent molecular cloud fragmentation. In DBSB 48, the magnitude extent of the upper main sequence is Delta K-s approximate to 2 mag, while in Trumpler 14 it is Delta K-s approximate to 5 mag, consistent with the estimated ages. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

”Kan regeringen lägga 48 miljarder extra på invandringen, kan man tycka att ett par miljoner kan gå till oss som bor här och är sjuka i hepatit C?” : Hur invandring och mångkultur uttrycks i insändare, en innehållsanalys

Under många år har ”invandringsfrågan” varit en mycket debatterad fråga. Detta märks inte minst i alla de insändare som publicerats i Dalarnas morgontidningar. Integration och ekonomi är exempel på ämnen som nämns i dessa insändare då diskursen invandring diskuteras. En betydande faktor i debatten har bland annat varit Sverigedemokraternas valframgångar. Med denna undersökning vill vi försöka kartlägga hur diskursen invandring framställs i insändare från Dala-demokraten. Detta har gjorts med en innehålls- och diskursanalys. Analysen har utgått från insändare mellan tidsperioden augusti-april 2002/2003 och 2014/2015, vilket motsvarar tiden kring de båda riksdagsvalen.Analysen har genererat fyra teman (mångkultur och svenskhet, integrationsfrågan och invandring, demokrati och yttrandefrihet och ekonomi och välfärd) som diskursen invandring kretsar kring. Utifrån dessa teman har vår analys visat att Sverigedemokraternas valframgångar tenderar att delvis influera diskursen invandring som insändarskribenterna förmedlar. Diskursen invandring har gått från att kretsa kring integrationsproblematik 2002/2003 till ekonomisk problematik 2014/2015. Analysen har även visat på ett ”vi och dem”-tänk som genomsyrar diskursen invandring under bägge tidsperioder. Detta sker både genom fördomsfulla framställningar av andra människor och i uppdelningen av vilka som ”bör” få ta del av Sveriges gemensamma medel.

The hand of God is over their hands (Q. 48:10) : on the notion of covenant in al-Ṭabarī’s account of Karbalāʾ

This article is an analysis of the story of the killing of Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī at Karbalāʾ in 61/680, as it is presented by Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-Ṭabarī (d. 310/923). The main argument is that the notion of the divine covenant, which permeates the Qur’an, constitutes a framework through which al-Ṭabarī views this event. The Qur’anic idea of the covenant is read in structural/thematic continuity with the Hebrew Bible account of the covenant between Yahweh and the Hebrew people, which has, in turn, been traced back in its basic form to Late Bronze Era treaties between rulers and their vassals.   The present study focusses on four speeches ascribed to Ḥusayn during the encounter he and his group had with the vanguard of the Kūfan army led by al-Ḥurr. These are analysed in accordance with their use of Qur’anic covenant vocabulary. They are also categorised within the broader framework of the eight standard characteristics of Ancient West Asian and Biblical covenants, as presented by George Mendenhall and Gary Herion, which have recently been developed in a Qur’anic context by Rosalind Ward Gwynne. This article argues that al-Ṭabarī’s Karbalāʾ narrative presents the pact of loyalty to Ḥusayn as a clear extension of the divine covenant.

Níveis de endotelina-1 no sangue do cordão umbilical e com 12 a 48 horas de vida em recém-nascidos pré-termo com e sem doença da membrana hialina

Objetivo: Determinar os níveis da endotelina-1 (ET-1) no sangue de cordão umbilical e no plasma de recém-nascidos pré-termo com doença da membrana hialina (DMH) e comparar estes níveis com controles. Metodologia: Nós determinamos os níveis da ET-1 em 18 pré-termos com DMH que não tiveram diagnóstico clínico ou ecocardiográfico de hipertensão pulmonar e em 22 prétermos sem DMH (peso de nascimento < 2000g e idade gestacional ≤ 34 semanas). Foram utilizados sangue do cordão umbilical e uma segunda amostra de sangue coletada durante as primeiras 12 a 48 horas de vida após o nascimento, para determinação da ET-1 por enzimoimunoensaio. Resultados: As medianas dos valores da ET-1 do sangue de cordão umbilical foram similares nos dois grupos (controles: 10,9pg/mL e DMH: 11,4pg/mL) e foram significativamente maiores do que as da segunda amostra (controles: 1,7pg/mL, DMH: 3,5pg/mL; p<0,001 para ambos os grupos). As medianas da ET-1 da segunda amostra foram significativamente maiores no grupo com DMH do que no grupo controle (p<0,001). Houve uma correlação positiva entre dosagem da ET-1 na segunda amostra e o Escore de Gravidade Neonatal SNAPPE II (r=0,36, p=0,02), e duração da ventilação mecânica (r=0,59, p=0,04). Um declíneo mais lento nos valores da ET-1 do nascimento para as 12 a 48h de vida foi observado nos recém-nascidos pré-termo com DMH comparados com os controles. Conclusões: Recém-nascidos pré-termo com e sem DMH tem níveis semelhantes da ET-1 no sangue de cordão umbilical, enquanto os níveis da ET-1 no recém-nascido com 12 a 48 horas de vida foram maiores nos com DMH do que nos controles. Níveis elevados da ET-1 na DMH sugerem que este mediador está envolvido na fisiopatologia da DMH.

Os efeitos da redução da jornada de trabalho de 48 para 44 horas semanais sobre o mercado de trabalho no Brasil

The reduction of standard weekly working hours from the curreilt leveI of 44 hours to 40 hours has recently been proposed by the main central unions as a way to create jobs and reduce unemployment in Brazil. The idea, known as work-sharing, is that the reduction in average hours per worker allows the same tasks to be performed bymore employees. However, the notion ofwork-sharing has been challenged by the theoretical and the empirical literature. Theory says that, in general, a reduction in the duration ofthe workweek tends to decrease employment. Work-sharing is even less likely in the case of no wage restraint, when monthly wages are not proportionally reduced. Recent cautious econometric evidence also conflict with the notion of work -sharing (Hunt, 1999, and Crépon and Kramarz, 2000). The objective ofthis paper is to study the effects ofthe workweek length reduction from 48 to 44 hours, prescribed by the 1988 Constitutional change, on the Brazilian labor market. We find that: i) the reduction of standard working hours was followed by a significant decrease in actual working hours: 60,7% ofthe employees that worked between 45 and 48 weekly hours in 1988 (the affected group) and that remained employed in 1989 switched to a 40-44 hours workweek; ii) belonging to the affected group in 1988 had no statistical effect on the probability ofbecoming unemployed, exiting the labor market, or switching to an informal job in 1989; iii) the reduction in working hours implied a 8,8% increase in hourly real wages with respect to those that remained employed at 40-44 hours a week. In sum, the reduction of standard working hours in 1988 reduced actual working hours, did not affect the probability ofa typical worker to lose hisjob in 1989, and implied a relative increase in hourly real wages.

Estimativa de parâmetros genéticos da habilidade de permanência aos 48, 60 e 72 meses de idade em vacas da raça Caracu

Objetivou-se estimar a herdabilidade da característica habilidade de permanência (HP) em um rebanho de bovinos da raça Caracu visando sua utilização como critério de seleção. A característica em estudo foi definida como a probabilidade de a vaca estar presente no rebanho aos 48 (HP48), aos 60 (HP60) e aos 72 (HP72) meses, desde que possuíssem registros de pelo menos duas lactações nas específicas idades. Observações binárias, com zero (0 = fracasso) e um (1 = sucesso) foram designadas aos animais. Para análise da HP, foram utilizados dados de 5.487, 4.947 e 4.308 animais aos 48, 60 e 72 meses, respectivamente. Os componentes de variância e as herdabilidades foram estimados mediante inferência Bayesiana, via amostragem de Gibbs, pelo programa MTGSAM - threshold, utilizando-se um modelo touro. Foram utilizadas como variáveis explanatórias grupo de contemporâneos, classe de produção de leite na primeira lactação, classe de idade ao primeiro parto e sua interação. As análises forneceram estimativas médias de herdabilidade iguais a 0,28 ± 0,07 para HP48, 0,27 ± 0,07 para HP60 e 0,23 ± 0,07 para HP72. Os resultados evidenciaram que a característica HP apresentou variação aditiva em todas as idades estudadas e, portanto, pode ser empregada como critério de seleção para longevidade produtiva.

Blood galactose and glucose levels in mothers, cord blood, and 48-hour-old breast-fed full-term infants

Background: Although galactose is an important component in human lactose, there are few reports of its role in the newborn metabolism. Objective: To determine the relationship of blood galactose and glucose levels in mothers, cord blood, and breast-fed full-term newborn infants. Methods: Maternal and cord vein blood samples were obtained from 27 pregnant women at delivery, and from their breastfed, full-term newborns 48 h later. Galactose and glucose were determined by HPLC. Statistical analysis used ANOVA and Pearson correlation with p < 0.05. Results: Maternal galactose concentrations (0.08 +/- 0.03 mmol/l) were similar to cord blood galactose (0.07 +/- 0.03 mmol/l; p = 0.129). However, newborn blood galactose (0.05 +/- 0.02 mmol/l) was significantly lower than both cord (p = 0.042) and maternal blood (p = 0.002). Maternal blood glucose levels (4.72 +/- 0.86 mmol/l) were higher than cord blood (3.98 +/- 0.57 mmol/l; p < 0.001), and cord blood concentrations were higher than newborn blood levels (3.00 +/- 0.56 mmol/l; p < 0.001); all values expressed as mean +/- SD. Significant correlation was only seen between maternal and cord blood galactose levels (r = 0.67; p < 0.001) and glucose levels (r = 0.38; p = 0.047). Conclusion: the association and similarity between maternal and cord blood galactose levels suggest that the fetus is dependent on maternal galactose. In contrast, the lower galactose levels in newborn infants and a lack of association between both suggest self-regulation and a dependence on galactose ingestion. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.