Eläytymisestä omiin tarinoihin : Televisiosarja katsojien keskustelussa

From sympathetic understanding to own stories. TV-series in the conversation of its viewers. The purpose of this study is to analyze viewers' conversations about TV-series as a practice in which viewers construct meaning to TV-series. In the tradition of British Cultural Studies this study understands that viewer has an active role in interpreting and constructing meaning to TV-series. In the tradition of feminist studies this study understands that gender is being constructed in social and cultural practices. In reception studies, the viewing of TV-series has usually been analyzed as a practice which is embedded at home and in a family. The studies are often based on interviews of viewers, and the analysis of the construction of meaning is based on interview material where the viewers most often talk about their viewing habits and the likes and dislikes of TV-shows and -characters. This study extends the reception and interpretation of TV-series from home to the moments of interaction between viewers. It is quite common to hear how people talk also outside of home about television and the programmes they have watched. In this study the construction of meaning is being studied in viewers' conversations. The method of analysis is conversation analysis which studies the ordered properties of everyday forms of social interaction. The data has been collected in a workplace where four women watched together (and without the presence of a researcher) two TV-series, American sitcom Golden Girls and Finnish family drama Ruusun aika (Time of a Rose), and afterwards had time and chance for discussion. There was neither a questionnaire nor an agenda for the women to discuss. The analysis of the conversation brings up three themes. In the orientation discussions the viewers aim to construct frames in which it makes sense to talk about the TV-series. The frames have mostly to do with the genre of the TV-series. The second theme is concerned with the viewers' aim to achieve sympathetic understanding of the characters in the TV-series. The third theme extends and transfers the conversation about TV-series to real or imaginary stories of own life. In the conversation the reception of a TV-series appears as being in motion: in the orientation discussions the viewers move towards the series, in the character-discussions the viewers move within the world of the series, and when telling their own stories the viewers move away from the TV-series towards their own lives. In the conversations there appears also a distinction in gender-constructions. When the viewers talk about motherhood, they adopt a serious and moralistic tone. When they talk about female sexuality and relationships between women and men they adopt carnevalistic and humorous tone. There are examples of these kinds of gender-constructions also in other studies of Finnish gender culture. Motherhood means the responsibility to good upbringing; relationships with men include something unpredictable and problematic which one handles at best in a humorous way.

Nonlinear measures of heart rate time series: influence of posture and controlled breathing

In this study, we investigated measures of nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory in regards to heart rate variability in 27 normal control subjects in supine and standing postures, and 14 subjects in spontaneous and controlled breathing conditions. We examined minimum embedding dimension (MED), largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE) and measures of nonlinearity (NL) of heart rate time series. MED quantifies the system's complexity, LLE predictability and NL, a measure of deviation from linear processes. There was a significant decrease in complexity (P<0.00001), a decrease in predictability (P<0.00001) and an increase in nonlinearity (P=0.00001) during the change from supine to standing posture. Decrease in MED, and increases in NL score and LLE in standing posture appear to be partly due to an increase in sympathetic activity of the autonomous nervous system in standing posture. An improvement in predictability during controlled breathing appears to be due to the introduction of a periodic component. (C) 2000 published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Levosimendaanin vaikutusmekanismi ja nykyinen merkitys sydämen vajaatoiminnan hoidossa

Sydämen vajaatoiminta on erilaisista sydän- ja verisuonisairauksista aiheutuva monimuotoinen oireyhtymä, johon sairastuneiden ja kuolleiden potilaiden määrä on yhä suuri. Sen patofysiologiaan voi kuulua muun muassa sympaattisen hermoston ja reniini-angiotensiini-aldosteroni–järjestelmän aktiivisuutta, huonosti supistuva vasen kammio, sydämen uudelleenmuokkautumista, muutoksia [Ca2+]i:n säätelyssä, kardiomyosyyttien apoptoosia sekä systeeminen tulehdustila. Johonkin osaan sairauden patofysiologiasta eivät nykyiset lääkehoidot riittävästi vaikuta. Klassiset inotroopit lisäävät sydämen supistusvireyttä kasvattamalla solunsisäistä Ca2+-pitoisuutta, mutta ne lisäävät rytmihäiriöriskiä, sydämen hapenkulutusta sekä heikentävät ennustetta. Levosimendaani, kalsiumherkistäjä, lisää sydämen supistusvoimaa [Ca2+]i:ta kohottamatta herkistämällä sydänlihaksen kalsiumin vaikutuksille. Lisäksi levosimendaani avaa sarkolemmaalisia ja mitokondriaalisia K+-kanavia, jotka välittävät vasodilataatiota ja kardioprotektiota. Suurilla annoksilla levosimendaani on selektiivinen PDE3-estäjä. Levosimendaania suositellaan äkillisesti pahentuneen sydämen vajaatoiminnan hoitoon, mutta muitakin lupaavia indikaatioita sille on keksitty. Esimerkiksi kroonisesti annosteltu oraalinen levosimendaani on suojannut kardiovaskulaarijärjestelmää ja parantanut selviytymistä in vivo. Erikoistyössä selvitettiin kroonisesti annostellun oraalisen levosimendaanin, valsartaanin ja näiden kombinaatioterapian vaikutuksia selviytymiseen, verenpaineeseen sekä sydämen hypertrofioitumiseen Dahlin suolaherkillä (Dahl/Rapp) rotilla. Levosimendaanin suojavaikutus ilmeni vähäisempänä kuolleisuutena, mutta ero ei ollut tilastollisesti merkitsevä kontrolliryhmään nähden. Kombinaatioterapia suojasi rottia kardiovaskulaarikuolleisuudelta ja vähensi todennäköisesti verenpaineesta riippuvaisesti sydämen hypertofioitumista niin sydän/kehonpaino–suhteen kuin ultraäänitutkimuksenkin perusteella arvioituna paremmin kuin kumpikaan lääke monoterapiana. Lääkekombinaatio alensi additiivisesti hypertensiota kaikissa mittauspisteissä. Sydämen systolista toimintaa levosimendaani kohensi vain vähäisesti. Dahl/Rapp-rotille kehittyikin pääosin hypertension indusoimaa diastolista sydämen vajaatoimintaa kohonneen IVRT-arvon perusteella. Levosimendaani sekä monoterapiana että kombinaatioterapiana valsartaanin kanssa vähensi sydämen diastolista vajaatoimintaa.

Sydämen hypertrofian ja kroonisen vajaatoiminnan farmakologinen hoito

Sydämen krooninen vajaatoiminta on merkittävä maailmanlaajuinen ongelma. Se on erilaisten sydän- ja verisuonisairauksien aiheuttama monimuotoinen oireyhtymä. Sydämen vasemman kammion hypertrofia eli sydämen seinämien paksuuntuminen on yksi keskeinen tekijä, joka voi olla sydämen vajaatoiminnan taustalla. Kohonnut verenpaine on yleisin syy, joka johtaa sydänlihaksen paksuuntumiseen. Tämä johtaa sydämen pumppaustoiminnan häiriintymiseen, erilaisten neurohormonaalisten mekanismien aktivaatioon ja edelleen sydämen vajaatoimintaan. Sydämen vajaatoiminnan neurohormonaalisista mekanismeista tärkeimmät ovat reniini-angiotensiini-aldosteroni-järjestelmän ja sympaattisen hermoston aktivaatio, sydämen rakenteiden uudelleenmuovautuminen, sydänlihassolujen apoptoosi ja systeeminen tulehdustila. Sydämen hypertrofiaa ja sen syntymistä pyritään estämään kohonneen verenpaineen lääkehoidolla. Reniini-angiotensiini-aldosteronijärjestelmällä on keskeinen merkitys sydämen vajaatoiminnassa. Sydämen vajaatoiminnan ennusteeseen vaikuttavista lääkeaineista angiotensiinikonvertasin estäjät (ACEestäjät) ovat säilyttäneet johtoasemansa jo vuosikymmenten ajan. Angiotensiinireseptoreiden salpaajien (AT1-salpaajien) odotettiin syrjäyttävän ACE-estäjät sydämen vajaatoiminnan hoidossa, mutta toistaiseksi niitä pidetään vain vaihtoehtoisina lääkkeinä. Sympaattisen hermoston aktivaatiota vähentävät β-salpaajat ovat vakiinnuttaneet asemansa toiseksi tärkeimpänä lääkeryhmänä. Diureetit ovat paljon käytetty lääkeaineryhmä sydämen vajaatoiminnan hoidossa, mutta niistä ainoastaan aldosteroniantagonisteilla on tutkitusti ennustetta parantavaa vaikutusta. Kroonisen vajaatoiminnan hoidossa käytetään edelleen myös digoksiinia. Tulevaisuudessa sydämen vajaatoiminnan ennusteeseen vaikuttavia lääkeaineita voivat olla reniinin estäjät, neutraaliendopeptidaasin estäjät, vasopressiinin antagonistit tai inflammatroisiin sytokiineihin vaikuttavat molekyylit. Erikoistyön kokeellisessa osiossa tarkoituksena oli tutkia sydämen hypertrofian kehittymistä vatsa-aortta kuristetuilla rotilla ja kalsiumherkistäjä levosimendaanin sekä AT1-salpaaja valsartaanin vaikutuksia hypertrofian kehittymiseen. Kokeellisessa osiossa arvioitiin myös sydämen hypertrofian ja vajaatoiminnan jyrsijämallina käytetyn vatsa-aortan kuristuksen (koarktaation) toimivuutta ja vaikutuksia ultraäänen avulla määritettyihin kardiovaskulaarisiin parametreihin. Vatsa-aortta kuristettiin munuaisvaltimoiden yläpuolelta. Kuristus saa aikaan verenpaineen kohoamisen ja sydämen työtaakan lisääntymisen. Pitkittyessään tila johtaa sydänlihaksen hypertrofiaan ja vajaatoimintaan. 64 eläintä jaettiin ryhmiin, siten että jokaiseen ryhmään tuli kahdeksan eläintä. Ryhmistä kolmelle annettiin lääkeaineena levosimendaania kolmella eri päiväannoksella (0,01 mg/kg; 0,10 mg/kg; 1,00 mg/kg) ja kolmelle valsartaania kolmella eri päiväannoksella (0,10 mg/kg; 1,00 mg/kg; 10,00 mg/kg) juomaveden mukana. Lääkitys aloitettiin leikkauksen jälkeen ja jatkettiin kahdeksan viikon ajan. Kardiovaskulaariset parametrit, kuten isovolumetrinen relaksaatioaika (IVRT), vasemman kammion läpimitta systolessa ja diastolessa sekä seinämäpaksuudet, ejektiofraktio (EF), supistuvuusosuus (FS), minuuttitilavuus (CO) ja iskutilavuus (SV) määritettiin kahdeksan viikon kuluttua leikkauksesta ultraäänitutkimuksen avulla. Lisäksi määritettiin eläinten sydämen paino suhteessa ruumiin painoon. Tuloksia verrattiin ilman lääkehoitoa olleeseen koarktaatioryhmään. Eläinmallin toimivuutta arvioitiin vertaamalla koarktaatioryhmän tuloksia sham-operoidun ryhmän tuloksiin. Levosimendaanilla havaittiin työssä sydämen systolista toimintaa parantava vaikutus. Tämä näkyi tendenssinä parantaa ejektiofraktioita ja vasemman kammion supistuvuusosuuksia. Sydämen diastoliseen toimintaan ei kummallakaan lääkeaineella ollut merkittävää vaikutusta. Diastolista toimintaa arvioitiin isovolumetrisen relaksaatioajan muutoksilla. Sydämen hypertrofian kehittymiseen ei kummallakaan lääkeaineella ollut merkittävää vaikutusta. Eläinmallin todettiin mallintavan hyvin sydämen hypetrofiaa ihmisellä, mutta ei niinkään sydämen vajaatoimintaa.

On the decomposition of ? phase in some rapidly quenched titanium-eutectoid alloys

The decomposition of the beta phase in rapidly quenched Ti-2.8 at. pet Co, Ti-5.4 at. pet Ni, Ti-4.5 at. pet, and 5.5 at. pet Cu alloys has been investigated by electron microscopy. During rapid quenching, two competitive phase transformations, namely martensitic and eutectoid transformation, have occurred, and the region of eutectoid transformation is extended due to the high cooling rates involved. The beta phase decomposed into nonlamellar eutectoid product (bainite) having a globular morphology in Ti-2.8 pet Co and Ti-4.5 pet Cu (hypoeutectoid) alloys. In the near-eutectoid Ti-5.5 pet Cu alloy, the decomposition occurred by a lamellar (pearlite) type, whereas in Ti-5.4 pct Ni (hypereutectoid), both morphologies were observed. The interfaces between the proeutectoid alpha and the intermetallic compound in the nonlamellar type as well as between the proeutectoid alpha and the pearlite were often found to be partially coherent. These findings are in agreement with the Lee and Aaronson model proposed recently for the evolution of bainite and pearlite structures during the solid-state transformations of some titanium-eutectoid alloys. The evolution of the Ti2Cu phase during rapid quenching involved the formation of a metastable phase closely related to an ''omega-type'' phase before the equilibrium phase formed. Further, the lamellar intermetallic compound Ti2Cu was found to evolve by a sympathetic nucleation process. Evidence is established for the sympathetic nucleation of the proeutectoid alpha crystals formed during rapid quenching.

Diminished chaos of heart rate time series in patients with major depression

Background: Depression and anxiety have been linked to serious cardiovascular events in patients with preexisting cardiac illness. A decrease in cardiac vagal function as suggested by a decrease in heart rate (HR) variability has been linked to sudden death. Methods: We compared LLE and nonlinearity scores of the unfiltered (UF) and filtered time series (very low, low, and high frequency; VLF, LF and HF) of HR between patients with depression (n = 14) and healthy control subjects (n = 18). Results: We found significantly lower LLE of the unfiltered series in either posture, and HF series in patients with major depression in supine posture (p < .002). LLE (LF/UF), which may indicate relative sympathetic activity was also significantly higher in supine and standing postures in patients (p < .05); LF/HF (LLE) was also higher in patients (p < .05) in either posture. Conclusions: These findings suggest that major depression is associated with decreased cardiac vagal function and a relative increase in sympathetic function, which may be related to the higher risk of cardiovascular mortality, in this group and illustrates the usefulness of nonlinear measures of chaos such as LLE in addition to the commonly used spectral measures.

Nonlinear measures of QT interval series: novel indices of cardiac repolarization lability: MEDqthr and LLEqthr

In this study, we investigated nonlinear measures of chaos of QT interval time series in 28 normal control subjects, 36 patients with panic disorder and 18 patients with major depression in supine and standing postures. We obtained the minimum embedding dimension (MED) and the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE) of instantaneous heart rate (HR) and QT interval series. MED quantifies the system's complexity and LLE predictability. There was a significantly lower MED and a significantly increased LLE of QT interval time series in patients. Most importantly, nonlinear indices of QT/HR time series, MEDqthr (MED of QT/HR) and LLEqthr (LLE of QT/HR), were highly significantly different between controls and both patient groups in either posture. Results remained the same even after adjusting for age. The increased LLE of QT interval time, series in patients with anxiety and depression is in line with our previous findings of higher QTvi (QT variability index, a log ratio of QT variability corrected for mean QT squared divided by heart rate variability corrected for mean heart rate squared) in these patients, using linear techniques. Increased LLEqthr (LLE of QT/HR) may be a more sensitive tool to study cardiac repolarization and a valuable addition to the time domain measures such as QTvi. This is especially important in light of the finding that LLEqthr correlated poorly and nonsignificantly with QTvi. These findings suggest an increase in relative cardiac sympathetic activity and a decrease in certain aspects of cardiac vagal function in patients with anxiety as well as depression. The lack of correlation between QTvi and LLEqthr suggests that this nonlinear index is a valuable addition to the linear measures. These findings may also help to explain the higher incidence of cardiovascular mortality in patients with anxiety and depressive disorders. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intertwined vorticity and elastodynamics in flapping wing propulsion

We performed numerical experiments on a one-dimensional elastic solid oscillating in a two-dimensional viscous incompressible fluid with the intent of discerning the interplay of vorticity and elastodynamics in flapping wing propulsion. Perhaps for the first time, we have established the role of foil deflection topology and its influence on vorticity generation, through spatially and temporally evolving foil slope and curvature. Though the frequency of oscillation of the foil has a definite role, it is the phase relation between foil slope and pressure that determines thrust or drag. Similarly, the phase difference between flapping velocity, and pressure and inertial forces, determine the power input to the foil, and in turn drives propulsive efficiency. At low frequencies of oscillation, the sympathetic slope and curvature of deformation of the foil allow generation of leading-edge vortices that do not separate; they cause substantial rise in pressure between the leading edge and mid-chord. The circulatory component of pressure is determined primarily by the leading-edge vortex and therefore thrust too is predominantly circulatory in origin at low frequencies. In the intermediate and high-frequency range, thrust and drag on the foil spatially alternate and non-circulatory forces dominate over circulatory and viscous forces. For the mass ratios we simulated, thrust due to flapping varies quadratically as a function of Strouhal number or trailing-edge flapping velocity; further, the trailing edge flapping velocities peak at the same set of frequencies where the thrust is also a maximum. Propulsive efficiency, on the other hand, is roughly a mirror image of the thrust variation with respect to Strouhal number. Given that most instances of flapping propulsion in nature are primarily through distributed muscular actuation that enables precise control of deformation shape, leading to high thrust and efficiency, the results presented here are pointers towards understanding some of the mechanisms that drive thrust and propulsive efficiency.

La maurofilia en la poesía épica medieval

Resumen: El hispanista francés Georges Cirot fue el primero en emplear el término “maurofilia literaria” (maurophilie littéraire) en 1938 para referirse a la representación del valor y la nobleza de los moros en la literatura española del siglo XVI. Pero como señaló Ramón Menéndez Pidal (1957, 202), ya en los siglos XIV y XV los castellanos se habían sentido atraídos por los musulmanes de Granada, por su exótica civilización, su lujo en el vestir, la espléndida ornamentación de sus edificios y su modo de cabalgar, armarse y combatir. Francisco Márquez Villanueva (1984, 117-118) indicó que aunque la literatura maurófila del siglo XVI fue elaborada bajo el signo avanzado del humanismo cristiano, cuyas características fueron “el inconformismo y la sensibilidad para toda suerte de realidades en divergencia del mundo oficial”, las raíces de la maurofilia literaria se encuentran en el viejo romancero fronterizo y morisco elaborado en el siglo XV. En su opinión, el Romancero fue la patria de la “maurofilia pura” y es donde encontramos un cuadro de referencias temáticas “hecho de toponimia y onomástica, armas, indumentaria, policromía y cabalgadas” tendiente a caracterizar al moro como un ser refinado y superior. Para María Rosa Lida (1960, 355), en cambio, la imagen caballeresca del moro se remonta a don Juan Manuel, pues en sus obras aparecen las cortes musulmanas como “centros de molicie refinada y suntuosa”. En efecto, en el Libro de los estados se afirma el valor del moro como guerrero y en el Conde Lucanor aparecen una serie de reyes moros magnánimos y discretos. Sin embargo, el árabe como personaje sabio o “ejemplar” figura ya en una de las fuentes del Conde Lucanor, la Disciplina clericalis, obra compuesta a principios del siglo XII por el judío converso Pedro Alfonso. Por otra parte, el análisis de la representación de los moros en textos épicos, Avengalvón en el Poema de mio Cid y Almanzor en la Los siete infantes de Lara, nos permite descubrir un importante e insoslayable antecedente de la maurofilia de los últimos siglos de la Edad Media

Una historia de España audiovisual y joseantoniana

[EN] The paper analyses a very interesting documentary film about the ancient history of Spain from a franquist, more specifically, falangist point of view (“Nueva Visión de la Historia). It was based on a book about the history of Spain written by a member of Falange, the fascist group in Spain, Antonio Almagro, and was intended as a formative instrument for the youth in the late forties or early fifties. We know only the episodes dealing with Ancient Spain (probably the only ones shot), 25 minutes in all, and it represents an outstanding example of an hyper-nationalistic and hyper-catholic perspective of Spanish history. It also shows a very sympathetic image of José Antonio, the leader of Falange, but, remarkably enough, not of Franco. The film also includes a “theoretical” Introduction about the notion of History.

Mechanisms Responsible for the Trophic Effect of Beta-Adrenoceptors on the I-to Current Density in Type 1 Diabetic Rat Cardiomyocytes

Background/Aims: In diabetic ventricular myocytes, transient outward potassium current (I-to) amplitude is severely reduced because of the impaired catecholamine release that characterizes diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Sympathetic nervous system exhibits a trophic effect on I-to since incubation of myocytes with noradrenaline restores current amplitude via beta-adrenoceptor (beta AR) stimulation. Here, we investigate the intracellular signalling pathway though which incubation of diabetic cardiomyocytes with the beta AR agonist isoproterenol recovers I-to amplitude to normal values. Methods: Experiments were performed in ventricular myocytes isolated from streptozotocin-diabetic rats. I-to current was recorded by using the patch-clamp technique. Kv4 channel expression was determined by immunofluorescence. Protein-protein interaction was determined by coimmunoprecipitation. Results: Stimulation of beta AR activates first a G alpha s protein, adenylyl cyclase and Protein Kinase A. PKA-phosphorylated receptor then switches to the G alpha i protein. This leads to the activation of the beta AR-Kinase-1 and further receptor phosphorylation and arrestin dependent internalization. The internalized receptor-arrestin complex recruits and activates cSrc and the MAPK cascade, where Ras, c-Raf1 and finally ERK1/2 mediate the increase in Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 protein abundance in the plasma membrane. Conclusion: beta(2)AR stimulation activates a G alpha s and G alpha i protein dependent pathway where the ERK1/2 modulates the Ito current amplitude and the density of the Kv4.2 and Kv4.2 channels in the plasma membrane upon sympathetic stimulation in diabetic heart.

Cytokine control of neuronal phenotype

Diffusible proteins regulate neural development at a variety of stages. Using a novel neuronal culture assay, I have identified several cytokines that regulate the expression of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in sympathetic neurons. These cytokines fall into two families. The first group is termed the neuropoietic cytokines, while including CDF/LIF, CNTF, OSM and GPA, induces expression of the same set of neuropeptide mRNAs in cultured sympathetic neurons. These four factors not only exhibit similar biological activities; they also share a predicted secondary structure and bind to a signal-transducing receptor subunit in common with IL-6 and IL-11. The latter two cytokines display a weaker activity in this assay. In addition, I find that several members of the TGF-β superfamily, activin A, BMP-2, and BMP-6, have a selective overlap with the neuropoietic family in the spectrum of neuropeptides that these cytokines induce in sympathetic neurons. Different patterns of neuropeptides induced by the TGF-β family members, however, demonstrate that the activities of these cytokines are distinct from those of the neuropoietic family. Another 30 cytokines are without detectable effect in this neuronal assay.

Activin A induces a set of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides that is somewhat similar to the phenotype of sympathetic neurons innervating sweat glands in rat footpads. In situ hybridization and RNase protection were carried out to test whether activins were involved in the phenotypic transition when sympathetic neurons contact sweat glands. I find that activin mRNA is present in both cholinergic and noradrenergic targets. Moreover, homogenates of footpads do not contain activin-like activity in the neuronal assay in vitro. Taken together, these data do not support activins as the best candidates for the sweat gland factor.

Several novel factors that regulate neuropeptide expression exist in heart cell conditioned medium. I attempted to purify these factors in collaboration with Dr. Jane Talvenheimo. Our results suggest that these factors are sensitive to the storage conditions used. Several modifications of purification strategy are discussed.

Surface markers of regionalization in the vertebrate nervous system

In order to identify new molecules that might play a role in regional specification of the nervous system, we generated and characterized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that have positionally-restricted labeling patterns.

The FORSE-1 mAb was generated using a strategy designed to produce mAbs against neuronal cell surface antigens that might be regulated by regionally-restricted transcription factors in the developing central nervous system (CNS). FORSE-1 staining is enriched in the forebrain as compared to the rest of the CNS until E18. Between E11.5-E13.5, only certain areas of the forebrain are labeled. There is also a dorsoventrally-restricted region of labeling in the hindbrain and spinal cord. The mAb labels a large proteoglycan-like cell-surface antigen (>200 kD). The labeling pattern of FORSE-1 is conserved in various mammals and in chick.

To determine whether the FORSE-1 labeling pattern is similar to that of known transcription factors, the expression of BF-1 and Dlx-2 was compared with FORSE-1. There is a striking overlap between BF-1 and FORSE-1 in the telencephalon. In contrast, FORSE-1 and Dlx-2 have very different patterns of expression in the forebrain, suggesting that regulation by Dlx-2 alone cannot explain the distribution of FORSE-1. They do, however, share some sharp boundaries in the diencephalon. In addition, FORSE-1 identifies some previously unknown boundaries in the developing forebrain. Thus, FORSE-1 is a new cell surface marker that can be used to subdivide the embryonic forebrain into regions smaller than previously described, providing further complexity necessary for developmental patterning.

I also studied the expression of the cell surface protein CD9 in the developing and adult rat nervous system. CD9 is implicated in intercellular signaling and cell adhesion in the hematopoetic system. In the nervous system, CD9 may perform similar functions in early sympathetic ganglia, chromaffin cells, and motor neurons, all of which express the protein. The presence of CD9 on the surfaces of Schwann cells and axons at the appropriate time may allow the protein to participate in the cellular interactions involved in myelination.

DLK1 and DLK2 characterization in mouse salivary gland development

103 p.; 102 p.

Apneia obstrutiva do sono e função endotelial em pacientes com hipertensão arterial resistente

A apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS) é considerada um fator de risco independente para as doenças cardiovasculares. Existem evidências de que indivíduos com apneia obstrutiva do sono podem apresentar elevação nos mediadores inflamatórios, alterações no perfil metabólico, aumento na atividade do sistema nervoso simpático, com consequente elevação da pressão arterial e disfunção endotelial. Nos últimos anos, inúmeros estudos tem apontado a AOS como um dos fatores responsáveis pela hipertensão resistente. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a presença da apneia obstrutiva do sono e o comportamento da função endotelial em pacientes com hipertensão resistente, comparando com hipertensos apresentando pressão arterial controlada com até 3 classes diferentes de fármacos anti-hipertensivos. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 40 pacientes hipertensos: 20 com hipertensão arterial resistente (HAR) e 20 com pressão arterial controlada por medicação (hipertensão arterial controlada; HAC), sem distinção de raça ou gênero, com idade entre 18 e 75 anos. A pressão arterial casual e a monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial foram aferidas por método oscilométrico em aparelhos automáticos. A função endotelial e a presença da apneia obstrutiva do sono foram avaliadas através da tonometria arterial periférica pelos equipamentos Endo-PAT2000 e o aparelho portátil Watch-PAT200, respectivamente. A avaliação antropométrica foi realizada através das aferições das circunferências da cintura e do pescoço, índice de massa corporal (IMC), e relação cintura-estatura. A composição corporal foi avaliada por bioimpedância elétrica BIODYNAMICS 450. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas pelo software GraphPad PRISM, versão 6.01. A prevalência de AOS no grupo com HAR foi de 85% (Índice de apneia-hipopneia [AHI]= 12,391,89) e de 80% no grupo com HAC (AHI =20,744,69), sendo mais frequente em homens (p=0,04; OR=3,86; 95% IC 0,99 a 14,52). Os dois grupos apresentaram valores semelhantes das variáveis antropométricas avaliadas. A função endotelial avaliada pelo índice de hiperemia reativa foi similar nos dois grupos (grupo HAR: 1,880,09 vs. grupo HAC: 2,030,09; p=0,28). Apesar do número de dessaturações de oxigênio >4% ter apresentado diferença significativa entre os grupos (grupo HAR: 28,755,08 vs. grupo HAC: 64,1516,97; p=0,04), o tempo total de sono (grupo HAR: 309,515,27 vs. grupo HAC: 323,318,74 min) e a saturação mínima da oxi-hemoglobina (grupo HAR: 87,80,85 vs. grupo HAC: 83,32,37%) não mostraram essa diferença. Considerando todos os pacientes hipertensos, o AHI apresentou correlação significativa com o peso corporal (r=0,51; p=0,0007), o IMC (r=0,41; p=0,007), a circunferência da cintura (r=0,44; p=0,005), a circunferência do pescoço (r=0,38; p=0,01) e a relação cintura-estatura (r=0,39; p=0,01). Os pacientes sem AOS em comparação com os pacientes com AOS, apresentaram risco significativamente menor de apresentar comprometimento da função endotelial (OR=0,17; 95% IC 0,04-0,72; p=0,03). Os achados do presente estudo sugerem que a prevalência de AOS em pacientes com hipertensão resistente é elevada, porém semelhante a de indivíduos com hipertensão controlada. Pacientes com hipertensão resistente e controlada não apresentaram diferenças significativas em relação à função endotelial. A gravidade de AOS no grupo total de hipertensos se associou com maior risco de comprometimento da função endotelial.