Years of valor,1969.

This book was written by Edith Wasson McElroy and published by the Iowa Civil War Centennial Commission. It follows the Meigs, a fictitious family from the late 1680's in England to 1865 in Iowa. The Meigs personify the way of life, in a typical Iowa home during this period. Their experiences are those of many early Iowa pioneers and brings to life and into reality, early Iowa life and the Civil War in its climax.

Effect of olive oil on early and late events of colon carcinogenesis in rats: modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism and local prostaglandin E2 synthesis.

BACKGROUND Animal model studies have shown that the colon tumour promoting effect of dietary fat depends not only on the amount but on its fatty acid composition. With respect to this, the effect of n9 fatty acids, present in olive oil, on colon carcinogenesis has been scarcely investigated. AIMS To assess the effect of an n9 fat diet on precancer events, carcinoma development, and changes in mucosal fatty acid composition and prostaglandin (PG)E2 formation in male Sprague-Dawley rats with azoxymethane induced colon cancer. METHODS Rats were divided into three groups to receive isocaloric diets (5% of the energy as fat) rich in n9, n3, or n6 fat, and were administered azoxymethane subcutaneously once a week for 11 weeks at a dose rate of 7.4 mg/kg body weight. Vehicle treated groups received an equal volume of normal saline. Groups of animals were colectomised at weeks 12 and 19 after the first dose of azoxymethane or saline. Mucosal fatty acids were assessed at 12 and 19 weeks. Aberrant crypt foci and the in vivo intracolonic release of PGE2 were assessed at week 12, and tumour formation at week 19. RESULTS Rats on the n6 diet were found to have colonic aberrant crypt foci and adenocarcinomas more often than those consuming either the n9 or n3 diet. There were no differences between the rats on the n9 and n3 diets. On the other hand, administration of both n9 and n3 diets was associated with a decrease in mucosal arachidonate concentrations as compared with the n6 diet. Carcinogen treatment induced an appreciable increase in PGE2 formation in rats fed the n6 diet, but not in those fed the n3 and n9 diets. CONCLUSIONS Dietary olive oil prevented the development of aberrant crypt foci and colon carcinomas in rats, suggesting that olive oil may have chemopreventive activity against colon carcinogenesis. These effects may be partly due to modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism and local PGE2synthesis.

Neuroanatomical and neuropsychological features of elderly euthymic depressed patients with early- and late-onset.

BACKGROUND: Whether or not cognitive impairment and brain structure changes are trait characteristics of late-life depression is still disputed. Previous studies led to conflicting data possibly because of the difference in the age of depression onset. In fact, several lines of evidence suggest that late-onset depression (LOD) is more frequently associated with neuropsychological deficits and brain pathology than early-onset depression (EOD). To date, no study explored concomitantly the cognitive profile and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns in euthymic EOD and LOD patients. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional design, 41 remitted outpatients (30 with EOD and 11 with LOD) were compared to 30 healthy controls. Neuropsychological evaluation concerned working memory, episodic memory, processing speed, naming capacity and executive functions. Volumetric estimates of the amygdala, hippocampus, entorhinal and anterior cingulate cortex were obtained using both voxel-based and region of interest morphometric methods. White matter hyperintensities were assessed semiquantitatively. RESULTS: Both cognitive performance and brain volumes were preserved in euthymic EOD patients whereas LOD patients showed a significant reduction of episodic memory capacity and a higher rate of periventricular hyperintensities compared to both controls and EOD patients. CONCLUSION: Our results support the dissociation between EOD thought to be mainly related to psychosocial factors and LOD that is characterized by increasing vascular burden and episodic memory decline.

Cholesterol transport from late endosomes to the Golgi regulates t-SNARE trafficking, assembly, and function

Cholesterol regulates plasma membrane (PM) association and functioning of syntaxin-4 and soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein 23 (SNAP23) in the secretory pathway. However, the molecular mechanism and cellular cholesterol pools that determine the localization and assembly of these target membrane SNAP receptors (t-SNAREs) are largely unknown. We recently demonstrated that high levels of annexin A6 (AnxA6) induce accumulation of cholesterol in late endosomes, thereby reducing cholesterol in the Golgi and PM. This leads to an impaired supply of cholesterol needed for cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) to drive Golgi vesiculation and caveolin transport to the cell surface. Using AnxA6-overexpressing cells as a model for cellular cholesterol imbalance, we identify impaired cholesterol egress from late endosomes and diminution of Golgi cholesterol as correlating with the sequestration of SNAP23/syntaxin-4 in Golgi membranes. Pharmacological accumulation of late endosomal cholesterol and cPLA2 inhibition induces a similar phenotype in control cells with low AnxA6 levels. Ectopic expression of Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) or exogenous cholesterol restores the location of SNAP23 and syntaxin-4 within the PM. Importantly, AnxA6-mediated mislocalization of these t-SNAREs correlates with reduced secretion of cargo via the SNAP23/syntaxin-4¿dependent constitutive exocytic pathway. We thus conclude that inhibition of late endosomal export and Golgi cholesterol depletion modulate t-SNARE localization and functioning along the exocytic pathway.

Late Oligocene Larger Foraminifera from Nosara (Nicoya Península, Costa Rica) and Windward (Carriacou, Lesser Antilles), calibrated by 87Sr/86Sr isotope stratigraphy.

ABSTRACT: The Late Oligocene first occurrence of Miogypsina gunteri Cole and Miogypsina tani Drooger is verified in the light of larger foraminiferal assemblages from Nosara (Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica) and Windward (Carriacou, Grenada, Lesser Antilles). At Windward, they co-occur with planktonic foraminifera and nannofossils studied by earlier workers. 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios were measured in calcite of larger foraminifera at both sites to determine independent absolute ages of the two outcrops. Late Oligocene shallow water formations unconformably overlie Paleocene-Eocene distal turbidites and siliceous shales in the outcrops in Costa Rica. The shallow-water lithostratigraphy includes near shore volcanic sandstones that alternate with sandy bioclastic limestones. The latter have yielded rich assemblages of larger foraminifera that have been studied in oriented sections, SEM for split material and polished rock thin sections for transmitted light and cathodoluminescence (CL) observation. The association of larger foraminifera includes Heterostegina antillea Cushman, Miogypsina tani Drooger, Miogypsina gunteri Cole, Miogypsina c.f (Miolepidocyclina) panamensis (Cushman), Miogypsina sp., Lepidocyclina (nephrolepidina) vaughani Cushman, Lepidocyclina yurnagurensis Cushman, Lepidocyclina undosa Cushman. At Windward, scattered outcrops of the Belvedere Formation expose mass flow deposits rich in larger foraminifera associated with an early late Oligocene (NP24) planktonic foraminifa assemblage. Planktonic foraminifera and nanno-fossils recovered in rocks slightly downsection indicate an upper Middle Oligocene age. Larger foraminifera species collected just north of Windward include Lepidocyclina undosa Cushman and Miogypsina gunteri Cole. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio was measured in 11 specimens of megalosphaeric Lepidocyclina spp., mechanically extracted from 2 rock samples collected at Punta Peladas (Costa Rica) Ratios range from 0.709088 to 0.708196, which correspond to a model age of 27.4 to 24.94 Ma. Very similar ratios, ranging from 0.708150 to 0.708167 were obtained from Windward Village (Carriacou). All measured 87Sr/86Sr ratios fall within a Chattian (Late Oligocene) age. Nannofossils, planktonic foraminifera and identical 87Sr/86Sr ratios from Punta Peladas and Windward clearly indicate a Chattian (Upper Oligocene) first occurrence of Miogypsina gunteri and Miogypsina tani and confirm this age range for the other larger foraminifera cited above. The first occurrence of Miogypsina gunteri in the lower Athe upper Aquitanian as proposed by European workers cannot be confirmed.

Edulcorants: entre mythe et réalité [Sweeteners: between myth and reality]

As the prevalence of obesity and diabetes are continually increasing, the use of "false sugars" otherwise known as sweeteners, and their associated health issues are being more and more discussed. A higher sugared power, less calories as well as a moderated or non-existent effect on blood sugar would lead to believe that sweeteners are helpful. However, we CANNOT say that they are THE solution as they can contain calories, may have some undesired effects, and moreover they ease the conscience without actually allowing a weight loss with their sole use. They are to be used with judgment, wittingly and especially when comparing sweetened products. The sweetener myth is often far from reality. It is therefore important to give our patients the means to analyze their dietary intake with regard to their sweeteners ingestion.

High-grade gliomas: reality and hopes.

In this issue of the Chinese Journal of Cancer, European experts review current standards, trends, and future prospects in the difficult domain of high-grade glioma. In all fields covered by the different authors, the progress has been impressive. For example, discoveries at the molecular level have already impacted imaging, surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies, and they are expected to play an increasing role in the management of these cancers. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has pioneered new treatment strategies and contributed to new standards. The articles in this issue will cover basic molecular biological principles applicable today, novel surgical approaches, innovations in radiotherapy planning and delivery, evidence-based standards for radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy, current standards and novel approaches for systemic treatments, and the important but often neglected field of health-related quality of life. Despite the advances described in these articles, the overall prognosis of high-grade glioma, especially glioblastoma, remains poor, and more research is needed to address this problem.

The major transcription initiation site of the SV40 late promoter is a potent thyroid hormone response element.

Thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, which act as transcription factors upon binding to specific DNA sequences called thyroid hormone (T3) response elements (TREs). Such elements are found in the upstream regulatory region of promoters as well as in intragenic sequences of T3-responsive genes. In this report, we demonstrate that SV40 late (SVL) promoter activity is strongly down-regulated by TR in the absence of ligand. Addition of T3 releases this repression, but does not further induce SVL promoter activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift analyses reveal a TR binding element that overlaps with the SV40 major late transcription initiation site. This element closely fits the consensus TRE, formed of two hexanucleotides organized in a tandem repeat separated by 4 nt, and is able to confer T3 responsiveness on a heterologous promoter. We further show that, although the presence of TR leads to quantitatively modified expression of an SVL-driven reporter gene, neither displacement of the site of transcription initiation nor modification of the splicing pattern of the primary transcripts occur.

Devenir à long terme des patients intubés pour état de mal asthmatique [Late outcome after life-threatening asthma]

Pour connaître le devenir à long terme des patients intubés pour état de mal asthmatique, nous avons recontacté en 1990 les 34 patients qui avaient présenté, entre 1978 et 1988, quarante épisodes de détresse respiratoire aiguë. Deux patients sont vivants mais ont été perdus de vue, 3 sont morts dont un seul d'état de mal asthmatique 6 mois après l'épisode initial. Des 29 patients restants (7 hommes et 22 femmes, âge moyen de 48,5 ans) représentant un suivi moyen de 9,6 ans, quinze n'ont jamais été réhospitalisés; des 14 autres, seuls 5 ont requis une intubation et une ventilation mécanique lors d'un épiode ultérieur. La majorité des hospitalisations ultérieures (81%) sont survenues dans les 6 ans suivant l'épiode initial

Gurt Esparraguera, J. M., Buxeda i Garrigòs M. i Cau Ontiveros, M. A (eds.), LRCW 1 Late Roman Coarte Wares, Cocking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean, Archaeology and Archaeometry BAR 1340

No es exagerado afirmar que, en las últimas décadas, los estudios dedicados a la cultura material de la antigüedad tardía y, en particular, a sus producciones cerámicas, han experimentado un desarrollo acelerado. Este fenómeno se ha traducido en una auténtica explosión de títulos que, con diversa extensión y profundidad, abarcan todas las posibilidades de análisis: desde las monografías de excavación, en las que se describen los repertorios asociados a las formas de vida y trabajo de un asentamiento, hasta las síntesis regionales que abordan cuestiones relacionadas con los mecanismos económicos, culturales y políticos que impulsaron la creación de unos circuitos de intercambio de alcance mediterráneo.