Circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein is associated with echolucent plaques in the femoral artery independently of hsCRP in 61-year-old men.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that circulating markers of inflammation (high-sensitive C-reactive protein, hsCRP) and oxidative modification of lipids (oxidized low-density lipoprotein, oxLDL) were associated with the occurrence of echolucent rather than echogenic femoral artery plaques in a cross-sectional population based cohort of 513, 61-year-old men. BACKGROUND The relationships between circulating oxLDL, hsCRP and the occurrence of echolucent plaques in the femoral artery have not previously been investigated. METHODS The levels of circulating oxLDL and hsCRP were determined in plasma by ELISA. Plaque occurrence, size and echogenicity were measured by B-mode ultrasound in the right femoral artery. Assessment of plaque echogenicity was based on the classification (grades 1-4) proposed by Gray-Weale et al. RESULTS A higher frequency of echolucent femoral plaques was observed in subjects with the metabolic syndrome and current smokers (p=0.01 and p<0.001, respectively) as well as with increasing levels of oxLDL and hsCRP (p=0.002 and p=0.005, respectively). In a multiple logistic regression analysis oxLDL and current smokers turned out to be independent associated with the presence of echolucent femoral artery plaques. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study support our hypothesis that circulating oxLDL is a marker of an unstable echolucent plaque phenotype in the femoral artery in man.

A survey of the use of grading scales for contact lens complications in optometric practice

Purpose:  The aim of this study was to investigate the extent and pattern of use of grading scales for contact lens complications (‘grading scales’) in optometric practice. Methods:  An anonymous postal survey was sent to all 756 members of the Queensland Division of Optometrists Association Australia. Information was elicited relating to level of experience, practice type and location, and mode of usage of grading scales. Results:  Survey forms were returned by 237 optometrists, representing a 31 per cent response rate. The majority of respondents (61 per cent) reported using grading scales frequently in practice, while 65 per cent of these preferred to use the Efron Grading Scales for Contact Lens Complications. Seventy-six per cent of optometrists use a method of incremental grading rather than simply grading with whole numbers. Grading scales are more likely to be used by optometrists who have recently graduated (p < 0.001), have a postgraduate certificate in ocular therapeutics (p = 0.018), see more contact lens patients (p = 0.027) and use other forms of grading scales (p < 0.001). The most frequently graded ocular conditions were corneal staining, papillary conjunctivitis and conjunctival redness. The main reasons for not using grading scales included a preference for sketches, photographs or descriptions (87 per cent) and unavailability of scales (29 per cent). Conclusion:  Grading scales for contact lens complications are used extensively in optometric practice for a variety of purposes. This tool can now be considered as an expected norm in contact lens practice. We advocate the incorporation of such grading scales into professional guidelines and standards for good optometric clinical practice.

Vykopirovkas plana Krivorogskogo okruga Sofievskogo raĭona uchastka zemli kolonizat︠s︡ionnogo fonda Nº 129/193

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Mutational analysis of active-site residues in the Mycobacterium leprae RecA intein, a LAGLIDADG homing endonuclease: Asp(122) and Asp(193) are crucial to the double-stranded DNA cleavage activity whereas Asp(218) is not

Mycobacterium leprae recA harbors an in-frame insertion sequence that encodes an intein homing endonuclease (PI-MleI). Most inteins (intein endonucleases) possess two conserved LAGLIDADG (DOD) motifs at their ctive center. A common feature of LAGLIDADG-type homing endonucleases is that they recognize and cleave the same or very similar DNA sequences. However, PI-MleI is distinctive from other members of the family of LAGLIDADG-type HEases for its modular structure with functionally separable domains for DNA-binding and cleavage, each with distinct sequence preferences. Sequence alignment analyses of PI-MleI revealed three putative LAGLIDADG motifs; however, there is conflicting bioinformatics data in regard to their identity and specific location within the intein polypeptide. To resolve this conflict and to determine the active-site residues essential for DNA target site recognition and double-stranded DNA cleavage, we performed site-directed mutagenesis of presumptive catalytic residues in the LAGLIDADG motifs. Analysis of target DNA recognition and kinetic parameters of the wild-type PI-MleI and its variants disclosed that the two amino acid residues, Asp(122) (in Block C) and Asp(193) (in functional Block E), are crucial to the double-stranded DNA endonuclease activity, whereas Asp(218) (in pseudo-Block E) is not. However, despite the reduced catalytic activity, the PI-MleI variants, like the wild-type PI-MleI, generated a footprint of the same length around the insertion site. The D122T variant showed significantly reduced catalytic activity, and D122A and D193A mutations although failed to affect their DNA-binding affinities, but abolished the double-stranded DNA cleavage activity. On the other hand, D122C variant showed approximately twofold higher double-stranded DNA cleavage activity, compared with the wild-type PI-MleI. These results provide compelling evidence that Asp(122) and Asp(193) in DOD motif I and II, respectively, are bona fide active-site residues essential for DNA cleavage activity. The implications of these results are discussed in this report.

Protonic conductivity of (NH4) 4Fe(CN)6·1.5H2O by complex admittance method

The protonic conductivity of ammonium ferrocyanide hydrate has been studied by the complex admittance method. The admittance plots show departures from ideal Debye behaviour. The values of ionic conductivity (sigma = 3.7 X 10(-5) (OMEGA-cm)-1) and diffusion coefficient (D = 3.8 X 10(-10) cm2/s) obtained at room temperature are consistent with the corresponding values estimated by an earlier NMR study.

Timing and broad-band spectroscopy of 1A 1118-61 with Suzaku

We present a timing and broad-band pulse-phase-resolved spectral analysis of the transient Be X-ray binary pulsar 1A 1118-61 observed during its outburst in 2009 January using Suzaku observations. The Suzaku observations were made twice, once at the peak of the outburst, and the other 13 d later at its declining phase. Pulse profiles from both observations exhibit strong energy dependence with several peaks at low energies and a single peak above similar to 10 keV. A weak, narrow peak is detected at the main dip of the pulse profiles from both observations in the energy bands below 3 keV, indicating the presence of a phase-dependent soft excess in the source continuum. The broad-band energy spectrum of the pulsar could be fitted well with a partial covering cut-off power-law model and a narrow iron fluorescence line. We also detect a broad cyclotron feature at similar to 50 keV from both observations which is a feature common for accretion-powered pulsars with high magnetic field strength. The pulse-phase-resolved spectral analysis shows an increase in the absorption column density of the partial covering component, as well as variation in the covering fraction at the dips of the pulse profiles, which naturally explains energy dependence of the same. The cyclotron line parameters also show significant variation with pulse phase with an similar to 10 keV variation in the cyclotron line energy and a variation in depth by a factor of 3. This can be explained either as the effect of different viewing angles of the dipole field at different pulse phases, or due to a more complex underlying magnetic field geometry.

Sapientia, 1961, Vol. XVI, nº 61 (número completo)

Contenido: Conocimiento y cultura / Octavio N. Derisi – Itinerario de Manuel Gonzalo Casas / Alberto Caturelli – Los orígenes hegelianos y la esencia del marxismo / Juan A. Casaubón – Notas y comentarios -- Bibliografía

Prudentia Iuris, 2006, n° 61 (número completo)

Editorial -- Temas de Derecho Privado -- El derecho aplicable a la contratación de servicios jurídicos / Marcelo Urbano Salerno -- La revisión del contrato / Carlos Raúl Sanz -- Apuntes sobre la tácita obligación de seguridad en el actual derecho de daños. Su particular alcance en materia de transporte de complacencia / Fernando Alfredo Urbiría -- El corpus iuris canonici: una introducción a su historia a la luz de la reciente bibliografía / Thomas Duve -- Primeras Jornadas de Derecho Natural -- El derecho natural en las sentencias del magistrado cristiano. Reflexiones de un historiador del derecho en torno de algunos pronunciamientos del Juez Tomás Casares / Ezequiel Abásolo -- El legislador divino de Las leyes / Javier H. Barbieri -- El método tópico aristotélico es un método válido para la diagramación de una Teoría General del Derecho o Introducción al Derecho Civil / Úrsula C. Basset -- Derecho natural y certeza del silogismo jurídico / Sandra T. Brandi de Portorrico -- El orden natural y la ley natural: Su conocimiento y reconocimiento / Daniel Herrera -- Tipicidad y ley natural con relación a la concreción del derecho. La autorización judicial para interrumpir un embarazo: ¿solución justa? / María Inés Montesano -- La protección jurídica del secreto religioso del ministro de culto católico en el ordenamiento jurídico argentino / María Bibiana Nieto -- Lo suyo del otro en el matrimonio: Un análisis ius filosófico de la juricidad del matrimonio y los fines estratégicos de la familia heterosexual / Ana Ortelli -- Homenajes -- Recensiones

Diário da Constituinte [gravação de vídeo] : [programa n. 193 A]

O Relator da Comissão de Sistematização da Assembleia Nacional Constituinte, Bernardo Cabral (PMDB-AM), reunido com os relatores adjuntos, tratou de alguns pontos polêmicos ainda não definidos tais como imissão de posse de terras, anistia e a educação. Os pontos já definidos do projeto de Constituição são: sistema de governo com parlamentarismo brando; distinção entre empresa 100% nacional e empresa brasileira com capital estrangeiro; estabilidade no emprego substituída por proibição de demissões arbitrárias; jornada de 40 horas saiu do projeto e ficou para lei ordinária; criado o Serviço Nacional de Saúde com participação da iniciativa privada; reserva de mercado temporária em áreas estratégicas; concessões de rádio e TV poderão ser cassadas pelo Congresso Nacional. Encontro do Deputado Bernardo Cabral (PMDB-AM) com os líderes partidários não consegue consenso. A maioria dos líderes não concorda com o projeto de Constituição tal como está. O Deputado Brandão Monteiro (PDT-RJ) afirma que este projeto de Constituição representa um grande acordo entre as elites e que haverá reação a isso. O Deputado José Genoino (PT-SP) considera que estão cortando os avanços conseguidos na fase das comissões temáticas da Assembleia Nacional Constituinte. O Deputado Haroldo de Lima (PC do B-BA) declara que é muito importante que o movimento popular se manifeste contra o projeto. O Deputado Euclides Scalco (PMDB-PR) declara que houve articulação multipartidária e que não há razão para críticas ao projeto. O Deputado Stélio Dias (PFL-ES) propõe o retorno do projeto para nova discussão nas comissões temáticas. O Deputado Naphytali Alves (PMDB-GO) declara que 35 anos de trabalho para todas as categorias de trabalhadores é um retrocesso. O Deputado Fábio Feldmann (PMDB-SP) afirma que estão querendo tirar do texto as conquistas obtidas no que diz respeito ao meio ambiente. O Relator Adjunto Senador Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PMDB-SP) considera que, antes de opinar, as pessoas devem ler os projetos.