A MAPPING OF OXIDATIVE ENZYMES IN THE HUMAN BRAIN *

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65177/1/j.1471-4159.1962.tb11860.x.pd

PROXIMO-DISTAL INCREASE OF ENZYMIC ACTIVITY IN THE DORSAL SPINAL TRACTS *

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65919/1/j.1471-4159.1964.tb06151.x.pd

A COMPARATIVE MAPPING OF ENZYMES INVOLVED IN HEXOSEMONOPHOSPHATE SHUNT AND CITRIC ACID CYCLE IN THE BRAIN *

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66082/1/j.1471-4159.1963.tb05042.x.pd

Prediction of martensite start temperature by neural network analysis

Commercial steels are nowadays sophisticated alloys formed by a large number of alloying elements. The martensite start ( Ms) temperature of such steels is of vital engineering importance, and its prediction through models allows us to enhance the design and development of industrial products. In the present work, Ms temperature dependence on chemical composition has been examined by neural network analysis. Neural networks represent powerful methods of non-linear regression modelling. The network is a mathematical function which is fitted to experimental data. The influence of alloying elements such as C, Mn, Si, Cr, Ni, Mo, V, Co, W, Al, Nb, Cu, B and N on Ms temperature was analysed. Finally, a new empirical equation for Ms temperature was derived based on the neural network results.Peer Reviewe

Search for characteristic structural features of mammalian mitochondrial tRNAs.

A number of mitochondrial (mt) tRNAs have strong structural deviations from the classical tRNA cloverleaf secondary structure and from the conventional L-shaped tertiary structure. As a consequence, there is a general trend to consider all mitochondrial tRNAs as "bizarre" tRNAs. Here, a large sequence comparison of the 22 tRNA genes within 31 fully sequenced mammalian mt genomes has been performed to define the structural characteristics of this specific group of tRNAs. Vertical alignments define the degree of conservation/variability of primary sequences and secondary structures and search for potential tertiary interactions within each of the 22 families. Further horizontal alignments ascertain that, with the exception of serine-specific tRNAs, mammalian mt tRNAs do fold into cloverleaf structures with mostly classical features. However, deviations exist and concern large variations in size of the D- and T-loops. The predominant absence of the conserved nucleotides G18G19 and T54T55C56, respectively in these loops, suggests that classical tertiary interactions between both domains do not take place. Classification of the tRNA sequences according to their genomic origin (G-rich or G-poor DNA strand) highlight specific features such as richness/poorness in mismatches or G-T pairs in stems and extremely low G-content or C-content in the D- and T-loops. The resulting 22 "typical" mammalian mitochondrial sequences built up a phylogenetic basis for experimental structural and functional investigations. Moreover, they are expected to help in the evaluation of the possible impacts of those point mutations detected in human mitochondrial tRNA genes and correlated with pathologies.journal articleresearch support, non-u.s. gov't2000 Octimporte

Percutaneous Mitral Valve Annuloplasty in Patients With Secondary Mitral Regurgitation and Severe Left Ventricular Enlargement.

This study sought to determine the effect of percutaneous mitral valve annuloplasty with the Carillon device versus guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) alone in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) and severe left ventricular (LV) enlargement.The clinical impact of the Carillon device in patients with severe LV dilation is not well established.This is a pooled analysis involving 3 prospective trials (TITAN [Transcatheter Implantation of Carillon Mitral Annuloplasty Device], TITAN II, and REDUCE FMR [CARILLON Mitral Contour System for Reducing Functional Mitral Regurgitation] trials) in which patients with functional MR and severe LV enlargement (LV end-diastolic diameter65 mm) were treated with GDMT and the Carillon device versus GDMT alone. Key outcomes of this analysis were changes over 1 year of follow-up in mitral valve and LV echocardiographic parameters, functional outcome, quality of life, mortality, and heart failure hospitalization (HFH).A total of 95 patients (67 in the Carillon group, 28 in the GDMT group) with severe LV enlargement were included. In the Carillon group, all mitral valve and LV morphology parameters were significantly improved at 1 year. Regurgitant volume decreased by 12 ml (p 0.001), MR grade decreased by 0.6 U (p 0.001), LV end-diastolic volume decreased by 25 cmIn patients with functional MR and severe LV enlargement, the Carillon device improved mitral valve function, LV morphology, and functional outcome compared with patients receiving GDMT only. Preoperative LV dimension should not be a limiting factor when evaluating patient eligibility or anticipated response to therapy with the Carillon device

Antibody signatures in patients with histopathologically defined multiple sclerosis patterns

Early active multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions can be classified histologically into three main immunopathological patterns of demyelination (patterns I-III), which suggest pathogenic heterogeneity and may predict therapy response. Patterns I and II show signs of immune-mediated demyelination, but only pattern II is associated with antibody/complement deposition. In pattern III lesions, which include Baló's concentric sclerosis, primary oligodendrocyte damage was proposed. Serum antibody reactivities could reflect disease pathogenesis and thus distinguish histopathologically defined MS patterns. We established a customized microarray with more than 700 peptides that represent human and viral antigens potentially relevant for inflammatory demyelinating CNS diseases, and tested sera from 66 patients (pattern I n = 12; II n = 29; III n = 25, including 8 with Baló's), healthy controls, patients with Sjögren's syndrome and stroke patients. Cell-based assays were performed for aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and AQP4 antibody detection. No single peptide showed differential binding among study cohorts. Because antibodies can react with different peptides from one protein, we also analyzed groups of peptides. Patients with pattern II showed significantly higher reactivities to Nogo-A peptides as compared to patterns I (p = 0.02) and III (p = 0.02). Pattern III patients showed higher reactivities to AQP1 (compared to pattern I p = 0.002, pattern II p = 0.001) and varicella zoster virus (VZV, compared to pattern II p = 0.05). In patients with Baló's, AQP1 reactivity was also significantly higher compared to patients without Baló's (p = 0.04), and the former revealed distinct antibody signatures. Histologically, Baló's patients showed loss of AQP1 and AQP4 in demyelinating lesions, but no antibodies binding conformational AQP1 or AQP4 were detected. In summary, higher reactivities to Nogo-A peptides in pattern II patients could be relevant for enhanced axonal repair and remyelination. Higher reactivities to AQP1 peptides in pattern III patients and its subgroup of Baló's patients possibly reflect astrocytic damage. Finally, latent VZV infection may cause peripheral immune activation