Urinary porphyrin excretion in hepatitis C infection

A high prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in porphyria cutanea tarda in some populations suggests a close link between viral hepatitis and alteration of porphyrin metabolism. Moreover, there is evidence of a role of porphyrinopathies in hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of our study was to obtain data on the prevalence and patterns of heme metabolism alterations in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Urinary porphyrin excretion was prospectively studied in 100 consecutive outpatients with chronic hepatitis C infection without signs of photosensitivity, using an ion-pair high performance liquid chromatography method. Increased total porphyrin excretion was found in 41 patients, with predominant excretion of coproporphyrins (whole study group: mean 146 mu g/g creatinine, interquartile range 76-186; normal <150), in 10 patients excretion exceeded 300 mu g/g creatinine. In the majority of all patients studied (75/100) an increased ratio of the relatively hydrophobic coproporphyrin isomer I to isomer III was found. In just one case, urinary porphyrin pattern characteristic for chronic hepatic porphyria was present (uroporphyrin > coproporphyrin, heptacarboxyporphyrin III increased) but the total porphyrin excretion was only slightly elevated in this case. In the whole group, total urinary porphyrin excretion correlated well with serum bilirubin and was inversely correlated with albumin and thrombin time. In conclusion, secondary coproporphyrinuria occurs frequently in heptatitis C infection, whereas in Germany, preclinical porphyria cutanea tarda seems to be rare in these patients

Determination of serum cortisol by isotope-dilution liquid-chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with on-line extraction

A liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the determination of cortisol in serum using atmospheric pressure electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry is described. During sample preparation, 150 mul of serum were deproteinized with methanol/zinc sulfate followed by on-line solid phase extraction employing column switching. Tri-deuterated cortisol was used as the internal standard. The following transitions were monitored: cortisol, 363 > 309 m/z; d3-cortisol, 366 > 312 m/z. The total run-time was 5 minutes. The method proved linear (0-500 mug/l; r=0.999), precise (total coefficient of variation between 5.0% and 3.2% at a mean cortisol concentration of 15.1 mug/l and 269 mug/l, respectively; n=16) and specific with regard to relevant endogenous and exogenous steroids

Explosive hydrogen burning during type I X-ray bursts

Explosive hydrogen burning in type I X-ray bursts (XRBs) comprise charged particle reactions creating isotopes with masses up to A~100. Since charged particle reactions in a stellar environment are very temperature sensitive, we use a realistic time-dependent general relativistic and self-consistent model of type I x-ray bursts to provide accurate values of the burst temperatures and densities. This allows a detailed and accurate time-dependent identification of the reaction flow from the surface layers through the convective region and the ignition region to the neutron star ocean. Using this, we determine the relative importance of specific nuclear reactions in the X-ray burst.Comment: 53 pages, 24 figures, submitted to Astrophys.

Relationship of Passive Hip Range of Motion to Countermovement Jump Height and Peak Power Output in Young Adults

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine passive hip range of motion (ROM) and how it relates to countermovement jump height (CMJH) and peak power output (PPO). Methods: Twenty subjects (10 males, 10 females), 19-31 years of age (23.5 ± 3.0) participated in this study. Height (170.3 ±6.9 cm), weight (65.8 ±10.5 kg) and body fat (15.6 ±6.9 , BodPod) were measured. Males with body fat greater than 17.5 and females greater than 27.5 were excluded from the study since jumping ability is limited by body fat. Power athletes were excluded from the study due to their likely jump training. Four passive hip ROMs were measured: flexion, extension, internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER). CMJH was measured using a Vertec vertical jump system. PPO was calculated using the Harman equation and then normalized for lean body mass (LBM). Subjects were categorized into groups for low, average and high ROM those within one standard deviation (SD) of the mean were categorized into the average group those below one SD of the mean were categorized into the low group those above one SD of the mean were categorized into the high group. A Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationship between CMJH and PPO to hip ROMs. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare low, average and high ROM groups for CMJH and PPO. Results: There were significant (p \u3c 0.05) negative correlations between hip flexion, extension and IR with CMJH (r = -0.67, -0.71, -0.64 respectively). While hip ER did not relate significantly (p \u3e 0.05) to CMJH (r = 0.33), there was a significant relationship (p \u3c0.05) with PPO (r = 0.52). There were no significant (p \u3e 0.05) differences in CMJH and PPO when low, average and high ROM groups were compared. Conclusion: Hip extension was associated with higher CMJH, while hip flexion and internal rotation associated with lower CMJH. Only hip external rotation correlated with PPO with a greater ROM associated with greater PPO. There is, however, no optimal ROM that relates t

Systems of Consumer Practice as Context for Service Usage

The paper presents activities within consumer practices as context for service usage, and shows how consumers’ requirements for a service differ depending on their surrounding systems of practice. Practices are units of socially informed and meaning-laden behaviour that people carry out as a part of their daily life. Interviews with five wine consumers revealed five different contexts for the services of a wine store. Activities within the practice were divided into having cognitive, affective or informational purposes, and were arranged into an “activity tree”, where the position and function of the service could be observed

Ice core glaciochemical records of late holocene climatic variability in West Antarctica

The complex atmospheric and glaciological dynamics of West Antarctica make this region of particular interest in addressing the continent\u27s cause and effect relationship in the global climate system, and for evaluating future global change scenarios. Ice core records from this region provide the resolution necessary to both improve our understanding of modern regional climate variability, and to reconstruct past changes in a number of climate components. High-resolution (subannual to biannual) snow and ice core samples collected from two regions of West Antarctica, Siple Dome and Marie Byrd Land, were analyzed for water soluble major ion content. Examination of detailed surface snow data is used to determine seasonal chemical input timing, spatial variability, depositional and post-depositional processes, chemical sources, and transport pathways. To develop quantitative relationships between temporal changes in ice core records and regional climatic conditions, Siple Dome glaciochemical data are correlated with meteorological observations, satellite sea ice data, and numerical modeling output. Results indicate that seasalt glaciochemistry at Siple Dome is a reliable proxy for changes in the Amundsen Sea Low pressure system. Multivariate time-series statistical investigation using high-resolution (subannual) chemical data suggests no significant trend in sea level pressure and atmospheric circulation strength over the past 110 years in the high-latitude South Pacific. West Antarctic ice core glaciochemical records are correlated with other high-resolution climate proxy records to investigate climatic change over the last millennia. Comparison of Siple Dome and Central Greenland (GISP2) glaciochemical records reveals the synchronous onset of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in the polar South Pacific and North Atlantic. In these records, the LIA is recorded as a period of increased meridional wind strength beginning at $\sim$1400 AD, and continuing to present in these two regions. The research presented in this dissertation provides necessary baseline information for interpreting additional shallow and deep ice core records eventually recovered from West Antarctica. Such records will greatly advance our understanding of the high-latitude Southern Hemisphere climate system, as well as evaluate the past global extent, timing, and phasing of rapid climate change events

Luxury Branding - A tale without a history

The thesis intends to investigate how a young actor in the luxury industry practices storytelling as a tool to legitimize high product prices. Since the luxury brand narrative is normally based on heritage, the thesis will scrutinize the luxury watch brand Hublot, a young successful actor, lacking heritage. The results are based on a narrative analysis of document sources treating brand ambassadors, sponsorships, promotional material and an official financial report. We can conclude that Hublot charges the brand with cultural capital by consistently communicating their craftsmanship, innovative designs and the factor ‘country of origin’. Through stories of ‘self-made’ brand ambassadors, widely known for their economic capital, they can attract an affluent class, relatively new to the world of culture and luxury, and thereby differentiate themselves from the more traditional brands on the market. By also balancing the need to communicate financial figures to attract investors, while also censoring the same numbers in official documents to remain exclusive and rare, they further cement their position on the market.Uppsatsen har som syfte att undersöka hur en ung aktör inom lyxindustrin använder sig av storytelling, historieberättande, som ett verktyg för att legitimera höga produktpriser. Eftersom lyxvarumärkets narrativ normalt sett grundar sig i traditioner och arv, kommer uppsatsen granska hur lyxklockvarumärket Hublot, en ung framgångsrik aktör utan tradition eller arv, slagit sig fram på marknaden. Resultaten är baserade på en narrativ analys av dokumentkällor som inbegriper varumärkesambassadörer, sponsoravtal, reklam och en årsrapport. Vi har fastslagit att Hublot laddar varumärket med kulturellt kapital genom att konsekvent kommunicera hantverket, innovativ design och ursprungslandet. Genom berättelser om ‘self-made ambassadors’, män som arbetat sig upp från botten till toppen (vida kända för sitt ekonomiska kapital), så kan Hublot attrahera en välbärgad social klass, relativt ny inom den normalt kulturellt laddade lyxsfären. Detta leder till en differentiering från mer traditionella varumärken på marknaden. Genom att balansera kommunikationen av finansiell framgång och censur av försäljningssiffror så bibehåller de bilden av exklusivitet och raritet och cementerar sin position på marknaden

4-Hydroxy-2-pyridone alkaloids: Structures and synthetic approaches

4-Hydroxy-2-pyridone alkaloids exert diverse biological effects, ranging from antifungal, antibacterial, insecticidal and cytotoxic activity to the induction of neurite outgrowth in different cell assays. For this reason, this class of compounds has attracted much attention in the scientific community, resulting in the elucidation of the biosynthesis of some members which are formed by fungal polyketide synthases via tetramic acids by fungal polyketide synthases as well as different total synthesis approaches. This article will give a summary of the so far known structures, overview the different activities of the compounds and disclose the synthetic attempts since 1982

Utah Brand Inspections for Horses

Brand inspection laws and proof of ownership laws are often misunderstood by horse owners in Utah. Outlined in this paper are the current laws regarding requirements for proof of ownership while traveling and brand inspection requirements during the transfer of ownership