The phosphate potential maintained by mitochondria in State 4 is proportional to the proton-motive force

AbstractEvidence is presented for a proportional relationship between the extramitochondrial phosphate potential (ΔGexp) and the proton-motive force (Δ\̃gmH+) across the mitochondrial membrane in rat-liver mitochondria oxidising succinate in State 4, when Δ\̃gmH+ is varied by addition of uncouplers or malonate. This relationship was found when precautions were taken to minimise interference with the determination of ΔGpex and Δ\̃gmH+ by intramitochondrial nucleotides, adenylate kinase activity, the quenching method, and Δ\̃gmH+-dependent changes in matrix volume. A non-proportional ΔGpex/Δ\̃gmH+ relationship was obtained when these precautions were omitted. Our results do not support mosaic protonic coupling, but are not necessarily in conflict with other localised coupling schemes

Decreased Doublecortin (DCX) immunoreactivity in hippocampus after profound sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction in adult mice

Objective: sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and bilateral vestibulopathy (BV) have been associated with cognitive decline and incident dementia. Our aim was to investigate the combined effect of profound SNHL and BV on spatial cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis in adult mice. Methods: Single oral intake of allylnitrile produces otovestibular failure in less than a week. Behavioral assessment included recording of spontaneous activity, motor activity, spatial cognition, etc. Evaluation of hippocampal neurogenesis was performed 8 weeks after treatment by quantification of neural precursor cells and proliferating cells in the dentate gyrus by staining with doublecortin (Dcx) and Ki67, respectively. Results: Profound SNHL and BV were confirmed in the allylnitrile-treated mice respectively by means of auditory brainstem response (ABR) and acoustic startle response, and several vestibular tests. Spatial cognitive deficits, i.e. higher latency to target, were observed with the Barnes maze. In the right hemisphere, no statistically significant difference was observed between groups. In the left hemisphere, the difference in mean cell densities of Dcx positive cells was statistically significant when compared to the control group, whereas the difference in mean cell density of Ki67 positive cells did not differ significantly. Conclusion: Spatial cognitive deficits and decreased immunoreactivity to DCX in the left hippocampus were observed 8 weeks after adult mice acquired profound SNHL and BV

The cardiovascular risk profile of middle-aged women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Contains fulltext : 220851.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)OBJECTIVES: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the cardiometabolic phenotype and prevalence of CVD in middle-aged women with PCOS, compared with age-matched controls from the general population, and estimated 10-year CVD risk and cardiovascular health score. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 200 women aged >45 with PCOS, and 200 age-matched controls. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometrics, insulin, lipid levels, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. Ten-year Framingham risk score and the cardiovascular health score were calculated, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured. RESULTS: Mean age was 50.5 years (SD = 5.5) in women with PCOS and 51.0 years (SD = 5.2) in controls. Increased waist circumference, body mass index and hypertension were more often observed in women with PCOS (P < .001). In women with PCOS, the prevalence of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome was not significantly increased and lipid levels were not different from controls. cIMT was lower in women with PCOS (P < .001). Calculated cardiovascular health and 10-year CVD risk were similar in women with PCOS and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged women with PCOS exhibit only a moderately unfavourable cardiometabolic profile compared to age-matched controls, even though they present with an increased BMI and waist circumference. Furthermore, we found no evidence for increased (10-year) CVD risk or more severe atherosclerosis compared with controls from the general population. Long-term follow-up of women with PCOS is necessary to provide a definitive answer concerning long-term risk for CVD

The cardiovascular risk profile of middle-aged women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the cardiometabolic phenotype and prevalence of CVD in middle-aged women with PCOS, compared with age-matched controls from the general population, and estimated 10-year CVD risk and cardiovascular health score. Design: A cross-sectional study. Participants: 200 women aged >45 with PCOS, and 200 age-matched controls. Measurements: Anthropometrics, insulin, lipid levels, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. Ten-year Framingham risk score and the cardiovascular health score were calculated, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured. Results: Mean age was 50.5 years (SD = 5.5) in women with PCOS and 51.0 years (SD = 5.2) in controls. Increased waist circumference, body mass index and hypertension were more often observed in women with PCOS (P <.001). In women with PCOS, the prevalence of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome was not significantly increased and lipid levels were not different from controls. cIMT was lower in women with PCOS (P <.001). Calculated cardiovascular health and 10-year CVD risk were similar in women with PCOS and controls. Conclusions: Middle-aged women with PCOS exhibit only a moderately unfavourable cardiometabolic profile compared to age-matched controls, even though they present with an increased BMI and waist circumference. Furthermore, we found no evidence for increased (10-year) CVD risk or more severe atherosclerosis compared with controls from the general population. Long-term follow-up of women with PCOS is necessary to provide a definitive answer concerning lon

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements