Communications Biophysics

Contains reports on three research projects.National Institutes of Health (Grant 5 P01 GM14940-04

Serum Levels of Adipocyte Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Are Associated with the Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Chinese Women

BACKGROUND: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) has been described as a novel adipokine, playing an important role in the development of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum levels of A-FABP and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chinese subjects. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Circulating A-FABP level was determined by ELISA in 341 Chinese subjects (221 men, 120 women) who underwent coronary angiography. A-FABP levels in patients with CAD were significantly higher compared with non-CAD subjects (P = 0.029 in men; P = 0.031 in women). Serum A-FABP increased significantly in multi-vessel diseased patients than in non-CAD subjects (P = 0.011 in men, P = 0.004 in women), and showed an independent correlation with coronary atherosclerosis index (standardized β = 0.173, P = 0.025). In multiple logistic regression analysis, serum A-FABP was an independent risk factor for CAD in women (OR = 5.637, 95%CI: 1.299-24.457, P = 0.021). In addition, amino terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was demonstrated to be positively and independently correlated with A-FABP (standardized β = 0.135, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Serum A-FABP is closely associated with the presence and severity of CAD in Chinese women

Activity patterns of cochlear ganglion neurones in the starling

1. Spontaneous activity and responses to simple tonal stimuli were studied in cochlear ganglion neurones of the starling. 2. Both regular and irregular spontaneous activity were recorded (Figs. I to 5). Non-auditory cells have their origin in the macula lagenae. Mean spontaneous rate for auditory cells (all irregularly spiking) was 45 spikes s-1. 3. In half the units having characteristic frequencies (CFs) <1.5 kHz, time-interval histograms (TIHs) of spontaneous activity showed regularly-spaced peaks or 'preferred' intervals. The spacing of the peak intervals was, on average, 15% greater than the CF-period interval of the respective units (Fig. 11). 4. In TIH of lower-frequency cells without preferred intervals, the modal interval was also on average about 15% longer than the CF-period interval (Fig. 11). Apparently, the resting oscillation frequency of these cells lies below their CF. 5. Tuning curves (TCs) of neurones to short tone bursts show no systematic asymmetry as in mammals. Below CF 1 kHz, the low-frequency flanks of the TCs are, on average, steeper than the high-frequency flanks. Above CF 1 kHz, the reverse is true (Fig. 15). 6. The cochlear ganglion and nerve are tonotopically organized. Low-frequency fibres arise apically in the papilla basilaris and are found near non-auditory (lagenar) fibres (Figs. 2 and 19). 7. Discharge rates to short tones were monotonically related to sound presure level (Fig. 20). Saturation rates often exceeded 300 spikes s- 1. 8. 'On-off' responses and primary suppression of spontaneous activity were observed (Figs. 22 and 23). 9. A direct comparison of spontaneous activity and tuning-curve symmetry (Fig. 15b) revealed that, apart from quantative differences, fundamental qualitative differences exist between starling and guinea-pig primary afferents