INTERACTIONS OF THE COMPLEMENT SYSTEM WITH ENDOTOXIC LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE : GENERATION OF A FACTOR CHEMOTACTIC FOR POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES

Endotoxic lipopolysaccharide has recently been shown to fix large amounts of the complement components related to the biologic activities mediated by that system. The present study sought to determine whether the generation of chemotactic factor by endotoxin in serum was dependent upon complement system activation. Preheating serum, incubating at 0°C, or incubating in the presence of EDTA, all prevented chemotactic factor generation as well as complement fixation by endotoxin. "Endotoxoids" deficient in complement-firing activity were also deficient in chemotactic factor generation. Chemotactic factor could not be generated by endotoxin in sera of mice congenitally deficient in the C'S component of complement, while chemotactic factor was generated by endotoxin in the sera of coisogenic mice with normal complement levels for that species. The chemotactic factor induced by endotoxin was heat stable and nondialyzable. Molecular sieve chromatography and sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation demonstrated that the chemotactic factor was a relatively low molecular weight product (15,000–30,000) and as such different from previously scribed C' system-derived chemotactic factors. These experiments demonstrate that generation of chemotactic factor by endotoxin in serum is dependent upon C' system activation involving at least C'5. Furthermore, the relatively low molecular weight of this factor suggests that it might be derived from activation of a single complement component rather than from complexing of multiple complement components

Loop-after-loop contribution to the second-order Lamb shift in hydrogenlike low-Z atoms

We present a numerical evaluation of the loop-after-loop contribution to the second-order self-energy for the ground state of hydrogenlike atoms with low nuclear charge numbers Z. The calculation is carried out in the Fried-Yennie gauge and without an expansion in Z \alpha. Our calculation confirms the results of Mallampalli and Sapirstein and disagrees with the calculation by Goidenko and coworkers. A discrepancy between different calculations is investigated. An accurate fitting of the numerical results provides a detailed comparison with analytic calculations based on an expansion in the parameter Z \alpha. We confirm the analytic results of order \alpha^2 (Z\alpha)^5 but disagree with Karshenboim's calculation of the \alpha^2 (Z \alpha)^6 \ln^3(Z \alpha)^{-2} contribution.Comment: RevTex, 19 pages, 4 figure

Phase Structure and Nonperturbative States in Three-Dimensional Adjoint Higgs Model

The thermodynamics of 3d adjoint Higgs model is considered. We study the properties of the Polyakov loop correlators and the critical behavior at the deconfinement phase transition. Our main tool is a reduction to the 2d sine-Gordon model. The Polyakov loops appear to be connected with the soliton operators in it. The known exact results in the sine-Gordon theory allow us to study in detail the temperature dependence of the string tension, as well as to get some information about a nonperturbative dynamics in the confinement phase. We also consider the symmetry restoration at high temperature which makes it possible to construct the phase diagram of the model completely.Comment: 15pp., Revtex; 4 figures; replaced by a version to be published in Phys. Rev.

Multibaryons as Symmetric Multiskyrmions

We study non-adiabatic corrections to multibaryon systems within the bound state approach to the SU(3) Skyrme model. We use approximate ansatze for the static background fields based on rational maps which have the same symmetries of the exact solutions. To determine the explicit form of the collective Hamiltonians and wave functions we only make use of these symmetries. Thus, the expressions obtained are also valid in the exact case. On the other hand, the inertia parameters and hyperfine splitting constants we calculate do depend on the detailed form of the ansatze and are, therefore, approximate. Using these values we compute the low lying spectra of multibaryons with B <= 9 and strangeness 0, -1 and -B. Finally, we show that the non-adiabatic corrections do not affect the stability of the tetralambda and heptalambda found in a previous work.Comment: 17 pages, RevTeX, no figure

Transition energy and lifetime for the ground state hyperfine splitting of high Z lithiumlike ions

The ground state hyperfine splitting values and the transition probabilities between the hyperfine structure components of high Z lithiumlike ions are calculated in the range $Z=49-83$. The relativistic, nuclear, QED and interelectronic interaction corrections are taken into account. It is found that the Bohr-Weisskopf effect can be eliminated in a combination of the hyperfine splitting values of the hydrogenlike and lithiumlike ions of an isotope. This gives a possibility for testing the QED effects in a combination of the strong electric and magnetic fields of the heavy nucleus. Using the experimental result for the $1s$ hyperfine splitting in ^{209}Bi^{82+}, the 2s hyperfine splitting in ^{209}Bi^{80+} is calculated to be \Delta E=0.7969(2) eV.Comment: The nuclear charge distribution correction \delta is corrected, 14 pages, Late

Leucine and tissue distribution of bulky and small neutral amino acids in rats: Dissociation between transport and insulin-mediated effects

The mechanism of the observed decrease in the plasma concentration of several amino acids in the presence of high levels of Leu has remained unexplained. In the present study a decrease in the plasma concentration of Ile, Val, Phe, Tyr, Met, Ala, Pro and Gly was observed after the intraperitoneal injection of Leu to weanling rats. Decreases in net intracellular concentrations in muscle accompanied the decrease in plasma of all of these amino acids except Pro and Gly. An increase in the distribution ratio muscle/plasma was observed exclusively for Gly after administration of Leu or of a non-insulinogenic transport system L analogue. Diazoxide suppressed the Leu-induced decreases in plasma and muscle intracellular concentrations of Ile and Val as well as of Pro in plasma. An increase in the distribution ratio liver/plasma was observed for Pro and Gly in the absence but not in the presence of diazoxide. All the above changes were statistically significant. Hence insulin probably mediates Leu effects, promoting an increased utilization of Ile and Val in muscle and of Pro in liver. A more direct effect of Leu appears to be involved in the apparent increased utilization of Phe, Tyr and Ala in the same tissue. Gly depletion in plasma can be explained by its trapping by inhibitory action of Leu on the exodus of Gly through transport system L.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42495/1/10545_2005_Article_BF01800357.pd

Consumers' experiences and values in conventional and alternative medicine paradigms: a problem detection study (PDS)

Background: This study explored consumer perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and relationships with CAM and conventional medicine practitioners. A problem detection study (PDS) was used. The qualitative component to develop the questionnaire used a CAM consumer focus group to explore conventional and CAM paradigms in healthcare. 32 key issues, seven main themes, informed the questionnaire (the quantitative PDS component - 36 statements explored using five-point Likert scales.

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors

BACKGROUND: Sinonasal neoplasms, whether benign and malignant, pose a significant challenge to clinicians and represent a model area for multidisciplinary collaboration in order to optimize patient care. The International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors (ICSNT) aims to summarize the best available evidence and presents 48 thematic and histopathology-based topics spanning the field. METHODS: In accordance with prior International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology documents, ICSNT assigned each topic as an Evidence-Based Review with Recommendations, Evidence-Based Review, and Literature Review based on the level of evidence. An international group of multidisciplinary author teams were assembled for the topic reviews using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses format, and completed sections underwent a thorough and iterative consensus-building process. The final document underwent rigorous synthesis and review prior to publication. RESULTS: The ICSNT document consists of four major sections: general principles, benign neoplasms and lesions, malignant neoplasms, and quality of life and surveillance. It covers 48 conceptual and/or histopathology-based topics relevant to sinonasal neoplasms and masses. Topics with a high level of evidence provided specific recommendations, while other areas summarized the current state of evidence. A final section highlights research opportunities and future directions, contributing to advancing knowledge and community intervention. CONCLUSION: As an embodiment of the multidisciplinary and collaborative model of care in sinonasal neoplasms and masses, ICSNT was designed as a comprehensive, international, and multidisciplinary collaborative endeavor. Its primary objective is to summarize the existing evidence in the field of sinonasal neoplasms and masses