The Asp298 allele of endothelial nitric oxide synthase is a risk factor for myocardial infarction among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in atherosclerotic progression and cardiovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Given the role of nitric oxide in the vascular system, we aimed to test hypotheses of synergy between the common endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) Asp(298) allele and T2DM in predisposing to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: In a population-based patient survey with 403 persons with T2DM and 799 healthy subjects from the population without diabetes or hypertension, we analysed the relation between T2DM, sex and the eNOS Asp(298) allele versus the risk for AMI. Results: In an overall analysis, T2DM was a significant independent risk factor for AMI. In patients with T2DM, homozygosity for the eNOS Asp(298) allele was a significant risk factor (HR 3.12 [1.49-6.56], p = 0.003), but not in subjects without diabetes or hypertension. Compared to wild-type non-diabetic subjects, all patients with T2DM had a significantly increased risk of AMI regardless of genotype. This risk was however markedly higher in patients with T2DM homozygous for the Asp(298) allele (HR 7.20 [3.01-17.20], p < 0.001), independent of sex, BMI, systolic blood pressure, serum triglycerides, HDL -cholesterol, current smoking, and leisure time physical activity. The pattern seemed stronger in women than in men. Conclusion: We show here a strong independent association between eNOS genotype and AMI in patients with T2DM. This suggests a synergistic effect of the eNOS Asp(298) allele and diabetes, and confirms the role of eNOS as an important pathological bottleneck for cardiovascular disease in patients with T2DM

Myocardial ischaemia in children with isolated ventricular non-compaction

Aims Isolated ventricular non-compaction is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy with a high morbidity and mortality due to malignant arrhythmias and pump failure. Areas affected by non-compaction are characterized by increased trabecularization and deep inter-trabecular spaces. We hypothesized perfusion defects in these areas and performed positron emission tomography to evaluate the myocardial perfusion in non-compacted areas. Methods and Results Five children (age 10-14 years) with isolated ventricular non-compaction underwent positron emission tomography using N-13-ammonia as flow marker and intravenous dipyridamole for stress testing. Myocardial blood flow was quantified using the positron emission tomography time-activity curves in non-compacted areas and normal myocardium, which were diagnosed by echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography. Coronary angiography, performed in two children with extensive forms of left ventricular non-compaction, demonstrated normal coronary arteries. Myocardial blood flow measurements at rest and after dipyridamole application demonstrated 16-33% and 32-57% perfusion impairment, respectively, in non-compacted areas compared to normal myocardium. Areas of restricted myocardial perfusion corresponded well to the non-compacted areas, defined echographically and by magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion Positron emission tomography demonstrates restricted myocardial perfusion and decreased flow reserve in areas of ventricular non-compaction in children. The myocardial perfusion defects in non-compacted areas may be the cause of myocardial damage and possibly form the basis of arrhythmias and pump failur

Study of rheological behaviour of wines

This study deals with rheological properties of various wine varieties. Samples of the following wines were used for this experiment: André, Cabernet Moravia, Laurot, Saint Laurent, Gruner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Müller Thurgau, and Riesling Italico. These samples were obtained from wine produced from the grapes collected in the Czech Republic (Morava region, subregion Velke Pavlovice). In the first phase, the chemical composition of the samples was determined. The following chemical parameters were determined: total acidity, pH, content of the alcohol, reduced sugars, free SO2, total SO2, and volatile acids. In the second phase of the study, the physical properties of the samples were determined and the samples of the wines were subjected to rheological tests. These tests consisted in determination of apparent viscosity in relation to temperature, hysteresis loop tests, and apparent viscosity related to time. The dependence of the shear rate on the shear stress was described with the Herschel-Bulkley mathematical model. The experiment yielded the following findings: seven out of the eight samples behaved as non-Newtonian fluids at low temperature (5°C); non-Newtonian behaviour was changed into Newtonian at the temperature higher than 10 °C; non-Newtonian behaviour was characterised as thixotropic behaviour; the degree of thixotropy is relatively small and reaches 1.85 Pa s-1 ml-1

Innovativeness - does the territorial typology matters?

National and regional strategies and policies on innovation have been prioritized and innovation is now core to most EU funds and strategies. However, regions are not (should not be) alike in terms of innovation and innovation policy. The development strategies based on innovativeness ideas must include specific local conditions. Effective actions and efforts, to create good environment for innovativeness must bring tangible results. The aim of the paper is comparison of innovativeness on different regions types according to territorial typology: rural, intermediate and urban. The research questions are: Does innovativeness depends on regional typology: urban-rural? Do remote, less developed rural areas have also low achievements (poor performance) in this regard? Innovation output is measured using its hard result, which is number of patent application per capita. To examine group differences according to the innovativeness, the Kruskal-Wallis test was conducted. The test statistic showed, that there is no statistically significant difference between patent applications on different regions types. It has been found that the highest variable value in the whole sample has been calculated in rural group, for rural regions in Switzerland

Sterilkultur als Modellsystem Zur Untersuchung des Mechanismus der Aluminium-Toxizitaet bei Fichtenkeimlingen (Picea Abies Karst.)

TIB: RO 2404 (5) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Biologischer Pflanzenschutz gegen bodenbuertige Phytopathogene. Teilprojekt: Wirkungssicherheit und Produktionsmethoden fuer effiziente Antagonisten bodenbuertiger Schadorganismen Schlussbericht

The reliability and efficiency of specific antagonistic strains of Pseudomonas sp. in the Curcumis sativus-Pythium ultimum system was significantly improved by addition of the flavonoids naringenin, daidzein and luteolin-7-glucosit, provided a detailed standardization of the test system in the combination plant-pathogen-antagonist. In cooperation with the industrial partner the fermenter-production technology for the antagonistic strains was further developed. With the RAPD PCR technique specific gene probes were developed to quantify and determine specific antagonistic strains of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas' sp. (earlier Pseudomonas fluorescens). DNA sequencess are new. With these gene probes a very quick and specific test allows the differentiation of efficient and not efficient strains of the bacteria species used and the quantification in situ of the antagonists on the root surfaces. This was not possible until now, due to the large number of physiologically similar bacterial strains in the soil. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: DtF QN1(78,31) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman