TNF-alpha impairs heart and skeletal muscle protein synthesis by altering translation initiation.

This study examined potential mechanisms contributing to the inhibition of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and heart after administration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Rats had vascular catheters implanted, and TNF-alpha was infused continuously for 24 h. TNF-alpha decreased in vivo-determined rates of global protein synthesis in gastrocnemius (39%) and heart (25%).

The behavior of hydroxyl units of synthetic goethite and its dehydroxylated product hematite.

The behavior of the hydroxyl units of synthetic goethite and its dehydroxylated product hematite was characterized using a combination of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) during the thermal transformation over a temperature range of 180-270 degrees C. Hematite was detected at temperatures above 200 degrees C by XRD while goethite was not observed above 230 degrees C. Five intense OH vibrations at 3212-3194, 1687-1674, 1643-1640, 888-884 and 800-798 cm(-1), and a H2O vibration at 3450-3445 cm(-1) were observed for goethite.

Burn-induced changes in IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins are partially glucocorticoid dependent.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether burn-induced changes in various components of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system are mediated by the actions of endogenous glucocorticoids or tumor necrosis factor (TNF). To address this aim, a 30% total body surface area full-thickness scald burn was produced in anesthetized rats, and the animals were studied 24 h later. Separate groups of time-matched control and burned rats were pretreated with either an antagonist to glucocorticoids (RU-486) or to TNF (TNF-binding protein; TNFBP).

Tissue-specific regulation of IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins in response to TNFalpha.

The circulating concentration of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is regulated by both its rate of synthesis and its ability to form stable complexes with IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). An equilibrium between IGF-I and IGFBPs is thought to help maintain muscle protein balance. In contrast, catabolic conditions disrupt the IGF system and result in the loss of skeletal muscle protein.

Obsessive-compulsive features in pathological lottery and scratch-ticket gamblers.

The results of this study support the notion that pathological gamblers drawn from the community would score higher on all three scores from the YBOCS than light gamblers. Consistent with hypotheses, pathological gamblers (lottery and scratch ticket) reported more obsessions, compulsions, and avoidance behavior than the light gamblers, and also reported having more urges to engage in injurious behaviors to themselves and others. These findings provide evidence that pathological gambling falls in a spectrum or family of disorders which have obsessive-compulsive disorder at its core.

Orthographic and phonological computation in visual word recognition: evidence from backward masking in Hebrew.

We employed the backward masking paradigm to map the early computation involved in the perception of printed words in Hebrew. By independently manipulating orthographic and phonological overlap between targets and masks, we examined whether orthographic and phonological structure imposes late or early constraints on lexical access. The results demonstrated that the probability of reinstating a masked target depended on both the orthographic and the phonological overlap between the target and the mask.

Alcohol impairs protein synthesis and degradation in cultured skeletal muscle cells.

Background: Acute and chronic alcohol intoxication decreases skeletal muscle protein synthesis under in vivo conditions. We investigated whether ethanol (EtOH) and its major metabolites, acetaldehyde and acetate, can directly modulate protein balance under in vitro conditions.

Methods: Human myocytes were incubated with different doses of EtOH for varying periods of time (i.

Hoarding: a community health problem.

Hoarding behaviour has been defined as the accumulation of possessions that are useless and that interfere with the ability to function. Severe hoarding may endanger not only the health and safety of the individual, but also their surrounding community. However, little information exists regarding the frequency and seriousness of this problem.

Hoarding by elderly people.

Although hoarding has been studied in adults, little is known about problems of hoarding by elderly people. This study used a structured telephone interview with elder services providers to investigate hoarding behaviors in relation to functional impairment, cognitive deficits, and physical and psychological conditions in 62 elderly clients. Most elderly hoarders were female, unmarried, and lived alone.

Mechanochemical Treatment of Kaolinite.

Kaolinite surfaces were modified by mechanochemical treatment for periods of time up to 10 h. X-ray diffraction shows a steady decrease in intensity of the d(001) spacing with mechanochemical treatment, resulting in the delamination of the kaolinite and a subsequent decrease in crystallite size with grinding time. Thermogravimetric analyses show the dehydroxylation patterns of kaolinite are significantly modified.

The Modification of Hydroxyl Surfaces of Formamide-Intercalated Kaolinites Synthesized by Controlled Rate Thermal Analysis.

Controlled rate thermal analysis (CRTA) technology made possible the separation of adsorbed formamide from intercalated formamide in formamide-intercalated kaolinites. X-ray diffraction shows that the CRTA-treated formamide-intercalated kaolinites remain expanded after CRTA treatment. The Raman spectra of the CRTA-treated formamide-intercalated kaolinites are significantly different from those of the intercalated kaolinites with both intercalated and adsorbed formamide.

Modification of Chrysotile Surface by Organosilanes: An IR-Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Study.

Chrysotile and its dimethylsilyl (DMS) and dimethylphenylsilyl (DMPS) derivatives were studied by Fourier transform infrared-photoacoustic spectroscopy. In the Si-O stretching region of chrysotile a new band was revealed at 985 cm(-1), besides absorptions at 1083, 1028, and 947 cm(-1). The Si-O stretching frequencies did not undergo major changes in the DMS derivative, but the 985- and 1028-cm(-1) peaks were undetected in DMPS due to the HCl attack on chrysotile tetrahedral sheets.

Alcohol myopathy: impairment of protein synthesis and translation initiation.

Alcohol consumption leads to numerous morphological, biochemical and functional changes in skeletal and cardiac muscle. One such change observed in both tissues after either acute alcohol intoxication or chronic alcohol consumption is a characteristic decrease in the rate of protein synthesis. A decrease in translation efficiency appears to be responsible for at least part of the reduction.

Raman spectroscopy of potassium acetate-intercalated kaolinites at liquid nitrogen temperature.

Raman microscopy has been used to study low and high defect kaolinites and their potassium acetate intercalated complexes at 298 and 77 K. Raman spectroscopy shows significant differences in the spectra of the hydroxyl-stretching region of the two types of kaolinites, which is also reflected in the spectroscopy of the hydroxyl-stretching region of the intercalation complexes. Additional bands to the normally observed kaolinite hydroxyl stretching frequencies are observed for the low and high defect kaolinites at 3605 and 3602 cm(-1) at 298 K.

Relation of plasma leptin concentrations to sex, body fat, dietary intake, and peak oxygen uptake in young adult women and men.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of leptin to metabolic and dietary factors in college-age adults. Young adult women and men (n = 32) were recruited and underwent testing for measurement of body mass index, body composition, peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), dietary intake, and plasma levels of leptin and insulin. Ln leptin was significantly greater for women than for men (2.

Morphological priming: dissociation of phonological, semantic, and morphological factors.

Previous experiments based on a masked-priming paradigm revealed robust morphological priming effects induced by two derivational morphemes in Hebrew: the root and the verbal pattern. However, considering the special characteristics of the masked-priming paradigm, the possible contributions of phonological and/or semantic factors to these morphological effects could not be firmly assessed. In the present study, the role of these factors in morphological priming was examined, using cross-modal presentation.

Towards a single crystal Raman spectrum of kaolinite at 77 K.

The Raman spectra at 77 K of the hydroxyl stretching of kaolinite were obtained along the three axes perpendicular to the crystal faces. Raman bands were observed at 3616, 3658 and 3677 cm(-1) together with a distinct band observed at 3691 cm(-1) and a broad profile between 3695 and 3715 cm(-1). The band at 3616 cm(-1) is assigned to the inner hydroxyl.

Effect of diabetes mellitus on rat placenta cellularity.

Transcellular placental maternofetal flux of calcium and magnesium is reduced in diabetic pregnancy in the rat which might be due to changes in placental cellularity. In order to investigate this wet and dry weight, DNA and protein content were measured in placentas from untreated diabetic (D(O)), insulin-treated diabetic (D(I)) and control rats (C) on day 21 of gestation (term=23 days). Wet and dry weights (mg; mean+/-S.

Effects of atorvastatin versus fenofibrate on lipoprotein profiles, low-density lipoprotein subfraction distribution, and hemorheologic parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus with mixed hyperlipoproteinemia.

Diabetic dyslipoproteinemia characterized by hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and often elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with predominance of small, dense LDL is a strong risk factor for atherosclerosis. It is unclear whether fibrate or statin therapy is more effective in these patients. We compared atorvastatin (10 mg/day) with fenofibrate (200 mg/day), each for 6 weeks separated by a 6-week washout period in 13 patients (5 men and 8 women; mean age 60.

Near-infrared spectroscopic study of [AlO4Al12(OH)23(H2O)12]7+-O-Si(OH)3 nitrate crystals formed by forced hydrolysis of Al3+ in the presence of TEOS.

The polymer [AlO4Al12(OH)23(H2O)12]7+-O-Si(OH)3 was prepared by forced hydrolysis of Al3+ up to an OH/Al molar ratio of 2.0 in the presence of monomeric orthosilicic acid. Crystalline material was obtained by slow evaporation.

Mood, personality disorder symptoms and disability in obsessive compulsive hoarders: a comparison with clinical and nonclinical controls.

Hoarding is a symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as a diagnostic criterion for obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD). One recent study suggests that people who suffer from compulsive hoarding report more general psychopathology than people who do not [Frost, R.O.

Vibrational spectroscopy of ferruginous smectite and nontronite.

A comparison is made between the Raman and infrared spectra of ferruginous smectite and a nontronite using both absorption and emission techniques. Raman spectra show hydroxyl stretching bands at 3572, 3434, 3362, 3220 and 3102 cm(-1). The infrared emission spectra of the hydroxyl stretching region are significantly different to the absorption spectrum.

IGF-I/IGFBP-3 binary complex modulates sepsis-induced inhibition of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle.

The present study evaluated the ability of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) complexed with IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) to modulate the sepsis-induced inhibition of protein synthesis in gastrocnemius. Beginning 16 h after the induction of sepsis, either the binary complex or saline was injected twice daily via a tail vein, with measurements made 3 and 5 days later. By day 3, sepsis had reduced plasma IGF-I concentrations approximately 50% in saline-treated rats.