4-methylquinazoline is a minor component of the male sex pheromone in Nasonia vitripennis.

We identified 4-methylquinazoline (4-MeQ) as a minor component of the male sex pheromone of the parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis. Like the major components (4R,5R)- and (4R,5S)-5-hydroxy-4-decanolide (HDL), 4-MeQ is synthesized in the abdomen of males. At doses of 6 or 1 ng, 4-MeQ synergized the response of virgin females to the HDL-diastereomers in a still-air olfactometer, but was not attractive as a single component.

Biological effect of mono- and dinuclear alkylamine platinum(II) compounds on human lymphoma cells.

The effects of the mononuclear chloro[meso-1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine][hexylamine]platinum(II) chloride HACl and the dinuclear di[meso-1,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)ethylenediamine]dichloro(mu-1,n-diaminoalkane-N:N')diplatinum(II)dichloride complexes DAHCl (alkane:hexane), DANCl (alkane:nonane) and DADCl (alkane:dodecane) with different alkyl chain length (n) were investigated on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell lines. All compounds showed an antiproliferative effect on the NHL cell lines RAJI and U-937 accompanied in the case of DANCl, DAHCl, HACl and cisplatin by an increase in apoptosis. The growth of another NHL (JEKO-1) and one CML cell line (K-562) was decreased only by cisplatin.

Ivabradine as an alternative therapeutic trial in the therapy of inappropriate sinus tachycardia: a case report.

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia is a disease which is relatively rarely found and sometimes difficult to treat. Up to now it has been mostly treated with a beta-blocker or verapamil. If this did not work sinus node modulation was considered.

Immunohistochemical expression patterns of AP2alpha and AP2gamma in the developing fetal human breast.

Aims: AP2alpha (TFAP2A) and AP2gamma (TFAP2G) transcription factors have been implicated in the control of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of normal breast epithelium and in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the expression patterns of TFAP2A and TFAP2G in the developing fetal breast anlage with other relevant markers.

Methods And Results: Sixty fetal and one infant human breast specimens from 14 weeks of gestational age to 5 months old were examined.

Accuracy and tolerability of the Bravo catheter-free pH capsule in patients between the ages of 4 and 18 years.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if the Bravo pH capsule is comparable to the nasally placed pH catheter in terms of pH-metry, safety, and tolerability in children.

Methods: Ten patients each in the age ranges of 4 to 6 years, 7 to 10 years, and >10 years were tested simultaneously with the catheter and the capsule. Six each were tested with the catheter alone or the capsule alone.

A novel theory for nursing education: holistic comfort.

This article discusses how aspects of a holistic comfort theory were adapted to create a taxonomic structure to apply its concepts to a fast-track nursing education program. The principles of learner-centered education were combined with comfort theory to develop strategies that appear to have produced positive influences on the attributes and contexts of comfort within the learning community. With emphasis on balanced academic exposure to the art of comfort as well as the rigorous science of nursing, students and teachers developed a mutually rewarding learning partnership.

Factors influencing spontaneous mobilization of CD34+ and CD133+ progenitor cells after myocardial infarction.

Background: Bone marrow-derived circulating progenitor cells (BM-CPCs) are mobilized into adult peripheral blood (PB) during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and may contribute to the regeneration of infarcted myocardium. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether mobilization of BM-CPCs into PB depends on cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), age of patients, infarct associated inflammatory markers, and left ventricular function after AMI.

Materials And Methods: Peripheral blood concentrations of CD34/45(+) and CD133/45(+) BM-CPCs were measured by flow cytometry in 44 patients after AMI and in 16 subjects with atypical chest pain acting as controls.

Women's perceptions of the impact of a domestic violence treatment program for male perpetrators.

This qualitative descriptive study examined women's perceptions of a court mandated batterer treatment program that their spouse or partner participated in following arrest for domestic violence. Although the women felt treatment had a positive impact on several factors, their feedback helped identify possible improvements in batterer treatment programs.

Room temperature lasing of InAs/GaAs quantum dots in the whispering gallery modes of a silica microsphere.

We have achieved low threshold lasing of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots coupled to the evanescent wave of the high-Q whispering gallery modes of a silica microsphere. In spite of high temperature and Q-spoiling of whispering gallery modes due to diffusion and refraction on the high index semiconductor sample, room temperature lasing is obtained with less than 100 quantum dots. This result highlights the feasibility and interest of combining self-assembled quantum dots and microspheres in view of cavity-quantum electrodynamics experiments.

Prevalence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation depending on the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in arterial hypertension.

Arterial hypertension (HTN) represents one of the major causes of atrial fibrillation, a cardiac arrhythmia with high prevalence and comorbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether paroxysmal atrial fibrillation can be treated by the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy achieved by antihypertensive therapy. Included in the present study were 104 patients who had had HTN for more than 1 year.

Changes of oral trigeminal sensitivity in patients after middle ear surgery.

Objectives: The specific aim of this study was to re-investigate the effect of chorda tympani damage on both trigeminal sensitivity and taste ability.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Methods: Capsaicin-impregnated filter paper strips (5 concentrations, 0.

Regulation and localization of TOB and IFR1 in differentiating red cells.

In differentiating red blood cells (RBCs) of the chick embryo, the synthesis of carbonic anhydrase (CAII) and pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N-I) is triggered by the hypoxic mediators norepinephrine and adenosine via receptor-mediated cAMP formation. The process is accompanied by the induction of IFR1 and TOB which are putative regulators of transcription or translation in different cell types. The present investigation studied the erythroid TOB and IFR1 expression: mRNA and protein are up-regulated in post-mitotic RBCs from D11-19 treated with cAMP-elevating agonists.

A male sex pheromone in a parasitic wasp and control of the behavioral response by the female's mating status.

Male insects may increase their chance of successful reproduction by releasing pheromones that attract females or elicit sexual acceptance. In parasitic wasps, male pheromones have been suggested for a few species but no chemicals have been identified so far. Here we report the first identification of a male sex pheromone in parasitic Hymenoptera.

Elevated levels of interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme and caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Systemic inflammation and apoptosis-specific immune activation play a major role in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The role of systemic and coronary obtained inflammatory plasma protein interleukin-1beta precursor (IL-1betap), IL-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE) and the apoptosis-specific caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 (ccCK-18) are not known in ACS.

Materials And Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from stable angina (SA, n = 34), unstable angina (UA, n = 37) and patients with AMI (n = 39).

Iron-doped carbon aerogels: novel porous substrates for direct growth of carbon nanotubes.

We present the synthesis and characterization of Fe-doped carbon aerogels (CAs) and demonstrate the ability to grow carbon nanotubes directly on monoliths of these materials to afford novel carbon aerogel-carbon nanotube composites. Preparation of the Fe-doped CAs begins with the sol-gel polymerization of the potassium salt of 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid with formaldehyde, affording K+-doped gels that can then be converted to Fe2+- or Fe3+-doped gels through an ion exchange process, dried with supercritical CO2, and subsequently carbonized under an inert atmosphere. Analysis of the Fe-doped CAs by TEM, XRD, and XPS revealed that the doped iron species are reduced during carbonization to form metallic iron and iron carbide nanoparticles.

Courtship pheromones in parasitic wasps: comparison of bioactive and inactive hydrocarbon profiles by multivariate statistical methods.

Cuticular hydrocarbons play a significant role in the regulation of cuticular permeability and also in the chemical communication of insects. In the parasitoid Lariophagus distinguendus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), male courtship behavior is mediated by a female-produced sex pheromone. Previous studies have shown that the chemicals involved are already present in the pupal stage of both males and females.

Endothelial progenitor cells in active rheumatoid arthritis: effects of tumour necrosis factor and glucocorticoid therapy.

Objectives: To study the effects of short-term intermediate dose glucocorticoid (GC) therapy in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), which are known to influence cardiovascular risk, and to elucidate mechanisms potentially responsible for the reduction of EPCs in patients with active RA.

Methods: EPCs were quantified in 29 patients with active RA by flow cytometry, colony forming unit (CFU) and circulating angiogenic cell (CAC) assays before and after 7 days of intermediate dose GC therapy. CFU from patients with RA and from healthy referents (HR) were cultured in vitro in the absence or presence of dexamethasone (Dex) and/or TNF.

Host habitat assessment by a parasitoid using fungal volatiles.

Background: The preference-performance hypothesis predicts that oviposition preference of insects should correlate with host suitability for offspring development. Therefore, insect females have to be able to assess not only the quality of a given host but also the environmental conditions of the respective host habitat. Chemical cues are a major source of information used by insects for this purpose.

Protein and energy metabolism response to the initial dose of infliximab in children with Crohn's disease.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) may contribute to the alterations in protein and energy metabolism present in children with Crohn's disease (CD), who frequently suffer from growth disturbance. We hypothesized that anti-TNF-alpha therapy would reduce protein losses, due to decreased proteolysis and increased protein synthesis, and that anti-TNF-alpha therapy would decrease resting energy expenditure.

Methods: Children with active CD underwent metabolic assessment immediately before and 2 weeks following initial infliximab infusion.

Assessment of oral trigeminal sensitivity in humans.

The aim of this prospective study was to establish a clinical test for the assessment of oral trigeminal sensitivity. Capsaicin-impregnated filter paper strips (five concentrations: 0.0001-1%) were used to measure trigeminal thresholds.

Patient-reported symptoms after pediatric outpatient colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy under general anesthesia.

Objectives: Endoscopic examination of the colon is indicated in children with diarrhea, hematochezia and suspected inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of patient-reported symptoms after colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy under general anesthesia in children.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study included patients 18 years of age and younger who underwent colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy during a 1-year period.

Characterization of a female-produced courtship pheromone in the parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis.

Males of the parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) show a characteristic courtship behavior. We demonstrate that male arrestment and key behavioral elements of the courtship sequence are mediated by a female-derived contact sex pheromone. Males were arrested on paper disks treated with female extracts but not on those treated with male extracts.

Direct comparison of risk-adjusted and non-risk-adjusted CUSUM analyses of coronary artery bypass surgery outcomes.

Objective: We previously applied non-risk-adjusted cumulative sum methods to analyze coronary bypass outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the incremental advantage of risk-adjusted cumulative sum methods in this setting.

Methods: Prospective data were collected in 793 consecutive patients who underwent coronary bypass grafting performed by a single surgeon during a period of 5 years.