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Syndecan-1 is a transmembrane heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycan present on hepatocytes and involved in uptake of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins via its HS polysaccharide side chains. We hypothesized that altered hepatic syndecan-1 metabolism could be involved in dyslipidemia related to renal transplantation. In a rat renal transplantation model elevated plasma triglycerides were associated with fivefold increased expression of hepatic syndecan-1 mRNA (p < 0.01), but not protein. Expression of syndecan-1 sheddases (ADAM17, MMP9) and heparanase was significantly up-regulated after renal transplantation (all p < 0.05). Profiling of HS side chains revealed loss of hepatic HS upon renal transplantation accompanied by significant decreased functional capacity for VLDL binding (p = 0.02). In a human renal transplantation cohort (n = 510), plasma levels of shed syndecan-1 were measured. Multivariate analysis showed plasma syndecan-1 to be independently associated with triglycerides (p < 0.0001) and inversely with HDL cholesterol (p < 0.0001). Last, we show a physical association of syndecan-1 to HDL from renal transplant recipients (RTRs), but not to HDL from healthy controls. Our data suggest that after renal transplantation loss of hepatic HS together with increased syndecan-1 shedding hampers lipoprotein binding and uptake by the liver contributing to dyslipidemia. Our data open perspectives toward improvement of lipid profiles by targeted inhibition of syndecan-1 catabolism in renal transplantation.

The influence of X-irradiation on the sensitivity of the rat sciatic nerve to local hyperthermia was investigated. A 10 or 20 mm long segment of the nerve was irradiated intraoperatively using 50 kV X-rays. Hyperthermia (30 min at 45°C), was applied to the irradiated part (over a length of 5 mm) of the nerve using a brass thermode. Functional damage to the nerve was assessed using the toe-spreading test, which mainly assesses the motor function of the sciatic nerve. Radiation alone (doses up to 70 Gy) did not lead to detectable damage for at least 90 weeks. Hyperthermia alone (30 min at 45°C) resulted in complete loss of motor function. This function loss was transient and complete recovery took place in about 4 weeks. Recovery time was scored as the number of days between hyperthermia and the day on which 50% of the motor function had returned. Irradiation (35 Gy) of a nerve segment, which included the heated part, resulted in a delayed recovery from the heat treatment compared to controls (heat only). The time interval and sequence between irradiation and hyperthermia hardly influenced the recovery delay. The size of the irradiated nerve segment did influence the recovery delay. Irradiation of a 20 mm nerve segment led to longer recovery delays than irradiation of a 10 mm segment (a delay of 5-10 days and 1-5 days respectively). A dose-response relation for the irradiation-induced delay in recovery was observed when a large segment (20 mm) of the nerve was irradiated immediately after heat with a dose ranging from 5 to 40 Gy. The delay in heat recovery was dose-dependent below 20 Gy, but after radiation doses above 20 Gy the recovery delay remained almost constant.

In the distributive sorting method of Dobosiewicz, both the interval between the minimum and the median of the numbers to be sorted and the interval between the median and the maximum are partitioned inton/2 subintervals of equal length; the procedure is then applied recursively on each subinterval containing more than three numbers. We refine and extend previous analyses of this method, e.g., by establishing its asymptotic linear behaviour under various probabilistic assumptions.

In this paper we describe, as an example, how we obtained the information needed to evaluate a newly introduced protocol for ordering X-rays for ankle trauma patients. Extensive use was made of available data and facilities of the hospital information system (HIS). Procedures for collecting the required additional data, which were not recorded in the HIS but were needed to evaluate the protocol, were embedded in the current medical and administrative routine of the emergency room. These additional data were also stored in the HIS. Periodically all data were downloaded to a personal computer to analyse the impact of using the protocol on quality of care and costs. In total 1 241 patients entered the study, and for 1149 patients a complete dataset was obtained. The sensitivity and specificity of the protocol at the threshold value which was used during the initial study period was 0-77 and 0-80. The reduction in the number of ankle X-rays due to the protocol was significant when compared with a strategy of ordering an X-ray for every ankle trauma patient visiting the emergency room.

In the first polar lobe ofBithynia eggs a special plasm, the vegetal body, is present. It consists of a cupshaped aggregate of small vesicles. Centrifugation of eggs prior to first cleavage may result in displacement of the vegetal body. In about 50% of thecentriguged eggs the vegetal body is found outside the polar lobe, in one of the blastomeres. Removal of the polar lobe from non-centrifuged eggs always leads to severe defects in development. When the lobe is removed from centrifuged eggs, however, about 50% of the eggs develop into normal embryos. It is concluded that the presence of the vegetal body in a blastomere suffices to ensure normal development and, hence, that the polar lobe-specific morphogenetic determinants are contained within the vegetal body.

The significance of the first quartet of micromeres for the morphogenesis ofBithynia — a polar lobe-forming gastropod-has been studied by deletion experiments. After removal of the whole first quartet at the 8-cell stage a dorsoventrally organized veliger larva is formed. Apparently, an interaction between the animal micromeres and a vegetal macromere, which is essential for the origin of a dorsoventral organization in equally cleaving gastropods, is not required in polar lobe forming eggs. It is concluded that in these eggs dorsoventrality is determined by segregation of the polar lobe. The embryos, in which the first quartet has been removed, never develop head structures. This indicates that the capacity to form head structures is restricted to the first quartet of micromeres. Deletion of a specific first quartet micromere (1a, 1b, 1c or 1d) showed, however, that the individual cells of this quartet are not strictly determined right from their origin. Frequently regulative development was observed after removal of individual first quartet cells.

Abstract: Randomly generated polytopes are used frequently to test and compare algorithms for a variety of mathematical programming problems. These polytopes are constructed by generating linear inequality constraints with coefficients drawn independently from a distribution such as the uniform or the normal. It is noted that this class of ‘random’ polytopes has a special property: the angles between the hyperplanes, though dependent on the specific distribution used, tend to be equal when the dimension of the space increases. Obviously this structure of ‘random’ polytopes may bias test results.

A soluble intracrystalline fraction (SIF) from the coccoliths ofCoccolithus huxleyi was prepared from lyophilized cells; they were treated with chloroform-methanol, pronase and a strong alkaline oxidizing agent. The resulting coccoliths, of which all non-intracrystalline organic material was removed, were decalcified with EDTA and the SIF and the EDTA were then separated on Sephadex G-50. The SIF appeared in the exclusion volume of the column; this demonstrates its macromolecular nature. By varying the conditions during the oxidation step in the preparation of the coccoliths the behaviour of the SIF during electrophoresis changed: more severe oxidizing conditions resulted in a further degradation. When the SIF itself was subjected to these oxidation conditions, it generally degraded completely. These results suggest that the SIF was protected by the calcite of the coccoliths against the oxidizing agents and therefore is most probably situated inside the crystals. Since however the protection is limited, there may be holes in the crystal lattice through which the oxidizing agents can penetrate slowly. It cannot be decided whether these holes are artefacts, or whether they already exist in native coccoliths.

• Objective:To determine the effect of topically applied amelogenin extracellular matrix protein (AEMP) in patients with non-healing venous leg ulcers combined with atrophie blanche.• Method:This retrospective case series of patients with non-healing venous leg ulcers with atrophie blanche of the distal proportion of their lower legs, where non-healing was defined as no progress toward healing for 3 months previously, under standard therapy. Patient records were reviewed for associated diseases, wound diagnoses, distal blood pressure, previous treatments and changes in wound area. Patients were treated with AEMP once a week, for a period of 12 weeks, or until full healing.• Results:Eleven patient records were reviewed retrospectively. The median age of the patients was 81 years (range 40–95 years), with a mean wound size of 4.7 ± 3.5cm2and median wound duration of 6 months (range 3–444 months). All patients had venous or combined arterial/venous insufficiency. After 12 weeks' treatment with AEMP, complete healing, defined as 100% re-epithelialisation, was documented in four patients (36%), marked improvement (> 50% epithelialisation) in three patients (54%, 55% and 83% wound closure, respectively), slight improvement in one patient (9.4% wound closure), no change for two patients and worsening in one. AEMP was well tolerated, and no patients reported side effects.• Conclusion:The results of this retrospective study suggest that AEMP improves healing in chronic venous leg ulcers combined with atrophie blanche.• Declaration of interest:Amelogenin extracellular matrix protein (XelmaR) was provided by Mölnlycke Health Care, Denmark. There were no external sources of funding for this study and Mölnlycke Health Care had no role in the study design or data collection. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Fifty-three patients with pulmonary oedema were treated in an intensive therapy department. The treatment consisted of decrease in transmural pressure in the pulmonary capillaries by means of vasodilators, chlorpromazine, and in some patients intermittent positive pressure ventilation. The mortality rate of thirteen patients with coronary occlusion in connection with the pulmonary oedema, was 88 per cent. Of thirty-six patients with pulmonary oedema in association with progressive heart failure none died in the department but four patients died within the next thirty days after transfer to the ward, giving a total mortality of 11 per cent. Of four patients with pulmonary oedema from other causes three died within 24 hours. The total primary mortality was 20 per cent.

Piezoelectric effects have been measured experimentally in chicken feathers. Quill sections subjected to alternating electric stress respond with an axial twisting motion that has a well-defined resonant mode. Conversely, subjecting the quill to mechanical stress produced an electrical signal.