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Controversy surrounds whether the ratio of apolipoprotein B (ApoB) to apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) is the best lipoprotein discriminator of CHD risk in non-diabetic populations, but the issue has never been investigated in type 2 diabetes. In 2,627 participants without known vascular disease in the Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study, ApoB, ApoA-I, LDL-cholesterol (LDLC) and HDL-cholesterol (HDLC) were assayed at baseline. There were 108 CHD and 59 stroke endpoints over 3.9 years. The ApoB:A-I ratio at baseline was the lipoprotein variable most closely predicting CHD risk both by comparison of the hazard ratio for a 1 SD change or tertiles of frequency distribution. The areas under the receiver–operator curve for the ApoB:ApoA-I and the LDLC to HDL-HDLC ratios, although not significantly different from each other, were greater ( p = 0.0005 and p = 0.0125 respectively) than that of non-HDLC:HDLC. The 27% decrease in the ApoB:ApoA-I ratio on atorvastatin predicted a 32% (95% CI 5.4–51.2%) risk reduction in CHD, close to the 36% decrease observed. Neither the ApoB:ApoA-I nor any other lipoprotein concentration or ratio predicted the stroke outcome. Overall, the ApoB:ApoA-I ratio improved on the non-HDLC:HDLC ratio in predicting CHD, but, depending on the assessment chosen, its superiority over LDLC:HDLC may be marginal. The statin-induced decrease in stroke risk may not be lipoprotein mediated. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00327418 Funding: The study was supported by unrestricted grants from Diabetes UK, the Department of Health and Pfizer to the University of Manchester and to University College, London. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The six divisions of the Cooperative Human Tissue Network in the USA bank and distribute tens of thousands of tissue specimens to researchers annually. Major operational concerns include: maintaining tissue integrity, managing informatics, and protecting patient confidentiality. Increasing molecular genetics testing is also resulting in an increased demand for high-quality nucleic acids.British Journal of Cancer (2004) 90, 1115-1119. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6601678 www.bjcancer.com Published online 2 March 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This propective study was undertaken to evaluate serial measurements of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA) as an index of control in diabetic pregnancy. Glucose and haemoglobin A were measured at weekly intervals throughout 88 pregnancies. Levels of HbA and glucose correlated significantly. Elevated HbA levels in the second and third trimester and postnatally were associated with hydramnios. Other obstetrical complications were too few to permit meaningful correlations. Smoking practice was associated with raised mean HbA levels in the first and second trimester. In patients of White's Class A, smoking was strongly associated with lower birth weight and weight centile. Foetal loss (abortion, stillbirth) or malformation correlated significantly with the mean HbA overall and with the mean HbA in the second trimester. Although the number of neonatal complications pertaining to an individual baby correlated with the mean HbA overall and with the mean HbA in the third trimester neither neonatal hypoglycaemia nor hyperbilirubinemia showed a correlation. Levels of HbA correlated with skinfold thickness but not with baby weight. The value of HbA as an index of diabetic control in pregnancy is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assay for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D is described. The assay involves partial purification of an acetonitrile extract of serum using octadecylsilane coated silica cartridges (SEP-PAK C18) followed by high pressure liquid chromatography. Extracts are then submitted to a competitive protein binding assay using a receptor protein prepared from the duodenal mucosa of healthy chickens. Two ml of sample is required to give an assay sensitivity of 17 pmol/l. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycosylated haemoglobin, haemoglobin A1 (Hb A1) and glucose were measured in 16 newly diagnosed diabetics during initial stabilisation and in the following 20 weeks. Hb A1 levels fell slowly, significant change still occurring even 8 weeks after the start of insulin therapy. Glucose levels of the group did not change significantly after the initial response to insulin. In addition 2 hourly Hb A1 and glucose measurements were made over 24 hours in 3 poorly controlled diabetics. Large fluctuations in glucose levels during this period did not affect the Hb A1 levels. Previous reports of rapid glycosylation of haemoglobin are considered in the light of these observations. The usefulness of Hb A1 as an index of diabetic control is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The usefulness of creatine kinase isoenzymes, measured by a commercially available 'kit' method, in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, was assessed. Raised levels of the heart isoenzyme (MB) were found after exercise and in acute coronary insufficiency but the levels were lower than those found after myocardial infarction. Complete agreement between diagnosis based on creatine kinase isoenzyme measurements alone and diagnosis according to World Health Organization criteria was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We obtain a sufficient condition for a subset H of positive integers to satisfy that the equidistribution (mod 1) of the sequences ( u − u ; n=1, 2, ···) for all h ∈ H implies the equidistribution of ( u ). Our condition is satisfied, for example, for the following sets: (1) H={ n − m; n ∈ I, m ∈ I, n>m}, where I is any infinite subset of integers; (2) H={| ψ ( n)|; ψ( n)≠0, n ∈ Z}, where ψ is a nonconstant polynomial with integral coefficients having at least one integral zero (mod q) for all q=2, 3, ···; (3) H={ p+1; p is a prime} and H={ p − 1; p is a prime}. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An automaton maps infinite sequences onto infinite sequences. We define the opacity as the distance between output sequences and input sequences. A transparent automaton hardly disturbs the input sequence. An opaque automaton erases some of the information contained in the input sequence. We apply these ideas to the study of the inhomogeneous Ising chain governed by the Hamiltonian [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy is still common in developed countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of maternal anemia on the infant's iron status at 9 months of age in Moncton, NB., Methods: Mothers giving birth between April 1998 and February 1999 were selected from medical records. A letter was sent to invite them to participate. In total, 75 mothers with their infants were examined., Results: The proportion of iron-deficiency anemia was higher (p = 0.055) in the group born to anemic compared to non-anemic mothers. A positive association between the mother's haemoglobin and haematocrit during her 3rd trimester and her infant's haemoglobin and haematocrit was found at 9 months of age. These results are not explained by differences in feeding practices and socio-economic status between groups., Interpretation: Infants born to mildly anemic mothers may be at risk of developing anemia.