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We analyze several high dimensional generalizations of the toric code at a nonzero temperature. We find that in a large enough dimension, there can be a distinct separation between the critical temperature Tc, given by thermodynamic singularities, and the percolation temperature Tp, given by the percolation of defects. We argue that the regime Tp

Context: While correlations have been demonstrated between postpartum depression and psychosocial and circumstantial risk factors, some evidence exists for a similar relationship between postpartum depression and thyroid measures., Objective: To search at 4 weeks postpartum for correlations of numerical scores on a postnatal depression screening tool and thyroid measures., Methods: Subjects took the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) prenatally and at 4 weeks postpartum. Participants were also given blood tests for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine4, thyroid peroxidase, and thyroglobulin at the same testing intervals., Results: Fifty-one subjects aged 18 years or older were recruited. Subjects with higher serum TSH at 4 weeks postpartum tended to have higher EPDS scores. Similarly, the 7 subjects (13.7%) with positive postnatal thyroid antibody tests were more likely than their counterparts to have higher EPDS scores., Conclusions: Presence of thyroid autoantibodies or higher TSH levels during the postpartum period may be related to depressive symptoms or dysphoric mood, even when clinical depression is not present. Either or both of these associations may contribute, along with other physiologic and psychosocial risk factors, to postpartum depression. (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00565032).

Objective: To search for a possible correlation between incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) and any of the following factors recorded in patient charts at the routine, 4-week postnatal visit: age, breast-feeding status, smoker/nonsmoker, marital status, preexisting depression and type of delivery., Study Design: Data were obtained from 588 obstetric charts for women who gave birth between June 1, 2003, and June 1, 2004, at 3 university clinics in Tulsa, Oklahoma., Results: Prior history of depression and smoking cigarettes were significant risk factors for an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of 13 or higher, indicating probable PPD., Conclusion: Our data and previous findings warrant continued investigation in a larger study to clearly delineate these and other possible risk factors for PPD and to facilitate prophylactic patient education and intervention strategies.

Objective: To describe possible correlations between incidence of postpartum depression and the following patient characteristics: age, breastfeeding status, tobacco use, marital status, history of depression, and method of delivery., Study Design: Data gathered at routine 4-week postnatal visits were obtained from the patient records of 209 women who gave birth between June 1, 2001, and June 1, 2003, at three university medical clinics in Tulsa, Okla. Inclusion criteria required that the records of potential study subjects contain data on the characteristics noted as well as patient-completed Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale forms., Results: Formula feeding in place of breastfeeding, a history of depression, and cigarette smoking were all significant risk factors for an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of 13 or higher, indicating probable postpartum depression., Conclusion: The authors' findings corroborate the results of previous investigators. To facilitate prophylactic patient education and intervention strategies, a larger study is recommended to determine risk factors for postpartum depression.

Background: The purpose of this study was to search for correlations of scores on the visual analog scales (VAS) taken during the third week postpartum with scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) taken on approximately day 28 postpartum., Methods: Thirty-four women filled out six visual analog scales on postpartum days 15-21 and took the EPDS at their 4-week postpartum visit to the clinic. Results were analyzed by simple linear regression and multiple backward stepwise regression., Results: Responses to all six statements of the VAS correlated significantly with 4-week EPDS scores. Approximately 54% of the variability of 4-week EPDS scores can be predicted by the variability in VAS question 6., Limitations: Relatively small sample size is a moderately limiting factor of this study., Conclusion: Mood in the third week postpartum was predictive of EPDS score on postpartum day 28. Mood lability during the third week postpartum was a better predictor of EPDS score on day 28 than the other five measures, including feelings of sadness or anxiety. The EPDS may have potential use with an acceptable degree of accuracy earlier than the standard 4 weeks postpartum.

Sex steroid hormones are involved in the metabolism, accumulation and distribution of adipose tissues. It is now known that oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and androgen receptor exist in adipose tissues, so their actions could be direct. Sex steroid hormones carry out their function in adipose tissues by both genomic and nongenomic mechanisms. In the genomic mechanism, the sex steroid hormone binds to its receptor and the steroid-receptor complex regulates the transcription of given genes. Leptin and lipoprotein lipase are two key proteins in adipose tissues that are regulated by transcriptional control with sex steroid hormones. In the nongenomic mechanism, the sex steroid hormone binds to its receptor in the plasma membrane, and second messengers are formed. This involves both the cAMP cascade and the phosphoinositide cascade. Activation of the cAMP cascade by sex steroid hormones would activate hormone-sensitive lipase leading to lipolysis in adipose tissues. In the phosphoinositide cascade, diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate are formed as second messengers ultimately causing the activation of protein kinase C. Their activation appears to be involved in the control of preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. In the presence of sex steroid hormones, a normal distribution of body fat exists, but with a decrease in sex steroid hormones, as occurs with ageing or gonadectomy, there is a tendency to increase central obesity, a major risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. Because sex steroid hormones regulate the amount and distribution of adipose tissues, they or adipose tissue-specific selective receptor modulators might be used to ameliorate obesity. In fact, hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women and testosterone replacement therapy in older men appear to reduce the degree of central obesity. However, these therapies have numerous side effects limiting their use, and selective receptor modulators of sex steroid hormones are needed that are more specific for adipose tissues with fewer side effects.

This review examines proposed endocrine-based etiologies of postpartum depression (PPD) and how knowledge of these etiologies may affect future treatments. It is based on a review of papers shedding light on the etiology of PPD with special emphasis on research into endocrine-related depression. A picture of PPD is starting to emerge that suggests a variety of endocrine root causes as well as psychosocial risk factors. Hormones reviewed include progesterone, estradiol and estriol, cortisol, corticotropin-releasing hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone and triiodothyronine/thyroxine. Other substances examined include 3 antithyroid autoantibodies. Better understanding of the physiologic bases for depressive symptoms may lead to correction of the underlying pathology of PPD rather than treatment of symptoms.

Immunotherapy for melanoma shows promise. Our previous whole tumor (WT) vaccine was noted to have positive clinical effects. We have now developed a new, safer melanoma vaccine that is derived from IIB-MEL-J tissue culture (TC) cells. In this study, we compare by Western blot analyses the antigens in the WT vaccine to antigens in the TC vaccine. Sera from 12 WT vaccine recipients, 8 melanoma patients who received no immunotherapy, and 8 controls served as a source of antibodies to investigate potential antigens in the vaccines. Three major antigenic peptides with approximate molecular weighs of 46, 40, and 36 kDA were present in both vaccines, while two other antigenic peptides with approximate molecular weighs of 68 and 48 kDA were present only in the TC vaccine. The reaction was similar between the patients who received the WT vaccine and those who did not receive the vaccine. Some of the individuals who did not have melanoma showed some reaction, but not to the extent of the melanoma patients. The intensity of immunostaining was greater for the TC vaccine when compared to the WT vaccine, indicating that these proteins are in a higher concentration in the TC vaccine. This new vaccine from IIB-MEL-J tissue culture cells provides a higher yield and a much more consistent source of potentially clinically relevant antigens without risk of infection or contamination by other irrelevant materials.

Differing risk factors between men and women for a number of vascular and metabolic diseases have been linked to regional obesity. The differences in the distribution of adipose tissues between men (abdominal or upper-body obesity) and women (gluteal/femoral or lower body obesity) suggest a role for sex steroids in the regional distribution of fat. Previous work from this laboratory has shown the presence of oestrogen receptor (ER) in gluteal, perirenal and omental adipose tissues of ewes with similar physical characteristics to the ER in uterine tissue. The concentration profile for adipose ER was gluteal > perirenal > omental. In this report, we determined the physiological significance of adipose ERs by showing an up-regulation of the progesterone receptor (PR) in adipose tissues after oestrogen treatment in a fashion similar to that seen in a major responsive tissue such as uterus. Using PR antibodies (PR-6 and C-262), Western blot analysis of PR from oestrogen-treated sheep indicated that PR was induced in uterus >>> gluteal adipose > perirenal adipose consistent with the concentration of ER contained in these tissues. PR could not be detected by Western blotting in omental adipose tissue from oestrogen-treated animals or in gluteal, perirenal and omental adipose tissues from untreated animals. Sucrose gradient profiles of progestin (R-5020) binding from uterus and gluteal adipose tissues of oestrogen-treated ewes showed specific binding in both the 5S and 9S regions of the gradient, while perirenal and omental adipose tissue had only the 5S peak. The amount of specific binding was increased with oestrogen treatment in all the tissues. When gluteal adipose tissue cytosol was preincubated with PR antibody (C-262) to prevent binding of ligand and subjected to sucrose gradient analysis, both the 5S and 9S regions were diminished, suggesting that both peaks contained PR. Dilution of uterine cytosol resulted in an increase in the ratio of the 5S to the 9S peak, indicating that the 9S PR complex dissociates at low concentrations; this may be the reason why only the 5S peak was observed in perirenal and omental adipose tissues. These data offer further support for a direct role of sex steroids in regional adipose accretion and metabolism.

This study determined the effects of intrauterine injections of recombinant ovine interferon-tau; (roIFN-tau; 2 x 10(7) antiviral units/day) or control proteins (6 mg/day) from day 11 to day 14 post-oestrus = day 0) on endometrial expression of receptors fro oestrogen, progesterone and oxytocin in cyclic ewes. Plasma concentrations of progesterone were greater on day 15 in ewes receiving roIFN-tau compared with control proteins (P < 0.02, treatment x day). Ewes injected with roIFN-tau had lower endometrial levels or oestrogen receptor mRNA (P > 0.10) and protein (P < 0.01) on day 15 compared with ewes receiving control proteins. In situ hybridization analysis indicated that oestrogen receptor mRNA was more abundant in the luminal and glandular epithelium of control ewes compared with roIFN-tau-treated ewes. Immunoreactive oestrogen receptor was also present in the luminal and glandular epithelium of control, but not roIFN-tau-treated ewes. Endometrial levels of progesterone receptor mRNA and protein were not different (P > 0.10) between control and roIFN-tau-treated ewes. In situ hybridization analyses indicated that progesterone receptor mRNA abundance was low in endometrial epithelium and stroma of both control and roIFN-tau-injected ewes. Immunoreactive progesterone receptors were present in the endometrial stroma and epithelium of control ewes, but confined to the stroma of roIFN-tau-treated ewes. Oxytocin receptor density was lower (P < 0.01) in the endometrium of ewes injected with roIFN-tau than control proteins; however, oxytocin receptor affinity was not affected (P > 0.10) by treatment. Concentrations of 13,14-dihydro-15-ketoprostaglandin F2a (PGFM) were not increased by exogenous oxytocin administration in control and roIFN-tau-treated ewes on days 10 or 12 post-oestrus. However, on day 14, control ewes responded to oxytocin with increased plasma concentrations of PGFM, whereas ewes receiving roIFN-tau remained unresponsive to oxytocin. These results indicate that the an tiluteolytic effects of IFN-tau are to prevent increases in endometrial oestrogen receptor MRNA and protein and oxytocin receptor density which abrogates uterine release of prostaglandin F2a during maternal recognition of pregnancy. IFN-tau may inhibit the synthesis of oestrogen receptor mRNA by a transcriptional or post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism to suppress oxytocin receptor formation during early pregnancy in ewes.

Under suitable conditions polystyrene microsphere colloids form photonic crystals capable of diffracting visible light, analogous to x-ray diffraction from atomic crystal planes. The lattice spacings of these crystals can be tailored to satisfy the Bragg condition along a certain direction for a particular desired wavelength. A modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer has been developed for accurately measuring relative phase shifts of light propagating in photonic crystals to determine the dispersion resulting from photonic band structure near the band edges.

Determination of the presence and characterization of oestrogen receptors (ERs) in subcutaneous and internal fat depots were performed and compared with ERs in the uterus using ligand binding and immunological techniques. Successful and consistent measurement of ERs in ovine adipose tissue could only be accomplished in animals depleted of endogenous sex steroids by combined ovariectomy and adrenalectomy. Scatchard, sucrose gradient and Western blot analyses all confirmed the presence of ERs in the cytosolic fractions of various adipose and uterine tissues from ovariectomized-adrenalectomized ewes. The approximate Kd values of 0.1-0.4 nmol/l for oestradiol binding in cytosolic fractions of gluteal, omental and perirenal adipose tissues were similar to the expected high affinity binding of Kd 0.35 nmol/l observed in uterine tissue. The binding was specific for oestrogens, as unlabelled diethylstilboestrol and oestradiol effectively competed with labelled hormone for receptor sites and progesterone, R5020, testosterone and dexamethasone all failed to compete. Mean (+/- S.E.M.) concentrations of ERs, expressed as fmol specific binding sites per mg protein, were much lower (P < 0.05) in adipose tissues than in uterine tissue (975 +/- 33). However, the content of ERs was greater (P < 0.05) in subcutaneous gluteal fat (11.5 +/- 0.8) than in the internal omental or perirenal fat (5 +/- 0.6) depots. ERs from adipose and uterine tissues both migrated as moieties of 8S on 5-20% sucrose gradients. Western blot analysis of ERs from uterine and adipose tissues in the presence of protease inhibitors demonstrated an immunostaining band with a molecular mass of 67 kDa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Surface reflectivity effects on coherent backscattering have been studied by using variable-reflectivity mirrors at the sample surface. Photon-transport parameters obtained from coherent backscattering were found to be significantly improved by using current theoretical models for samples with high surface reflectivity.

Over 20 years ago, Watson described three families with a condition characterised by pulmonary valvular stenosis, café au lait patches, and dull intelligence. Short stature is an additional feature of this autosomal dominant condition. A fourth family with Watson syndrome has since been reported. We have had the opportunity to review members of three of these four families. The clinical phenotype of Watson syndrome has been expanded to include relative macrocephaly and Lisch nodules in the majority of affected subjects, and neurofibromas in one-third of family members. Because the additional clinical findings enhance the similarity between Watson syndrome and neurofibromatosis 1, molecular linkage studies have been performed using probes flanking the NF1 gene on chromosome 17. Probe HHH202 showed the tightest linkage to Watson syndrome with a maximum lod score of 3.59 at phi = 0.0 (95% confidence limits of phi = 0.0-0.15). This suggests either that Watson syndrome and neurofibromatosis 1 are allelic, or that there is a series of contiguous genes for pulmonary stenosis, neurocutaneous anomalies, short stature, and mental retardation on 17q.

Echocardiography was performed in 60 people with tuberous sclerosis (TSC) to ascertain the prevalence of cardiac rhabdomyomas at different ages. Twenty-five of 43 children, but only 3 of 17 adults, had tumors, the difference being highly significant. The number and absolute size of the tumors in those who had any were much the same throughout childhood, although the tumors in adults were smaller. Four cases of prenatal tumor recognition are also described; all four later showed signs of TSC, although none had tumors at birth. One of these four is already included in the series of 60, and one single tumor was removed surgically; in the other two the tumors regressed, as they did in the only three infants in the group of 60. The evidence presented herein, together with some published case reports, suggests that echocardiography may afford the most useful diagnostic test for TSC in early infancy and also that a conservative policy should be followed in the management of symptomatic tumors.

Cardiac tumours were identified on ultrasonography in fetal or early postnatal life in five infants. Tuberous sclerosis was subsequently diagnosed in all five. Only one infant required operation. Regression of the tumour occurred in three. No infant had hypomelanotic macules at birth, and they took up to two years to appear.

Rat uterine and anterior pituitary microsomes each contain a population of specific estrogen-binding sites. Saturation binding of estradiol is demonstrable, with an affinity similar to that of the cytosol estrogen receptor (Ka = 1-2 X 10(10) M-1). Dissociation rate kinetic determinations, however, revealed that estrogen-microsomal complexes are 4 times as stable as cytosol estrogen-receptor complexes. Sedimentation properties in sucrose gradients were salt-dependent, yielding values of 10S in KCl-free buffer and 5.5S in the presence of 0.4 M KCl. The concentration of microsomal sites varies in proportion to the level of cytosol estrogen receptor, such that microsomal binding constitutes a consistent 20% of the total extranuclear binding capacity. Binding is sensitive to pronase, but not to ribonuclease or deoxyribonuclease; steroidal specificity differs from cytosol receptor only with respect to a greater extent of competition by progesterone. Microsomal binding sites are readily extractable with KCl-free hypotonic buffer or with 0.4 M KCl, but are resistant to extraction by 0.15 M KCl. The presence of estradiol lends stability to the microsomal binding sites, while high salt has a deleterious effect on their longevity. After exhaustive extraction of binding sites, microsomes are capable of accepting cytosol estradiol-receptor complexes to a level corresponding to the concentration of depleted binding sites; microsomes from nontarget tissue do not manifest such capability. However, the original microsomal estrogen-binding sites are not simply cytosol receptor contaminants, as evidenced by the observations that the microsomal binding site concentration is independent of the volume of tissue homogenate (indicating that a trapping phenomenon is not operative) and that nonextracted microsomes are not potential acceptor sites for cytosol estradiol-receptor complexes. In considering total cellular dynamics of estrogen and estrogen receptor turnover, it thus becomes important to explore the role of the microsomal compartment, since it functions as a repository of specific estrogen-binding sites and may have significant acceptor capability for the cytosol estrogen-receptor complex.

Three infants who underwent operation for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection had unobstructed drainage of all the pulmonary veins to both the coronary sinus and left vertical vein. In one patient the anatomy was demonstrated preoperatively and complete correction accomplished without difficulty, but in two patients the second connection was discovered only at postoperative reinvestigation. Arbitrary classification of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection into cardiac, supracardiac, infracardiac, and mixed types does not lend itself to description of such lesions and may obscure their clinical importance. For these less common variants of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, a more detailed and precise definition of morphology facilitates accurate surgical repair.

The cases of two children are reported in whom atresia of the right atrial orifice of the coronary sinus was diagnosed at cardiac catheterization. Only one previous case diagnosed in life has been found in the literature, though there are 34 necropsy reports. In nearly half the cases a persistent left superior vena cava has afforded the only outflow channel for the coronary sinus, and occasionally this may have surgical implications.

A baby with holoprosencephaly and the tetralogy of Fallot is described. The mother had operative correction of the same cardiac lesion and shows features typical of the velo-cardio-facial syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder. The association between holoprosencephaly and this condition has not been previously reported. When holoprosencephaly is found associated with congenital heart disease, velo-cardio-facial syndrome should be sought in other family members.

Fourteen episodes of subacute bacterial endocarditis in 11 children were successfully treated with antibiotics, which in 13 cases were given largely by mouth. It is suggested that oral treatment of bacterial endocarditis should be considered for children who are only moderately but not severely ill, and who have sensitive organisms.

Echocardiography was performed in 60 people with tuberous sclerosis to ascertain the prevalence and course of cardiac rhabdomyomata at different ages. Twenty five (58%) of 43 children had tumours, but only three (18%) of 17 adults. The tumours tended to remain the same size through childhood. Only three infants were included but evidence from this and some published case reports suggest that the tumours tend to regress in early infancy and again in adolescence. The prevalence of tumours in young infants with tuberous sclerosis is likely to be considerably above 50%. As other signs of tuberous sclerosis are usually absent at this age echocardiography may afford the most useful diagnostic test in early infancy.

A survey of British born Asian and English populations of children with congenital cardiac anomalies showed an increased incidence in the Muslim Asian population of complex lesions with visceral heterotaxia. There is a very high incidence of parental consanguinity among Muslim Asian children with complex congenital cardiac anomalies that is even higher than in the general Muslim Asian population of the area studied. The evidence suggests an important recessive genetic component in complex cardiac lesions with visceral heterotaxia, but segregation analysis does not support pure recessive inheritance.

Target tissues for steroid hormones are responsive by virtue of and to the extent of their content of functional intracellular receptors. Recent years have seen a shift in considerations of the cellular dynamics and distribution of these receptors, with current views favoring predominant intranuclear localization in the intact cell. This paper summarizes our analyses of the microsomal estrogen and androgen binding capability of rat uterine and ventral prostate tissue, respectively; these studies have revealed a set of high affinity sites that may act as a conduit for estrogen traversing the cell en route to the nucleus. These sites have many properties in common with cytosolic receptors, with the salient difference of a failure to activate to a more avid DNA-binding form under conditions which permit such activation of cytosolic receptors. The microsomal estrogen-binding proteins also have appreciable affinity for progesterone, another distinction from other known cellular estrogen receptor species. Various experimental approaches were employed to demonstrate that the microsomal receptors were not simply cytosol contaminants; the most convincing evidence is the recent successful separation of the cytosolic and microsomal forms by differential ammonium sulfate precipitation. Discrete subfractionation of subcellular components on successive sucrose gradients, with simultaneous assessments of binding capability and marker enzyme concentrations, indicates that the major portion of the binding is localized within the vesicles of the endoplasmic reticulum free of significant plasma membrane contamination. The microsomal receptors are readily solubilized by extraction with high- or low-salt-containing buffers or with steroid. The residual microsomes following such extraction have the characteristics of saturable acceptor sites for cytosolic estrogen-receptor complexes. The extent to which these sites will accept the cytosolic complexes is equal to the concentration of microsomal binding sites extracted. These observations suggest three possible roles for the microsomal receptor-like proteins: (a) modulation of estrogen access to nuclear binding sites; (b) formation of functional complexes which diffuse to other extranuclear sites to alter non-genomic cellular processes; (c) regulation of nuclear concentration of estrogen-receptor complexes by virtue of producing microsomal acceptor sites for uptake of free or loosely associated nuclear complexes, previously thought to exist in the cytoplasm.