Dieting behaviours, obesity and predictors of dieting among female college students at Palestinian universities.

The purpose of this study was to explore dieting practices of female Palestinian college students. Participants ( = 410) were selected by cluster-sampling from 4 Palestinian universities. A regression model investigated dieting using: body mass index (BMI); body satisfaction; self-esteem; dress style; exercise; sociocultural factors; residence; strength of faith; perceived impact of weight on social interaction; and number of previous times dieting. Significant predictors of dieting were low body satisfaction, number of previous dieting times, perceived media pressure, regular exercising, BMI, and perceived impact of weight on social interaction, The model accounted for 45% of the variance in dieting. Body satisfaction was not significantly correlated with self-esteem or strength of faith, which indicates that "internalization of thinness" may be becoming evident among populations in certain developing countries, as in "Western" countries.

Dieting behaviours, obesity and predictors of dieting among female college students at Palestinian universities

The purpose of this study was to explore dieting practices of female Palestinian college students. Participants [n = 410] were selected by cluster-sampling from 4 Palestinian universities. A regression model investigated dieting using: body mass index [BMI]; body satisfaction; self-esteem; dress style; exercise; sociocultural factors; residence; strength of faith; perceived impact of weight on social interaction; and number of previous times dieting. Significant predictors of dieting were low body satisfaction, number of previous dieting times, perceived media pressure, regular exercising, BMI, and perceived impact of weight on social interaction. The model accounted for 45% of the variance in dieting. Body satisfaction was not significantly correlated with self-esteem or strength of faith, which indicates that [internalization of thinness] may be becoming evident among populations in certain developing countries, as in [Western] countries

Predominance of the alpha1D subunit in L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels of hair cells in the chicken's cochlea.

The voltage-gated Ca2+ channels that effect tonic release of neurotransmitter from hair cells have unusual pharmacological properties: unlike most presynaptic Ca2+ channels, they are sensitive to dihydropyridines and therefore are L-type. To characterize these Ca2+ channels, we investigated the expression of L-type alpha1 subunits in hair cells of the chicken's cochlea. In PCRs with five different pairs of degenerate primers, we always obtained alpha1D products, but only once an alpha1C product and never an alpha1S product. A full-length alpha1D mRNA sequence was assembled from overlapping PCR products; the predicted amino acid sequence of the alpha1D subunit was about 90% identical to those of the mammalian alpha1D subunits. In situ hybridization confirmed that the alpha1D mRNA is present in hair cells. By using a quantitative PCR assay, we determined that the alpha1D mRNA is 100-500 times more abundant than the alpha1C mRNA. We conclude that most, if not all, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in hair cells contain an alpha1D subunit. Furthermore, we propose that the alpha1D subunit plays a hitherto undocumented role at tonic synapses.

Correlation of Ge E' defect sites with second-harmonic generation in poled high-water fused silica.

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) in poled high-water fused silica was found to be linearly dependent on the relative concentration of Ge E' defect sites (<10(-15) defect sites/cm(3)) for the highly pure UV-grade material. For commercial-grade material characterized by higher concentrations of Ge E' defects sites, the SHG appeared to saturate at approximately 0.5 pm/V. No dependence of the SHG was found on the relative concentration of Ge E' defects sites in poled commercial-grade low-water fused silica.

Crystal structure of the receptor-binding domain of adenovirus type 5 fiber protein at 1.7 A resolution.

BACKGROUND: Adenoviral infection begins with the binding of virion to the surface of host cells. Specific attachment is achieved through interactions between host-cell receptors and the adenovirus fiber protein and is mediated by the globular carboxy-terminal domain of the adenovirus fiber protein, termed the carboxy-terminal knob domain. RESULTS: The crystal structure of the carboxy-terminal knob domain of the adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) fiber protein has been determined at 1.7 A resolution. Each knob monomer forms an eight-stranded antiparallel beta-sandwich structure. In the crystal lattice, the knob monomers form closely interacting trimers which possess a deep surface depression centered around the three-fold molecular symmetry axis and three symmetry-related valleys. CONCLUSIONS: The amino acid residues lining the wall of the central surface depression and the three symmetry-related floors of the valleys are strictly conserved in the knob domains of Ad5 and adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) fiber proteins, which share the same cellular receptor. The beta-sandwich structure of the knob monomer demonstrates a unique folding topology which is different from that of other known antiparallel beta-sandwich structures. The large buried surface area and numerous polar interactions in the trimer indicate that this form of the knob protein is predominant in solution, suggesting a possible assembly pathway for the native fiber protein.

Characterization of the knob domain of the adenovirus type 5 fiber protein expressed in Escherichia coli.

The adenovirus fiber protein is used for attachment of the virus to a specific receptor on the cell surface. Structurally, the protein consists of a long, thin shaft that protrudes from the vertex of the virus capsid and terminates in a globular domain termed the knob. To verify that the knob is the domain which interacts with the cellular receptor, we have cloned and expressed the knob from adenovirus type 5 together with a single repeat of the shaft in Escherichia coli. The protein was purified by conventional chromatography and functionally characterized for its interaction with the adenovirus receptor. The recombinant knob domain bound about 4,700 sites per HeLa cell with an affinity of 3 x 10(9) M-1 and blocked adenovirus infection of human cells. Antibodies raised against the knob also blocked virus infection. By gel filtration and X-ray diffraction analysis of protein crystals, the knob was shown to consist of a homotrimer of 21-kDa subunits. The results confirm that the trimeric knob is the ligand for attachment to the adenovirus receptor.

Rib fractures complicating median sternotomy.

The postoperative chest radiographs of 100 consecutive patients undergoing median sternotomy were reviewed for the presence of acute rib fractures. The majority of patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Thirteen patients sustained 15 fractures. Eleven of these fractures were of the left first rib and 7 of the 15 fractures occurred at the costotransverse articulation. The fractures tended to be subtle on the postoperative portable chest radiographs and were initially overlooked in 4 patients. Heavier patients and those with larger body surface areas were more susceptible to the development of fractures. There was no statistical correlation to total operating time, bypass time, or global ischemic time.

Opposite effects of opiate agonists on metabolic weight loss in mice.

Morphine (M) produced a dose-related decrease in metabolic weight loss (MWL) over a three-hour period, despite the fact that it significantly enhanced locomotor activity in male mice. This conservation of energy was specific to opioid receptors because naltrexone HCl (N) blocked it. These receptors were localized mainly to the periphery because a form of N that does not enter the brain, MR2663 BR (QN) eliminated the conservation response and instead increased MWL. The increase in MWL induced by M plus QN was blocked by MR2266 (MR), a specific kappa receptor antagonist. We suggest that this increase is due to the unmasking of a kappa opioid system located in the brain that acts to enhance energy expenditure. In support of this idea, administration of the kappa receptor agonist U-50,488H (U) produced a dose-related increase in MWL to levels nearly twice that of saline controls, while markedly reducing locomotor activity. These actions were blocked by MR but not by N. They were not blocked by QN and this suggests they originate mainly in the brain. Increasing amounts of M caused increasing inhibition of metabolic weight loss induced by a constant amount of U. This supports the idea of an antagonistic relationship between the two opioid systems.