MQ NMR dynamics in dipolar ordered state at negative temperature.

We investigate theoretically the Multiple Quantum (MQ) NMR dynamics at negative absolute temperatures in systems of nuclear spins 1/2 coupled by the dipole-dipole interactions and with the initial conditions determined by the dipolar ordered state. Two different methods of MQ NMR are used. One of them is based on the measurement of the dipolar energy. The other method uses an additional resonance (π/4)y-pulse after the preparation period of the standard MQ NMR experiment. It is shown that at negative temperatures many-spin clusters and spin correlations are created faster, and the intensities of MQ coherences are higher than in the usual MQ NMR experiments. So, the eighth-order MQ coherence in 10-spin system of the cyclopentane molecule appears to be 1.5 times faster and its intensity is four orders higher than at positive temperatures. The proposed MQ NMR methods at negative absolute temperatures can be used for the investigation of many-spin dynamics of nuclear spins in solids.

Low temperature MQ NMR dynamics in dipolar ordered state.

We investigate analytically and numerically the Multiple Quantum (MQ) NMR dynamics in dipolar ordered spin systems of nuclear spins 1/2 at low temperatures. We consider two different methods of MQ NMR. One of them is based on the measurement of the dipolar energy. The other method uses an additional resonance (π/4)y-pulse after the preparation period of the standard MQ NMR experiment in solids and allows one to measure the Zeeman energy. Both considered methods are sensitive to the contribution of remote spins in the interaction and to the spin system structure. The QS method is sensitive to the spin number in the molecule while the PS method gives very similar time dependencies of the intensities of MQ coherences for different spin numbers. It is shown that the use of the dipolar ordered initial state has the advantage of exciting the highest order MQ coherences in clusters of 4m identical spins, where m=1,2,3,…, that is impossible to do with the standard MQ method. MQ NMR methods based on the dipolar ordered initial states at low temperatures complement the standard NMR spectroscopy for better studying structures and dynamic processes in solids.

Computer-Aided Detection of Respiratory Sounds in Bronchial Asthma Patients Based on Machine Learning Method.

The aim of the study is to develop a method for detection of pathological respiratory sound, caused by bronchial asthma, with the aid of machine learning techniques. Materials and Methods: To build and train neural networks, we used the records of respiratory sounds of bronchial asthma patients at different stages of the disease (n=951) aged from several months to 47 years old and healthy volunteers (n=167). The sounds were recorded with calm breathing at four points: at the oral cavity, above the trachea, on the chest (second intercostal space on the right side), and at a point on the back. Results: The method developed for computer-aided detection of respiratory sounds allows to diagnose sounds typical for bronchial asthma in 89.4% of cases with 89.3% sensitivity and 86.0% specificity regardless of sex and age of the patients, stage of the disease, and the point of sound recording.

Spin diffusion in multiple pulse spin-locking in solids containing paramagnetic impurities.

Spin diffusion and spin-lattice relaxation in solids containing paramagnetic impurities under influence of a multiple-pulse spin-locking radio-frequency sequence are studied theoretically and experimentally. The diffusion equation obtained provides a clue for determination of the time dependent magnetization. The spin-lattice relaxation time is calculated as a function of the correlation time and multiple-pulse field parameters. From the experimental data the spin diffusion coefficient, the radius of the spin diffusion barrier, and the correlation time for very slow molecular motion in polycrystalline (C(2)F)(n) system are estimated and found to be D∼7.1×10(-12)cm(2)/s, r(c)∼4.8×10(-10)m, and τ(c)∼10.2µs, respectively.

Dipolar nuclear polarization via the spin diffusion of a dipole order.

We propose transfer of the paramagnetic impurity (PI) polarization to nuclei in bulk, outside the diffusion barrier, by using dipolar system of the nuclear spins. The transfer can overcome influence of the diffusion barrier and is proposed to be implemented in four stages. At the first stage, transition of the Zeeman PI order to the Zeeman order of nuclear spins inside the spin-diffusion barrier is occurred. During the second stage the Zeeman order of both the nuclear spins inside the barrier and the nuclear spins in bulk is transferred into the nuclear dipolar spin order. As a result, the nuclear dipolar spin reservoir inside the barrier acquires a lower spin temperature, and thus a gradient of the spin temperature of the nuclear dipolar spin system is created. Since the external magnetic field and the magnetic field created by PIs do not effect on the dipole-dipole interaction between the nuclear spins, the dipolar reservoir is common for all nuclear spins, both inside and outside the diffusion barrier. Restriction of the diffusion barrier is removed and the spin diffusion of the dipole energy and transfer of the spin dipolar order to bulk spins occurs without obstacles (the third stage). At the last stage, to register an NMR signal, the dipolar order of the bulk spins is transferred into the Zeeman order of these spins. Estimations show that enhancement of the polarization can reaches in the case of a 1H nuclear spin, ~220, for 13C ~850, and for 15N ~2130.

Multiple quantum NMR dynamics in pseudopure states.

We investigate numerically the multiple quantum (MQ) NMR dynamics in systems of nuclear spins 1/2 coupled by dipole-dipole interactions in the case of the pseudopure initial state. Simulations of the MQ NMR with real molecular structures such as six dipolar-coupled proton spins of benzene, hydroxyl proton chains in calcium hydroxyapatite, and fluorine chains in calcium fluorapatite open the way to experimental NMR testing of the obtained results. It was found that multiple-spin correlations are created faster in such experiments than in the usual MQ NMR experiments and can be used for the investigation of many-spin dynamics of nuclear spins in solids.

Increase in thyroid follicular cell tumors in nelfinavir-treated rats observed in a 2-year carcinogenicity study is consistent with a rat-specific mechanism of thyroid neoplasia.

The carcinogenic potential of nelfinavir mesylate (nelfinavir) was evaluated in a 2-year oral (gavage) study on Sprague-Dawley rats at dose levels of 0 (control), 0 (vehicle control), 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg per day. At the end of the treatment, increased incidences of thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia and neoplasms were observed at 300 (males) and 1000 mg/kg per day (both sexes). There were no other treatment-related effects and no tumors at other sites. Results from previous studies indicated a number of effects in the liver and thyroid, as well as metabolic profiles that suggested nelfinavir might cause thyroid hyperplasia/neoplasia secondary to hormone imbalance by altering thyroid hormone disposition. To investigate this hypothesis, the effects of nelfinavir on gene expression in rat hepatocytes and liver slices (in vitro), thyroxine plasma clearance, and thyroid gland function were evaluated. Compared to controls, gene expression analyses demonstrated an increased expression of glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) and CYP450 3A1 in nelfinavir-treated rat hepatocytes and liver slices. In rats treated with nelfinavir (1000 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks, liver weights and centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy were increased and minimal to mild diffuse thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy and follicular cell hyperplasia were evident in the thyroid gland. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly increased (three-fold), while tri-iodothyronine (T3)/tetra-iodothyronine (T4) and reverse T3(rT3) levels were unchanged, indicating that a compensated state to maintain homeostasis of T3/T4 had been achieved. Plasma 125I-thyroxine clearance was increased and the plasma thyroxine AUC0-48 was decreased (24%) compared to control. In conclusion, these data indicate that thyroid neoplasms observed in the nelfinavir-treated rats were secondary to thyroid hormone imbalance. Increased thyroxine clearance contributes to the effects of nelfinavir on thyroid gland function and is probably a result of UDPGT induction that leads to elevated TSH levels in the rat and eventual thyroid neoplasia. These results are consistent with a well-recognized rat-specific mechanism for thyroid neoplasms.

Effects of student gender and standardized-patient gender in a single case using a male and a female standardized patient.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies assessing the effects of student gender, standardized-patient (SP) gender, and their interaction on multiple-station examinations of clinical competence, SP gender was confounded with cases, that is, male SPs were used for some cases and female SPs for others. The authors conducted two studies to investigate the effects of gender on a single case by using a male SP and a female SP for the same case. METHOD: Both studies involved one SP case in a comprehensive clinical evaluation used to assess fourth-year students at the end of a required ambulatory care clerkship at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 1990-91 and 1991-92. In Study 1, 45 students in four rotations saw the same male SP; 42 students in three other rotations saw the same female SP. In Study 2, 69 students in six rotations were randomly assigned either the male SP (28) or the female SP (41) within the same rotation. For each study, to determine the interaction of student gender and SP gender as well as their main effects, analyses of variance were performed on the students' history-taking and physical examination scores and communication skills ratings. RESULTS: Neither study showed a significant interaction of student gender and SP gender on history taking, physical examinations, or communication skills. CONCLUSION: The findings of both studies suggest that the interaction between student gender and SP gender, unconfounded by case content, had no effect on the students' scores and ratings.

The effect of toluene on rat lung benzo[a]pyrene metabolism and microsomal membrane lipids.

Toluene (1 g/kg, i.p., 1 and 4 h) was shown to decrease total cytochrome P-450 (P450) content in rat lung. At both timepoints, reduction in pulmonary P450 content was associated with a decrease in aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity, a detoxication pathway for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). At 4 h, toluene increased the toxication/detoxication ratios of BaP metabolites in pulmonary microsomes, primarily via inhibition of hydroxy metabolite formation. The structurally analogous solvents p- and m-xylene have been previously shown to produce a similar pattern of MFO changes in rat lung; the inhibition of BaP metabolism was found to be related to alterations in pulmonary microsomal lipids following administration of p- but not m-xylene. In the present study, toluene-induced alterations in MFO parameters were not found to be associated with changes in microsomal lipids. Toluene did not affect either total phospholipid or cholesterol content at either timepoint. Similarly, no changes in speciated phospholipids were observed. Membrane integrity, expressed as conjugated diene formation, also remained unchanged following toluene administration. Toluene did, however, decrease microsomal inner-core membrane fluidity at 4 h but had no effect on membrane leaflet fluidity at either timepoint. These data suggest that the fatty acid composition of microsomal lipids may play a role in the metabolic alterations observed in pulmonary microsomes following toluene administration.

Inhibition of rat lung mixed-function oxidase activity following repeated low-level toluene inhalation: possible role of toluene metabolites.

Toluene is a commonly used solvent that has been shown to alter mixed-function oxidase (MFO) activity, in an organ- and isozyme-specific pattern, following intraperitoneal administration. The purpose of this study was to determine whether similar changes occurred following repeated, low-level inhalation exposure, and to investigate the role of toluene metabolites in these alterations. Exposure to 375 ppm toluene, 6 h/d for up to 5 d, resulted in significant inhibition of the activity of pulmonary arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), cytochrome P-4502B1 (CYP2B1), and CYP4B1, but not CYP1A1. After exposure to lower toluene levels (125 ppm, 6 h/d, 3 d), the activities of lung AHH, CYP2B1, and CYP4B1 were also significantly decreased, but in a dose-related manner. MFO activity was not consistently altered in liver. Control pulmonary or liver microsomes were incubated with various concentrations (0.01-10 mM) of toluene or its metabolites and CYP2B1, CYP1A1, and/or CYP4B1 activities were subsequently determined. Benzaldehyde produced a significant dose-related inhibition in the activity of all three lung P-450s examined (IC50 10(-3) M). Toluene was found to be a more potent inhibitor of lung CYP2B1 and CYP1A1 (IC50, 10(-4) M) than benzaldehyde, but neither toluene nor benzyl alcohol was an effective inhibitor of lung CYP4B1. Toluene and its metabolites were weaker inhibitors of CYP1A1 than of CYP2B1. For CYP2B1 and CYP1A1, the order of inhibitory potency was toluene > benzaldehyde > benzyl alcohol and suggests that both the parent molecule and its metabolites may act in concert to inhibit catalytic activity of these cytochromes. The MFO inhibition seen after repeated low-level toluene inhalation exposure could result in altered metabolic profiles of other xenobiotics in an organ-specific fashion.

Does sex make a difference? Gender, age, and stimulus realism in perception and evaluation of aggression.

Judged aggressiveness and its justifiability were examined with caricature cartoons and films of people doing comparable things. Effects of viewer gender, interactant gender, and facial expression were examined. Facial expression strongly affected both types of judgment, viewer gender had no influence, and interactant gender contributed slightly. Real-cartoon differences were significant, but accounted for little variance. Major response patterns were similar for films of people and cartoons. In two developmental studies, only facial expression influenced judgments of friendliness-hostility in cartoons, but condemnation of aggression decreased as viewer age increased. Results with films of real children followed those for cartoons. Facial expression influenced judged aggressiveness, but only viewer age affected judged justifiability. Cross-experiment comparisons revealed that facial expression and the facial expression X real-cartoon interaction yielded major differences on both dependent variables. Subject and interactant gender were not significant for major dependent variables. Results of the developmental studies were similar to adults' suggesting that for judgments of simple aggressive acts, sex makes no difference, but facial expression does make a difference.

[Ionophore-induced oscillations in erythrocytes. A kinetic model]. / Ionofor-indutsirovannye kolebaniia v éritrotsitakh. Kineticheskaia model'.

The kinetic model for K+, H+, Ca2+ concentrational self-oscillations in erythrocytes induced by A23187 and FCCP ionophores are considered. The model is based on the experimental data available and contains the minimal number of essential variables. The model was analysed by the method based on the graph representation of kinetic equations. The critical graph fragments provoking self-oscillatory trajectories in the system were revealed. It is shown that self-oscillatory behaviour is basically induced by conjugated processes produced by A23187. The parameter domain for self-oscillations is estimated including parameters of Ca2+-induced (through K+-channels) proton transport with FCCP participation. Numerical integration of kinetic equations was performed. The results obtained are in a good qualitative agreement with experimental data.

Facilitating factors for, barriers to, and outcomes of interdisciplinary education projects in the health sciences.

Appropriate collaboration and communication among health professionals is viewed as increasingly important in meeting the challenges of today's health care system. Student socialization to interdisciplinary practice is thought to be facilitated through interdisciplinary academic and clinical learning experiences during the educational program. The purpose of this article is to identify factors commonly cited as facilitating and inhibiting interdisciplinary education, to provide insight for the development of successful interdisciplinary education projects.

A comparison of accelerometry and center of pressure measures during computerized dynamic posturography: a measure of balance.

Accelerometry (ACC) shows promise as an easily implemented clinical measure of balance. The purpose of the study was to estimate test-retest reliability of ACC measures and determine the relationship between ACC measured at the pelvis and underfoot center of pressure (COP) measures during sensory organization test (SOT) conditions. Eighty-one subjects were recruited from the community with no known orthopedic or vestibular deficits (19-85 years). Subjects completed three consecutive, ninety second trials for each of the six SOT conditions, while wearing the accelerometer. ACC and COP time series were described by calculating the normalized path length, root mean square (RMS), and peak-to-peak values. The test-retest reliability of the three measures within each SOT condition was estimated over three trials using the intraclass correlation coefficient. ACC and COP test-retest reliability were similar, ranging from 0.63 to 0.80 using ACC and 0.42 to 0.81 using COP for the measure of normalized path length. Linear regression between ACC and COP measures showed significant correlation under almost every SOT condition using both single and average measures across trials. The degree of association between COP and ACC was equivalent when using the first trial or the 3-trial average, suggesting that one trial may be sufficient. The use of accelerometry may have value in estimating balance function and minimizing clinical evaluation time.