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Background: Only limited data are available on the real-life clinical utilization of aerosolized medications in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Exploring the utilization of aerosolized medicati...

Personalized recommendation systems become increasingly popular and have been widely applied in various fields nowadays. The release of users’ private data is required in order to provide users recommendations with high accuracy, yet this has put the users in danger. Unfortunately, existing privacy preserving methods are either developed under trusted server settings with impractical private recommendation systems or lack of strong privacy guarantees.

Fatigue life prediction of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) spot welded joints is of great importance for autobody design with AHSS being increasingly used. In the present work, the fatigue failure behaviors of the DP780GI spot welded joints under the tensile shear (TS) and coach peel (CP) loading conditions are experimentally investigated and numerically modelled. Two failure modes, eyebrow failure and weld button pull out occur in the tests of TS joints, while only interfacial fracture exists in CP joints. A fatigue life prediction method based the crack growth approach is proposed. The TS/CP specimens are simplified to the neural line models, by which the reaction forces and moments directly acting on the spot welds are calculated. Then the stress intensity factor is obtained by using the finite element method and analytical equations fitted to the FE results. Finally, the fatigue life of a spot weld is evaluated by applying the Paris law to the crack front and including the plastic zone in crack path update. The calculated fatigue lives show good agreement with experiment results for DP780GI, within five times error band.

Fatigue behaviors of hybrid joint, the combination of cold-formed mechanical fastening with adhesive bonding, are yet to be understood comprehensively even though they have been widely used in industries. The lack of understanding is mainly attributed to the complicated load transfer path and possible interactions between the two types of joining techniques, namely mechanical interlocking and adhesive bonding. In the present work, fatigue tests are performed on self-piercing riveted (SPR) joint, adhesive-bonded joint, and the SPR-bonded joint under lap shear and 45° loading conditions. Failure mechanisms are evaluated based on terminated fatigue test and numerical analysis. Periodical and asymmetric failure mode can be identified in SPR-bonded joint. Although both crack pinning and asymmetric failure mode induced by SPR suppress the crack growth in adhesive bonding, the effect of crack pinning is significant only when crack approaches SPR. The asymmetric failure also leads to load transfer path evolution, intensifying damage on SPR joining. A mechanism-based fatigue life evaluation method is proposed by characterizing the interactions with crack growth method and structural stress method. The calculated results are compared with the experimental ones, and good correlations are observed for both lap shear and 45° loading conditions.

The yield strength of the UOE pipe is different from raw steel plate and inhomogeneously distributed on pipe body, because of the Bauschinger effect and work hardening during UOE forming process. The yield strength development of high-strength pipeline steels from raw plate to UOE pipe is investigated by using a modified Chaboche hardening model that incorporates the Bauschinger effect and yield plateau of X70, X80 and X90 steels. The final yield strength of pipe is evaluated by finite element simulation of uniaxial tension of a pipe specimen and an empirical equation. The influences of UOE process parameters on yield strength development are discussed. The results show the modified hardening model can predict the yield stress with good accuracy. The circumferential variation of yield stresses for X80 and X90 pipes are about two times more than that for X70 pipe due to their stronger Bauschinger effect. In UOE forming, C-, U- and O-forming reduce tensile yield stress, and expansion increases and homogenizes yield stress. Fattening operation reduces the measured yield stress, which should be considered in expansion ratio design especially for high strength steels. The yield strength increases logarithmically with t/D ratio and linearly with expansion ratio. Keywords: UOE pipes, Bauschinger effect, Yield strength, High-grade pipeline steel, Hardening model

Large diameter welded pipes used in oil and gas pipelines are primarily manufactured by the UOE process, which consists of U-forming, O-forming, and expansion procedures. The formation of O-forming gap in the O-forming stage is a key processing factor and it involves complex plastic deformation and springback of the steel plate. In this paper, a numerical method is proposed for predicting geometric configuration and O-forming gap of steel plate after C–U–O-forming. A combined hardening model for characterizing the loading–unloading–reverse loading deformation of pipe steels is developed based on the Chaboche hardening model. The yield plateau phenomenon and the variation of elastic modulus with the increase of pre-strain are incorporated. Industrial experiments are carried out, and the proposed method is validated through comparison between experimental and calculated results. Furthermore, the influence of material and processing parameters on O-forming gap is numerically investigated. The results reveal that U-forming radius is the most important factor in C- and U-forming stages to determine O-forming gap, and the opening gap width increases with increasing of compression ratio in O-forming stage. Finally, the established numerical method is combined with a genetic algorithm and applied to optimize UOE process parameters for obtaining an ideal opening gap. The proposed method provides an effective and efficient tool for UOE process design.

Magnesium alloy GW103 samples were heat treated to different ageing conditions and then shot peened using process parameters that deliver optimized high cycle fatigue (HCF) life. Significant HCF life improvements were observed in all samples, with a peak-aged sample showing the biggest increase. In order to simulate the effect and evolution of residual stresses during low cycle fatigue (LCF), a Finite Element (FE) model was employed, taking into account both the shot-peening-induced plastic strains and the influence of hardening on subsequent deformation. Experimental and modelling results offer a basis for explaining the observed fatigue performance improvement due to shot peening. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structures of (Pro-Pro-Gly)4-Xaa-Yaa-Gly-(Pro-Pro-Gly)4 (ppg9-XYG) where (Xaa, Yaa) = (Pro, Hyp), (Hyp, Pro) or (Hyp, Hyp) were analyzed at high resolution using synchrotron radiation. Molecular and crystal structures of these peptides are very similar to those of the (Pro-Pro-Gly)9 peptide. The results obtained in this study, together with those obtained from related compounds, indicated the puckering propensity of the Hyp in the X position: (1) Hyp(X) residues involved in the Hyp(X):Pro(Y) stacking pairs prefer the down-puckering conformation, as in ppg9-OPG, and ppg9-OOG; (2) Hyp(X) residues involved in the Hyp(X):Hyp(Y) stacking pairs prefer the up-puckering conformation if there is no specific reason to adopt the down-puckering conformation. Water molecules in these peptide crystals are classified into two groups, the 1st and 2nd hydration waters. Water molecules in the 1st hydration group have direct hydrogen bonds with peptide oxygen atoms, whereas those in the 2nd hydration group do not. Compared with globular proteins, the number of water molecules in the 2nd hydration shell of the ppg9-XYG peptides is very large, likely due to the unique rod-like molecular structure of collagen model peptides. In the collagen helix, the amino acid residues in the X and Y positions must protrude outside of the triple helix, which forces even the hydrophobic side chains, such as Pro, to be exposed to the surrounding water molecules. Therefore, most of the waters in the 2nd hydration shell are covering hydrophobic Pro side chains by forming clathrate structures. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 91: 361–372, 2009. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com

Chengjie Gao, Bo Li, Lufeng Xu, Fubin Lv, Guimao Cao, Huixia Wang, Fei Wang, Guanghan WuDepartment of Anesthesiology, General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan, People’s Republic ofChinaBackground: Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a common side effect of general anesthesia. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of ramosetron versus ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting using the most recently published randomized controlled clinical studies.Methods: PubMed and EMBASE were searched for randomized controlled clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of ramosetron and ondansetron. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager version 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). Dichotomous outcomes are presented as the relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: A total of 898 patients from nine selected studies were treated with antiemetics after surgery, including 450 patients who received ondansetron 4 mg and 448 patients who received ramosetron 0.3 mg. The meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to prevention of postoperative nausea (PON) during different time periods in the 48 hours after surgery. When comparing the efficacy of ramosetron and ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative vomiting (POV), at various time intervals in the 24 hours after surgery, ramosetron was significantly more efficient than ondansetron: 0–6 hours (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.24–0.92; P=0.03), 0–24 hours (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.52–1.00; P=0.05), and 6–24 hours (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31–0.84; P=0.008). At other time periods between 24 and 48hours after surgery, ramosetron did not show better efficacy than ondansetron. When comparing the safety profiles of ramosetron and ondansetron, fewer side effects were recorded in the ramosetron group (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47–0.91; P=0.01).Conclusion: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that ramosetron was more effective than ondansetron in the prevention of early POV (0–24 hours) with fewer recorded side effects. However, our study did not reveal any statistically significant differences in efficacy between ramosetron and ondansetron in the prevention of PON or late POV (at 24–48 hours).Keywords: ramosetron, ondansetron, postoperative nausea and vomiting, general anesthesia, meta-analysis

Background Curcumin has profound antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This research assessed the effect of curcumin on liver preservation. Methods Sprague-Dawley rat livers were flushed with different preservation solutions [Euro-Collins solution (EC), phosphate buffer saline (PBS), University of Wisconsin solution (UW)] with or without curcumin (25-200 microM) and stored at 4 degrees C for 24-48 hours. Livers were then perfused for 120 minutes via the portal vein with oxygenated Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer solution at a pressure of 18 cm H2O in a perfusion apparatus. The livers in the normal (NL) group were flushed with EC, PBS, or UW, then immediately perfused (zero preservation time). Results We found that curcumin at 100 microM concentration had the optimal preservation characteristics. Portal flow rates and bile production were significantly higher and liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase) were significantly lower in the EC+C livers and PBS+C livers than in the EC or PBS with optimum concentration of 100 microM of curcumin. Comparing UW+C vs. UW livers, at 24 hours there was no difference in these parameters; however, at 36 hours and 48 hours, portal flow rates and bile production were significantly higher in UW+C livers. Conclusions We found that curcumin has inherent organ preservation quality as it enhanced liver preservation in PBS. In addition, curcumin enhanced the preservation quality of EC and UW solutions, thereby extending the preservation time while maintaining the organ quality.

Triple-helical structures of (Pro-Hyp-Gly)n (n = 10, 11) at 100 K and room temperature (RT) were analyzed at 1.26 A resolution by using synchrotron radiation data. Totals of 49 and 42 water molecules per seven triplets in an asymmetric unit were found for the structures at 100 K and RT, respectively. These water molecules were classified into two groups, those in the first and second hydration shells. Although there was no significant difference between water molecules in the first shell at 100 K and those at RT, a significant difference between those in the second shell was observed. That is, the number of water molecules at RT decreased to one half and the average distance from peptide chains at RT became longer by about 0.3 A. On the other hand, of seven triplets in an asymmetric unit, three proline residues at the X position at 100 K clearly showed an up-puckering conformation, as opposed to the recent propensity-based hypothesis for the stabilization and destabilization of triple-helical structures by proline hydroxylation. This puckering was attributed to the interaction between proline rings and the surrounding water molecules at 100 K, which is much weaker at RT, as shown by longer average distance from peptide chains.

HIV-1 transactivating protein Tat is neurotoxic and is believed to play a role in the development of AIDS-associated dementia complex. Neurotoxicity of Tat may be associated with oxidative stress. In this study we examined temporal progression of histopathological changes induced by a single microinjection of Tat 1-72 into the rat striatum. Degenerating neural cells, detected by Fluoro-Jade B staining and increased protein oxidation, determined by protein carbonyl immunostaining, were observed in the striatum as soon as 2 h following the microinjection. Further progression of neuronal degeneration was associated with pronounced infiltration of the area surrounding Tat 1-72 injection site by OX-42 positive macrophages/microglia, which was evident at the 24 h time point. Signs of reactive astrocytosis were found in the striatum of Tat 1-72 injected animals as late as 7 days following the single microinjection. Increased GFAP immunoreactivity and changes in the morphology of astrocytes coincided with a second phase of increased protein carbonyl formation, but not with neuronal degeneration. Control polypeptide, nontoxic Tat delta 31-61, did not cause any cell death, inflammatory reaction or oxidative damage. Results of our study support the hypothesis that oxidative stress may be an early step in the mechanism of Tat neurotoxicity.

Oxidative stress has been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of different neurodegenerative disorders, including HIV-related dementia. Tat, a nonstructural protein of HIV, is implicated in potentiation of neuronal apoptosis by mechanisms involving the disruption of calcium homeostasis and oxidative stress. The injection of Tat caused an increase of protein carbonyl formation in the rat striatum. Increased oxidative modification of proteins occurred early after Tat injection and preceded Tat-mediated astrogliosis. Immunostaining of brain sections demonstrated that an area of prominent protein carbonyl immunoreactivity surrounded an injection site in the striatum of Tat-injected rats. Intense protein carbonyl immunoreactivity was localized in cell bodies. Our study suggests that increased protein oxidation may be an important part of the mechanism of Tat neurotoxicity.

Introduction.Curcumin (Cur) is a phenolic component of common spice, turmeric. We have reported earlier that it possesses antineoplastic and immunosuppressive propertiesin vitro.It has been reported that cyclosporine A (CyA), a commonly used immunosuppressant does not inhibit CD28 costimulatory pathway of T-cell activation. We hypothesized that Cur, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, would block CyA-resistant CD28 costimulatory pathway of human T cell proliferation. Materials and methods.Human T-lymphocytes were isolated from healthy donors using gradient centrifugation and rosetting techniques. In four separate experiments T-cells were plated in triplicate in 96-well plates at a density of 2X105 cells/well. These cells were stimulated with 0.5 ng/ml phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) + 0.5 (g/ml anti-CD28 antibody (PMA-CD28 group) or 2.5 μg/ml PHA (PHA group). Cur or CyA at varying concentrations (0.31, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 μg/ml and 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, or 250 ng/ml, respectively) was added and cellular proliferation was measured by the uptake of [3H]thymidine and is reported (mean cpm/well(SD). Cells from the PMA-CD28 group that were treated with either curcumin or 0.4% DMSO (vehicle control for curcumin) were studied for evidence of apoptosis by staining with viable dyes MC540 and Hoechst 33342 and subsequently analyzed in the cell sorter. Results.Cur caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of T-cell proliferation in the PMA-CD28 group (from 32775 ± 3084 to 66 ± 42 at 5.0 μg/ml of cur) and PHA group (from 50956 ± 5747 to 24 ± 12 at 5.0 μg/ml) with a calculated ED50 of 3.5 and 7.7, μM respectively. CyA inhibited T-cell proliferation in the PHA group with a calculated ED50 of 2.7 ng/ml but failed to block PMA + anti-CD28-stimulated T-cell proliferation even at 250 ng/ml. PMA-CD28 group cells treated with 10 μg/ml curcumin showed a significantly increased apoptosis as compared to control (0.4% DMSO). Conclusion.Since Cur blocks the CyA-resistant PMA + anti-CD28 pathway of T-cell proliferation, it may have novel adjuvant immunosuppressive properties.

BACKGROUND Apoptosis (programmed cell death) occurs as a consequence of global organ ischemia during isolation and storage prior to transplantation. If apoptosis is inhibited during ischemia, organ preservation should be improved, and the length of time for permissible storage may be increased. The objective of this study was to test the effect of a newly developed antiapoptotic compound, LXR-015, during extended hypothermic liver preservation. METHODS Three groups of 12 rats each were studied. In the normal group, liver function was studied immediately after harvesting. In the study group, harvested livers were flushed with Euro-Collins solution (30 ml/kg body weight) containing LXR-015 at a concentration equivalent to 9 mg/kg animal body weight (300 microg/ml). The livers were then stored at 4 degrees C for 24 hr before liver function was studied. In the control group, harvested livers were flushed with Euro-Collins solution without LXR-015 and then stored at 4 degrees C for 24 hr before liver function was studied. RESULTS Portal venous flow was higher (P

Background. Testing lung function after preservation is difficult because a suitable model is still lacking; thus, the effectiveness of different solutions for lung preservation has not been confirmed. This study tested the effectiveness of Euro-Collins solution alone for hypothermic preservation of rat lungs. Methods. A living rat perfusion model was used, which allowed more than 5 hours of continuous perfusion for isolated lung function studies. Group 1 lungs (control, n=8) were tested without preservation. In groups 2 through 6 (n = 8 lungs each), the lungs were flushed with 4°C Euro-Collins solution and preserved for 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours, respectively. Lung function studies were carried out after preservation. Results. In groups 1 and 2, pulmonary arterial blood flow and pulmonary venous oxygen tension were higher and pulmonary resistance was lower than in the other groups. Airway pressure and resistance were lowest in group 1. Lungs in groups 5 and 6 demonstrated the worst function, but the lung tissue wet to dry ratio was higher only in group 6. Conclusions. At 4°C, Euro-Collins solution can effectively preserve rat lungs for 4 hours. Six to 8 hours of preservation resulted in depressed lung function. More than 12 hours of preservation resulted in uniformly deficient lung function, rendering the lungs nnsuitable for transplantation.

The quark delocalization and color screening model is used to study the {ital N}-{ital N} interaction of spin-isospin (00) and (11) channels. The predicted {sup 1}{ital p}{sub 1} phase shifts qualitatively fit the phase shift analysis of scattering data. The {sup 3}{ital p}{sub {ital ls}} phase shifts are enhanced by the quark delocalization effect, but the {sup 3}{ital p}{sub {ital c}} is too strongly repulsive. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

Two crystal modifications of a collagen model peptide, (Pro-Pro-Gly)4-Hyp-Hyp-Gly-(Pro-Pro-Gly)4[where Hyp is (4R,2S)-L-hydroxyproline], showed very similar unit-cell parameters and belonged to the same space groupP21. Both crystals exhibited pseudo-merohedral twinning. The main difference was in their molecular-packing arrangements. One modification showed pseudo-hexagonal packing, while the other showed pseudo-tetragonal packing. Despite their different packing arrangements, no significant differences were observed in the hydration states of these modifications. The peptide in the pseudo-tetragonal crystal showed a cyclic fluctuation of helical twists with a period of 20 Å, while that in the pseudo-hexagonal crystal did not. In these modifications, the puckering conformations of four of the 12 Hyp residues at theXposition of the Hyp(X)-Hyp(Y)-Gly sequence were in the opposite conformations to the previous hypothesis that Hyp(X) residues involved in Hyp(X):Hyp(Y) and Hyp(X):Pro(Y) stacking pairs prefer up-puckering and down-puckering conformations, respectively. Detailed investigation of the molecular interactions between Hyp(X) and adjacent molecules revealed that these opposite conformations appeared because the puckering conformation, which follows the hypothesis, is subject to steric hindrance from the adjacent molecule.

Average helical twists were calculated by the method of Sugeta and Miyazawa (Biopolymers 1967, 5, 673-679) for all of the collagen model peptides analyzed to date. Calculation of the helical twists of all triplets in each peptide strand provided novel insights for several model peptides. In the (Pro-Pro-Gly)n (n = 9 and 10), the helical twists showed cyclic fluctuations between 40 and 65 degrees with a 20 A period, suggesting that their molecular conformations were close enough to the ideal 7/2-helix to show the helical repeat of 20 A. Rather small helical twists in the guest regions of IBP in complex and T3-785 were attributed to the interaction with Integrin I domain and a relaxed conformation caused by three consecutive triplets lacking imino acid residues, respectively. Although most of the triplets used in this study were imino acid-rich triplets, helical twists were scattered in a wide range from 30 to 70 degrees with an overall average of 52.6 degrees . This distribution of helical twists indicated a strong preference for the 7/2-helical conformation (51.4 degrees ) rather than the 10/3-helical model (36 degrees ).

To assess the role of CCL2/MCP-1 in opiate drug abuse and HIV-1 comorbidity, the effects of systemic morphine and intrastriatal HIV-1 Tat on macrophage/microglial and astroglial activation were assessed in wild type and CCR2 null mice. Tat and/or morphine additively increased the proportion of CCL2 immunoreactive astroglia. The effects of morphine were prevented by naltrexone. Glial activation was significantly reduced in CCR2(−/−) versus wild-type mice following Tat or morphine plus Tat exposure. Thus, CCR2 contributes to local glial activation caused by Tat alone or in the presence of opiates, implicating CCR2 signaling in HIV-1 neuropathogenesis in drug abusers and non-abusers.

Opiates exacerbate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat(1-72)-induced release of key proinflammatory cytokines by astrocytes, which may accelerate HIV neuropathogenesis in opiate abusers. The release of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, also known as CCL2), in particular, is potentiated by opiate-HIV Tat interactions in vitro. Although MCP-1 draws monocytes/macrophages to sites of CNS infection, and activated monocytes/microglia release factors that can damage bystander neurons, the role of MCP-1 in neuro-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (neuroAIDS) progression in opiate abusers, or nonabusers, is uncertain. Using a chemotaxis assay, N9 microglial cell migration was found to be significantly greater in conditioned medium from mouse striatal astrocytes exposed to morphine and/or Tat(1-72) than in vehicle-, mu-opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist-, or inactive, mutant Tat(delta31-61)-treated controls. Conditioned medium from astrocytes treated with morphine and Tat caused the greatest increase in motility. The response was attenuated using conditioned medium immunoneutralized with MCP-1 antibodies, or medium from MCP-1(-/-) astrocytes. In the presence of morphine (time-release, subcutaneous implant), intrastriatal Tat increased the proportion of neural cells that were astroglia and F4/80+ macrophages at 7 days post-injection. This was not seen after treatment with Tat alone, or with morphine plus inactive Tat(delta31-61) or naltrexone. Glia displayed increased MOR and MCP-1 immunoreactivity after morphine and/or Tat exposure. The findings indicate that MCP-1 underlies most of the response of microglia, suggesting that one way in which opiates exacerbate neuroAIDS is by increasing astroglial-derived proinflammatory chemokines at focal sites of CNS infection and promoting macrophage entry and local microglial activation. Importantly, increased glial expression of MOR can trigger an opiate-driven amplification/positive feedback of MCP-1 production and inflammation.

Triple-helical structures of (Pro-Hyp-Gly)n (n = 10, 11) at 100 K and room temperature (RT) were analyzed at 1.26 A resolution by using synchrotron radiation data. Totals of 49 and 42 water molecules per seven triplets in an asymmetric unit were found for the structures at 100 K and RT, respectively. These water molecules were classified into two groups, those in the first and second hydration shells. Although there was no significant difference between water molecules in the first shell at 100 K and those at RT, a significant difference between those in the second shell was observed. That is, the number of water molecules at RT decreased to one half and the average distance from peptide chains at RT became longer by about 0.3 A. On the other hand, of seven triplets in an asymmetric unit, three proline residues at the X position at 100 K clearly showed an up-puckering conformation, as opposed to the recent propensity-based hypothesis for the stabilization and destabilization of triple-helical structures by proline hydroxylation. This puckering was attributed to the interaction between proline rings and the surrounding water molecules at 100 K, which is much weaker at RT, as shown by longer average distance from peptide chains.

The present study examined the sex-dependent expression of behavioral sensitization as well as changes of dopamine (DA) transporters and D1, D2, and D3 receptors following repeated intravenous nicotine administration. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with indwelling jugular catheters, equipped with subcutaneous intravenous injection ports. Rats were habituated to activity chambers for 3 days and were subsequently administered 15-s bolus injections of intravenous nicotine (50 microg/kg/ml) 1/day for 21 days. Animals were placed in activity chambers for 60 min immediately after the 1st and 21st nicotine injection. Observational time sampling was also performed. Brains were subsequently removed and frozen for autoradiographic DA transporter/DA receptor analysis on the afternoon females were in proestrus. With one exception, no robust sex differences were observed for locomotor activity or any rearing measures either during baseline or after initial nicotine injection. Females exhibited markedly more behavioral sensitization of locomotor activity, rearing, duration of rearing, and incidence of observed rearing. There were no sex differences in the number of D1 or D2 receptors. Females exhibited an increased number of DA transporters and decreased D3 receptors in the NAcc, relative to males. Multiple regression analyses suggest that D3 receptors and DA transporters in various striatal and NAcc subregions differentially predicted nicotine-induced behaviors for males and females. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that repeated intravenous nicotine produces sex differences in the expression of behavioral sensitization, and suggest that nicotine-induced changes of DA transporters and D3 receptors are partly responsible for increased behavioral sensitization in female rats.

Background. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated B-cell lymphomas occur more frequently in immunodeficient states such as organ transplantation and HIV infection. We have previously reported that B cell immortalization with EBV was promoted by cyclosporin A (CyA) and that curcumin (Cur), a natural phenol with known antioxidant and antitumor properties, blocked EBV-induced B cell immortalization. In the following experiments we show that Cur inhibits the proliferation of EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) via enhanced apoptosis. Methods. LCL were generated by infecting freshly isolated human B cells with EBV (B95-8) for 12 h and coculturing with predetermined optimal concentrations of CyA (500 ng/ml) for 4 weeks. LCL were then either frozen for future use or propagated for immediate experiments. These cells were then plated in 96-well plates with 20 μM Cur or 0.1% DMSO (vehicle control). The number of immortalized colonies/well, cell count, and 3 H uptake were used as an index of immortalization. To assess apoptosis rate LCL were cultured with 0.1% DMSO or Cur (20 μM) for 0, 18, and 42 h in culture flasks and then stained with MC540 and H33342, as markers for apoptosis, and analyzed by FACS. Results. A profound inhibition of proliferation was seen in the LCL with 20 μM curcumin compared to 0.1% DMSO control. The colony count reduced from 34.5 ± 3.4 to 0/well ( P = 0.005), cell number reduced from 101,250 ± 12,093 to 3750 ± 1500/well ( P = 0.002), and 3 H uptake reduced from 40,889 ± 3669 to 70 ± 5.2/well ( P = 0.001). The apoptosis rate of LCL in the DMSO control at 24.07 and 16.87% increased significantly with 20 μM Cur to 76.4 and 95.1% at 18 and 42 h, respectively ( P = 0.02). Conclusion. Cur is a potent inhibitor of EBV-transformed LCL. This effect appears to be mediated through enhanced apoptosis. A further investigation of this effect may be useful in prevention and therapy of B-cell lymphoma in immunodeficient patients.

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Biopolymers (Peptide Science) (2004) 76(5) 367–377

To test the hypothesis that a delta opioid, DADLE ([D-Ala2, D-Leu5]-enkephalin), could protect tissue from ischemic damage during hypothermic lung preservation, we studied three groups of rats. In group 1 ( n = 8), lung function was studied immediately after harvesting. In group 2 ( n = 8), the lung was flushed with 4º C Euro-Collins solution and preserved for 24 hours. In group 3 ( n = 8), the lung was flushed with 4º C Euro-Collins solution plus DADLE (1 mg/kg) and preserved for 24 hours. Lung function was studied by using a living rat perfusion model. Venous blood from the host rat perfused the pulmonary artery of the isolated lung. Blood from the isolated lung was returned to the carotid artery of the host rat with a roller pump. Severe pulmonary edema, hemorrhage, and occlusive pulmonary artery resistance occurred in group 2 within 30 minutes of perfusion. Perfusion studies were carried out for more than 60 minutes in groups 1 and 3. Pulmonary blood flow was lower in group 2 than in either group 1 or group 3. Pulmonary vascular resistance was much higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3 ( p < 0.05). Airway pressure and airway resistance were much higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3 ( p < 0.05). Airway resistance was also higher in group 3 than in group 1 after 20 minutes of perfusion ( p < 0.05). Oxygen tensions from the pulmonary vein of the isolated lung in group 2 were lower than those in groups 1 and 3 ( p < 0.05). Alveolar-arterial oxygen difference was much higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3 ( p < 0.05). Lung tissue wet/dry weight ratio after perfusion was much higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3. The results clearly show, for the first time, that DADLE can effectively enhance hypothermic lung preservation in rats.(J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG 1996;111:259-67)