ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to identify early markers of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to reveal the most significant of them. METHODS: A total of 548 pregnant women were screened for GDM between weeks 24 and 28 of gestation, as defined by International Association of Diabetes In Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria, in a retrospective case-control study. First trimester maternal fasting glucose, anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were obtained from medical records. Classification Tree Method was used to identify combination of early pregnancy risk factors that predict the highest risk of the development of GDM in later pregnancy. RESULTS: The combination of Body Mass Index (BMI) >38.6 kg/m² with, abdominal circumference >91.5 cm and fasting glucose >4.5 mmol/L was associated with a 13-fold increased risk of GDM as compared to women who do not have this combination of symptoms (OR 13.2 95% CI: 2.7-63.3, P<0.001). In women with BMI less than 38,6 kg/m ² the combination of fasting glucose >4.5 mmol/L, abdominal circumference >91.5 cm with the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was associated with a 6-fold increased risk of GDM as compared with women who do not have this combination of symptoms (OR=7.6, 95% CI: 1.9-30.02, P=0.003). CONCLUSION: A higher BMI, abdominal circumference, fasting glycemia in the first trimester of pregnancy and the presence of PCOS predict increased GDM risk. Taking these combinations into consideration may facilitate identification of women at particular risk for GDM.
Subject(s)
Diabetes, Gestational/epidemiology , Adult , Blood Glucose , Body Mass Index , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, First/blood , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
Genetic constructs coding for the fusion of the Mam12 membrane protein from the magnetotactic bacteria Magnetospirilium magnetotacticum with one B-domain (mb) or two B or Z domains (mbb and mzz, respectively) of Staphylococcus aureus protein A have been synthesized. Expression, fractionation, and purification of fusion proteins have been performed, and the activity of the modified proteins has been characterized. ELISA results showed that all modified proteins displayed immunoglobulin-binding activity.
Subject(s)
Magnetosomes/genetics , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Staphylococcal Protein A/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial , Magnetosomes/chemistry , Magnetospirillum/chemistry , Magnetospirillum/genetics , Membrane Proteins/chemistry , Staphylococcus aureus/chemistry , Staphylococcus aureus/geneticsABSTRACT
To examine the possibility of using ADRB2 adrenergic receptor agonists for correction of myasthenia-induced immunological and motor disturbances, a method of anti-ADRB2 antibody assay by ELISA was developed. The haplotype of ADRB2 gene was determined by MLPA-PCR in 34 myasthenia patients; blood sera from 40 patients were examined. The content of antibodies against ADRB2 receptors was elevated in 12 of 30 patients with generalized form of myasthenia. Arg-Arg in position 16 in ADRB2 receptors determines the developmental risk of side effects, while Gly-Gly in the same codon determines tolerance to ß2-adrenoceptor agonists and is associated with more severe course of myasthenia and resistance to ß2-adrenoceptor agonists treatment with ADRB2 agonists. The study demonstrated the possibility of using ADRB2 obtained gene engineering technique for quantitatively assay the autoantibodies.
Subject(s)
Adrenergic Agonists/therapeutic use , Autoantibodies/blood , Myasthenia Gravis/immunology , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/genetics , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Genotype , Humans , Middle Aged , Mutation , Myasthenia Gravis/genetics , Severity of Illness Index , Young AdultABSTRACT
Human beta2-adrenergic receptor is one of the most studied G-protein-coupled receptors. It plays a key role in autonomic nervous system and is a drug target in cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Despite the fact that its crystal structure was revealed, a physiological role and molecular mechanisms of its action remain largely unknown. We designed the construct pVR2ADRH, which contained the gene for human beta2-adrenergic receptor with a polyhistidine tag C-terminal extension. The recombinant DNA was used for transformation of the GS115 strain of Pichia pastoris. The heterologous expression level obtained was about 20 mg/l. The receptor was extracted from membrane fraction and was purified by metal-affinity and ion-exchange chromatography. The active receptors were isolated by alprenolol-sepharose CL-4B. The resulting level of purified human beta2-adrenergic receptor was approximately 1 mg per liter of culture. The homogeneity of the protein sample was confirmed by a dynamical light scattering analysis of the receptor's micellar solution.
Subject(s)
Gene Expression , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 , Humans , Pichia , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/biosynthesis , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/chemistry , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/genetics , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/isolation & purification , Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis , Recombinant Proteins/chemistry , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purificationSubject(s)
Pichia/genetics , Pichia/metabolism , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/biosynthesis , Cloning, Molecular , Humans , Pichia/growth & development , Protein Engineering , Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 2/biosynthesis , Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 2/genetics , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis , Recombinant Proteins/genetics , Transformation, Genetic/geneticsABSTRACT
We report development of generators for periodic, satellite-free fluxes of monodisperse drops with diameters down to 10 microm from cryogenic liquids such as H2, N2, Ar, and Xe (and, as a reference fluid, water). While the break up of water jets can be described well by Rayleigh's linear theory, we find jet regimes for H2 and N2 which reveal deviations from this behavior. Thus, Rayleigh's theory is inappropriate for thin jets that exchange energy and/or mass with the surrounding medium. Moreover, at high evaporation rates, the axial symmetry of the dynamics is lost. When the drops pass into vacuum, frozen pellets form due to surface evaporation. The narrow width of the pellet flux paves the way towards various industrial and scientific applications.
ABSTRACT
Radiotoxicity and decay heat power of the spent nuclear fuel of VVER-1000 type reactors are calculated during storage time up to 300,000 y. Decay heat power of radioactive waste (radwaste) determines parameters of the heat removal system for the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel. Radiotoxicity determines the radiological hazard of radwaste after its leakage and penetration into the environment.
Subject(s)
Industrial Waste/analysis , Industrial Waste/prevention & control , Nuclear Reactors , Radiation Monitoring/methods , Radiation Protection/methods , Radioisotopes/analysis , Radioisotopes/chemistry , Half-Life , Hot Temperature , Linear Energy Transfer , Materials Testing , Power Plants , Radiation Dosage , Radioisotopes/toxicity , Refuse Disposal/methods , Risk Assessment/methods , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Power reactors can be used for partial short-term transmutation of radwaste. This transmutation is beneficial in terms of subsequent storage conditions for spent fuel in long-term storage facilities. CANDU-type reactors can transmute the main minor actinides from two or three reactors of the VVER-1000 type. A VVER-1000-type reactor can operate in a self-service mode with transmutation of its own actinides.
