Good Negative Correlation Research Articles

Low-pressure and low-temperature K-bearing kosmochloric diopside from the Osayama serpentinite melange, SW Japan

Kosmochloric diopside with high K content up to 0.56 wt% (0.026 K atom per formula unit) was discovered from the Osayama serpentinite mélange in the Chugoku Mountains, SW Japan. K-bearing clinopyroxene fills microcracks (5.150 µm in wide) together with uvarovite within albite vein of a tremolite rock. Compositions of analyzed clinopyroxene consist mainly of kosmochlor + augite (92.98 mol%; Ko 19-38 Aug 56-76 ) components and minor amounts of jadeite (0.6 mol%), aegirine (0.5 mol%), Ca-Tschermak (0.3 mol%), and K-kosmochlor (0.2 mol%). Although the K content in clinopyroxene is also variable and heterogeneous even in a single vein, clinopyroxene with higher K content occurs in Ko-rich part. Higher magnification secondary electron images confirmed that exsolution and inclusion are essentially absent in the analyzed clinopyroxenes. The good negative correlation between Cr+ Na+ K and Ca+ Mg+ Fe 2+ indicates the Cr incorporation into the octahedral site. Furthermore, K correlates with Na and Cr, indicating a simultaneous enrichment of K for Na and Cr during pyroxene growth. Textual relations, and parageneses and compositions of minerals suggest that the K-Cpx precipitated together with uvarovite in brittle microcracks directly from a Ca- and Cr-rich hydrothermal fluid at approximately P < 0.3 GPa and T < 400 °C. Although it has been experimentally concluded that only ultrahigh-P (>4 GPa) environment permits to host relatively large K + cation into the clinopyroxene structure, our finding indicates that the incorporation of K into the kosmochlor-diopside series solid solution with at least 0.2 Cr cation p.f.u. is possible even at low P conditions.

画像解析による壁紙の視覚的快適性評価

The purpose of this study is to evaluate visual comfort of wallpaper by using image analysis. First of all, 30 human observers estimated the visual comfort for various samples of wallpaper on a CRT display. Next, we examined the relationship between the visual comfort estimated by the human observers and each of 4 feature parameters obtained by image analysis, that is, average lightness, average chromaticness, average spatial frequency, and entropy in spatial frequency domain. Clearly, the visual comfort of wallpaper has a good positive correlation with the average lightness, and a good negative correlation with the average chromaticness. Furthermore, a multiple regression analysis was performed by using these feature parameters to predict the visual comfort. The regression equation included 6 explanatory variables, that is, the 4 feature parameters and the second order terms of average spatial frequency and entropy. The result showed that the regression coefficients were negative for the second order terms of the 2 feature parameters, therefore, wallpaper with medium values of average spatial frequency and entropy was evaluated as comfortable. In other words, this suggests that the wallpaper with medium coarseness (fineness) and moderate spatial periodicity tends to bring the visual comfort.

S100B and NSE serum concentrations in Machado Joseph disease

Background NSE and S100B are considered as neuronal and glial peripheral markers of central nervous system pathologies, respectively. We evaluated the potential use of S100B and NSE serum concentrations as peripheral markers of symptomatic patients with Machado Joseph disease (MJD). Methods We measured S100B and NSE peripheral concentrations of 22 MJD patients and compared with healthy subjects concentrations. The correlations of both markers with CAG repeat size, age of onset, disease duration, and the scores of the Extended Disability Status Scale of Kurtzke, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, and the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale were also assessed. Results S100B serum concentrations between control and MJD subjects were not statistically different, whereas NSE serum concentrations were higher in MJD patients than in control subjects ( p=0.00001). S100B presented a moderate correlation with disease duration and depression score, whereas NSE presented a moderate correlation with depression score and a good negative correlation with EDSS score. Conclusions Symptomatic MJD patients present increased concentrations of NSE and normal concentrations of S100B in blood.

Effect of herbicides on the weed infestation and grain yield of soybean (Glycine max)

Two field experiments were conducted during the kharif (rainy) season of 1999 and 2000 on a loamy sand soil to study the effect of various pre- and post-emergence herbicides on the weed infestation and grain yield of soybean. The presence of weeds in the weedy control plots resulted in 58.8 and 58.1% reduction in the grain yield in the two years compared to two hand weedings (HW) at 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS), which gave grain yields of 1326 and 2029 kg ha-1. None of the herbicides was significantly superior to the two hand weedings treatment in influencing the grain yield. However, the pre-emergence application of 0.75 kg ha-1 S-metolachlor, and 0.5 kg ha-1 pendimethalin (pre-emergence) + HW 30 DAS were at par or numerically superior to this treatment. There was a good negative correlation between the weed dry matter at harvest and the grain yield of soybean, which showed that effective weed control is necessary for obtaining higher yields of soybean.

Usefulness of serum total cholesterol/triglyceride ratio for predicting the presence of small, dense LDL.

We examined the usefulness of the serum total cholesterol (TC)/triglyceride (TG) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C)/TG ratios for predicting the presence of small, dense LDL, by comparing them with the established indicators of small, dense LDL, such as the LDL-migration index (LDL-MI) and LDL-C/Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) ratio. Fasting serum lipid was analyzed in 99 Japanese hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic subjects (34 males and 65 females, 59.4 +/- 11.9 years old). A good negative correlation was observed between LDL-MI and log (TC/TG) (R(2) = 0.473, p < 0.0001). There was a strong positive correlation between LDL-C/ApoB and log (TC/TG) (R(2) = 0.665, p < 0.0001). Similar results were obtained using LDL-C instead of TC. Using LDL-MI > 0.4 as an indicator of small, dense LDL, the upper limit of TG was estimated to be 140-142 mg/dl. TC/TG and LDL-C/TG may offer a convenient and simple clinical tool for predicting the presence of small, dense LDL. Particularly, TC/TG could be an easy-to-use indicator of small, dense LDL for general practitioners.

Serum aminotransferase activity as a predictor of clearance of drugs metabolized by CYP isoforms in rats with acute hepatic failure induced by carbon tetrachloride

The values of serum aminotransferase activity (AST) in untreated rats and rats with acute hepatic failure at 24 h after an oral administration of CCl 4 (0.5 ml/kg) were 85±9 IU/l and 4260±620 IU/l (mean±S.D., n=6), respectively. The values of total clearance (CL tot) after intravenous administration of caffeine, tolbutamide, chlorzoxazone or lidocaine (as probe drugs for various CYP isoforms) to CCl 4-treated rats were decreased to about 1/8, 1/3, 1/3 or 1/2 compared with those in untreated rats. Good correlations were observed between mRNA expression and enzyme activity of CYP2C11, CYP2E1, CYP3A2 and CYP1A2 in livers of rats given various doses of CCl 4. There was also a good negative correlation between serum AST activity and hepatic enzyme activity of each CYP. The serum AST activities corresponding to a 50% decrease of CYP2C 11, CYP2E1, CYP3A2 and CYP1A2 activities were about 710, 780, 1030 and 1300 IU/l, respectively. In conclusion, when the serum AST value in CCl 4-treated rats reached about 4000 IU/l, the hepatic CYP activities were one-tenth or less of the control, although the degree of decrease of the CL tot values varied markedly. Nevertheless, the AST value appears to be a promising candidate for an indicator to predict appropriate dose modification of drugs for patients with acute hepatic failure.

Humic acids from oxidized coals: I. Elemental composition, titration curves, heavy metals in HA samples, nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of HAs and infrared spectroscopy

The formation of humic acids (HAs) from bituminous coal was verified by laboratory oxidation. In a relatively short time the oxidation by air at temperature above 150 °C led to the formation of HAs. These HAs were compared with those isolated from oxidized bituminous coal from the vicinity of red bed bodies, from weathered bituminous coal, oxihumolite and lignite. For this the organic and inorganic elemental composition of HAs, apparent dissociation constants, metal-binding capacities, nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectra were determined and evaluated. With increasing temperature of laboratory oxidation of bituminous coal the percentage of aromaticity of HAs increases. HAs prepared from coal oxidized at 150 °C are characterized by an aromaticity index 78% while for HAs prepared at 250 and 300 °C by 95% aromaticity. The same index for HAs isolated from naturally oxidized bituminous coals is of about 87% whereas it is of about 50% for oxihumolite and lignite. The apparent dissociation constants ( K app) are much higher in HAs isolated from oxihumolite and lignite (p K app from 3.35 to 3.80) than those from oxidized bituminous coal samples (p K app from 4.47 to 4.85). There is a good negative correlation between Pb-binding capacity and p K app of all samples suggesting that metallic ions are bonded to acidic groups of HAs. Also contents of inorganic elements like Fe, Al, Si are much higher in HAs isolated from lignite and oxihumolite than those in HAs from oxidized bituminous coal. Thus, it seems that the temperatures below 150 °C and the long oxidation time are necessary conditions for the formation of HAs in oxidative altered bituminous coal deposited deeply under the earth surface.

Characteristics of the seasonal variation of the surface total heating over the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding area in summer 1998 and its relationship with the convection over the subtropical area of the western Pacific

Using the dataset of 1998 TIPEX, the data of 6 automatic heat balance observational stations (AWS) from May to August 1998, a dataset of 52 surface observational stations over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) and its adjacent region, the daily rainfall amounts from about 300 stations in China, the outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data received by the National Satellite Meteorological Center(NSMC) of China, and TBB data from GMS remote sensing of Japan, the characteristics of the seasonal variation of the surface total heating over TP and its surrounding area in summer 1998 and its relationship with the convection over the subtropical area of the western Pacific is studied in this paper. The results show that the surface total heating over TP had a close relationship with the onset of the rainy season, and after the onset of the rainy season, the regional mean surface total heating over TP decreased distinctly. Furthermore, the regional mean surface total heating over TP had very good negative correlation with TBB over the subtropical area of the western Pacific along 20–30°N, which shows that the surface total heating over TP was able to affect the convection over the subtropical area of the western Pacific.

Contribution of dissolved sulfates and sulfites in hydrogen sulfide emission from stagnant water bodies in Sri Lanka

Accumulation of sulfur-containing compounds and their bacterial mediated reductions have led to the emission of pungent odors from stagnant water bodies. This study is focused on the contribution of inorganic sulfur compounds in the emission of hydrogen sulfide. The measured dissolved oxygen levels have demonstrated good negative correlations with the dissolved sulfide levels implying the oxygen deficiency is the key for the reduction of sulfate ion and sulfite ion to sulfide ion. Particularly, the dissolved molar fractions of sulfide from the total dissolved sulfur compounds (sulfates, sulfites and sulfides) have a very good correlation with the dissolved oxygen for the stagnant water bodies except the artificially aerated prawn farms. For the stagnant water bodies with significant correlations, linear regressions are reported for them to be utilized in estimating one component of the regression from the measurement of the other. The measured data were further utilized to estimate the levels of hydrogen sulfide gas. The pH of the water bodies has confined much of the dissolved sulfides in the form of bisulfide ion and they can be easily escaped to the atmosphere upon acidification due to industrial discharges and/or acidic precipitations. The estimated levels of hydrogen sulfide just above the water surface were plotted for the most polluted stagnant water body in Sri Lanka for the pH range of 5–10 and temperature range of 25–35 °C.

Use of thermodynamic indices as ecological indicators of the development state of lake ecosystems. 1. Entropy production indices

The effectiveness of Aoki's entropy production indices as ecological indicators of the trophic state is tested here under the changing hydrological conditions of Lake Trasimeno, a shallow freshwater lake in Italy. The analysis leads to a review of Aoki's indices and a definition of a new set of eutrophication indices ( c, d, d′) based on the entropy production per surface unit rather than volume unit, which seem to be good ecological indicators for the trophic state of lake ecosystems. The positive correlation between these indices and the trophic state of a small set of lakes suggests that they are able to take into account the influence of the biological productivity on the whole entropy production of the systems. Moreover, the indices d and d′ show a good negative linear correlation to the lake mean depth, showing the importance of this morphological parameter in the eutrophication process or succession in lakes. The values of the indices show that Lake Trasimeno exhibits a trophic state consistent with Carlson's TSI indices and with the results previously obtained by the application of Vollenweider's eutrophication model based on phosphorus loading and the Hillbrich–Ilkowska method, but less compliant with the Vollenweider–OECD classification criterion. The study emphasises the importance of a holistic thermodynamic approach in getting new insight into the fundamental mechanisms of the ecological succession of lake ecosystems.

Use of thermodynamic indices as ecological indicators of the development state of lake ecosystems: 2. Exergy and specific exergy indices

The effectiveness of exergy and specific exergy indices as ecological indicators of the trophic state of lake ecosystems is here tested on a small homogeneous set of shallow lakes which, in spite of their similar nutrient concentrations, morphology and hydrology, show a different trophic state and structure, species composition and abundance. The findings reveal that exergy and specific exergy indices have good negative correlation with phytoplankton biomass and Carlson's trophic state index (TSI) and strong positive correlation to water transparency (the relationship between exergy and eutrophication is clearer if the exergy refers to surface units, rather than volume units) and, hence, that they may be used as ecological indicators of the trophic state of lake ecosystems. The relationship between the responses of the thermodynamic approach and other conventional trophic classification methods (Vollenweider's eutrophication model based on phosphorus loading, the Hillbrich-Ilkowska method and the Vollenweider–OECD classification criterion) previously applied to Lake Trasimeno, was also investigated. The decreasing trend of exergy and specific exergy indices with eutrophication increase appears to be essentially due to the change in species composition and trophic structure, rather than to a different trophic potentiality of the ecosystems investigated. Concerning the identification of the environmental factors responsible for exergy and specific exergy trends, the coherence of the correlation structure between water depth, TSI, exergy and specific exergy indices, suggests that the lake's mean water depth plays a significant role in determining the changes in trophic structure and state (and consequently in exergetic indices) within the set of lakes examined and emphasises the importance of lake morphology in the development and ageing of lake ecosystems.

Reduced bone mineral density in Japanese premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with glucocorticoids

We evaluated bone mineral density (BMD) in Japanese female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and assessed the influence of the use of glucocorticoids. Lumbar BMD was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 60 premenopausal females who previously had been receiving glucocorticoid therapy. Therapeutic- and disease-related variables for SLE were analyzed and bone resorption or formation markers were measured. Osteoporosis was defined as a T-score below 2.5 SD by DXA; 12 patients (20%) showed osteoporosis, and 30 (50%) had osteopenia. Compared with the nonosteoporotic group (n = 48), the osteoporotic group (n = 12) had a significantly longer duration of glucocorticoid treatment (P = 0.01), a cumulative prednisolone dose (P = 0.002), and an SLE damage index (SLICC/ACR). There was no difference in the incidence of osteoporosis either with or without the previous use of methyl-prednisolone pulse or immunosuppressive drugs. There was a significant positive correlation between urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptides (NTx) and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) (r = 0.404, P = 0.002), but these bone metabolic markers showed no difference between the osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic groups. A good significant negative correlation was shown between BMD and the cumulative glucocorticoid dose (r = −0.351, P = 0.007). Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the cumulative glucocorticoid intake was independently associated with osteoporosis. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis was frequently observed in Japanese SLE patients, as in Caucasian populations. The cumulative glucocorticoid dose was associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis. Bone metabolic markers such as NTx and BAP were not influenced by glucocorticoid treatment and could not predict current osteoporosis in SLE patients.

Rare earth element fractionation in authigenic illite–smectite from Late Permian clastic rocks, Bowen Basin, Australia: implications for physico-chemical environments of fluids during illitization

REE analyses were performed on authigenic illitic clay minerals from Late Permian mudrocks, sandstones and bentonites from the Bowen Basin (Australia). The mixed-layer illite–smectite exhibit REE patterns with an obvious fractionation of the HREE from the LREE and MREE, which is an apparent function of degree of illitization reaction. The highly illitic ( R≥3) illite–smectite from the northern Bowen Basin show a depletion of LREE relative to the less illitic ( R=0 and 1) clays. In contrast, an enrichment of HREE for the illite-rich clays relative to less illitic clays is evident for the southern Bowen Basin samples. The North American Shale Composite-normalized (La/Lu) sn ratios show negative correlations with the illite content in illite–smectite and positive correlations with the δ 18O values of the clays for both the northern and southern Bowen Basin samples. These correlations indicate that the increasing depletion of LREE in hydrothermal fluids is a function of increasing water/rock ratios in the northern Bowen Basin. Good negative correlations between (La/Lu) sn ratios and illite content in illite–smectite from the southern Bowen Basin suggest the involvement of fluids with higher alkalinity and higher pH in low water/rock ratio conditions. Increasing HREE enrichment with δ 18O decrease indicates the effect of increasing temperature at low water/rock ratios in the southern Bowen Basin. Results of the present study confirm the conclusions of some earlier studies suggesting that REE in illitic clay minerals are mobile and fractionated during illitization and that this fact should be considered in studies of sedimentary processes and in identifying provenance. Moreover, our results show that REE systematic of illitic clay minerals can be applied as an useful technique to gain information about physico-chemical conditions during thermal and fluid flow events in certain sedimentary basins.

Geographical patterns of tree-limits of Norway spruce and Scots pine in the southern Swedish Scandes

The tree-limit altitudes of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) from 180 sites (within an area of 95 km × 165 km) in the southern Scandes were correlated with the geographical variables latitude, longitude and distance to the sea. The results were compared with a similar investigation of the tree-limit of mountain birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh. ssp. tortuosa (Ledeb.) Nyman) in the same area. The three tree-limit altitudes showed good negative correlation with latitude, poor correlation with longitude and good positive correlation with the distance to the sea, suggesting that on a regional scale the altitudes are controlled by macroclimate. At some sites, local topoclimatic features, some of which were partially aspect-dependent, may cause deviations in the regional pattern of tree-limit altitude that is set primarily by summer temperature. Tree-limit responses to potential future climate warming will probably differ substantially in magnitude from site to site in relation to local topography and associated ecological constraints.

Blood lead and its effect on Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe and hemoglobin levels of children

The levels of heavy metals, such as Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn and Fe, in whole blood samples of Mumbai and Hyderabad children have been determined. In the present study, 576 blood samples of children (3–6 years old) were collected during 1996–1998 and analyzed for heavy metal contents by anodic stripping voltammetry and atomic absorption spectrometry. The geometric mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in blood of Mumbai children were 8.0, 0.10, 86.5 and 398.9 μg dl −1, while those for Hyderabad children were 13.3, 0.13, 100.6 and 483.4 μg dl −1, respectively. The geometric mean concentrations of Fe in the blood of Mumbai and Hyderabad children were 21.9 and 34.5 mg dl −1, respectively. Of the Mumbai children, 61.8% were found to have a blood lead concentration less than 10 μg dl −1, while the corresponding proportion of Hyderabad children was 27.4%. Higher concentrations of Pb in the children's blood were observed at high traffic areas in both cities. A decreasing trend in the hemoglobin content with increasing blood lead levels was observed for Mumbai children. A good negative correlation (−0.61) between the blood lead and iron has been observed for Mumbai children The hemoglobin content of 85% of the study population was found to vary between 8 and 14 g%.

Testosterone Inhibits Spermatogonial Differentiation in Juvenile Spermatogonial Depletion Mice1

The juvenile spermatogonial depletion (jsd) mutation results in spermatogonial arrest after the first wave of spermatogenesis. In homozygous jsd mice in a hybrid background (C3HxB6) that were identified with microsatellite markers, the percentage of tubules showing differentiating germ cells [tubule differentiation index (TDI)] rapidly decreased after 7 weeks of age with a correlative increase in the intratesticular testosterone (ITT) levels. Treatment with a GnRH antagonist, Cetrorelix, suppressed ITT and stimulated spermatogonial differentiation at the end of treatment. When treated mice were killed 5-13.3 weeks after the end of treatment, the ITT progressively increased, and the TDI progressively declined, but there was a transient appearance of tubules with mature spermatids. To delineate the role of testosterone (T) in spermatogonial arrest, we gave 7.6-week-old jsd mice exogenous T and/or the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide with or without GnRH antagonist for 4 weeks. Flutamide alone moderately stimulated spermatogonial differentiation (TDI = 30%). GnRH antagonist increased the TDI to 73%, and the addition of flutamide to the GnRH antagonist treatment further increased it to 95%. When T was combined with GnRH antagonist treatment, ITT was increased, and the TDI was reduced to 7%. Addition of flutamide to this combination reversed the T inhibition of GnRH antagonist stimulation of spermatogonial differentiation to a TDI of 57%. ITT levels showed a good negative correlation to the TDI obtained with various treatments, but no such correlation was observed for FSH or LH levels. The results indicate that T inhibits the ability of spermatogonia to differentiate in jsd mice through an androgen receptor-mediated process.

The impact of human disturbance on vegetative carbon storage in forest ecosystems in China

Carbon (C) density (carbon mass per hectare) is a critical variable in determining the extent of the effect of human activity on ecosystems and our environment, because many ecological processes depend on the C cycle. Quantifying the human impact on C density of forest ecosystems is very important for reducing the uncertainties pertaining to C emission from terrestrial ecosystems. Using the volume-derived method, we have estimated the total vegetative C pool and density in the forest ecosystems for every province in China, and then analyzed the relationship between the C density and population density. In China, forest C storage was 3255.71 Tg, of which 59% was located in remote regions including Helongjiang, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Inner Mongolia Provinces. The area-weighed vegetative C density is 32 Mg/ha with a range of 5–75 Mg/ha on a provincial scale. A good negative correlation was found between the C densities and population densities at a significant level (carbon density=−9.84. In (population density)+75.13, r 2=0.64). It can be concluded that, apart from changes in land use, forest degradation also causes significant carbon release to the atmosphere, and that existing forest ecosystems can sequester a considerable amount of carbon if effective management systems are applied.

Effects of hyperprolactinemia on osteoporotic fracture in premenopausal women

The aim of the study was to evaluate the osteoporotic fracture risk in premenopausal women with hyperprolactinemia due to prolactinoma. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in 20 white ,premenopausal women with prolactinoma and in 60 healthy control white women ,using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) at the os calcis ,with an Achilles Lunar Plus device. We measured all three parameters of QUS: broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) ,speed of sound (SOS) and stiffness. BMD results were expressed also as T- and Z-scores. Age and body mass index (BMI) were not statistically significantly different between the two groups. Comparative analysis showed reduced values of QUS parameters in women with prolactinoma versus controls. Only the difference in SOS parameter was statistically significant between the two studied groups (p = 0.0001). The Z-score was significant lower in women with prolactinoma than in healthy women. These data reveal a significant bone loss in women with prolactinoma compared to controls.The SOS parameter showed a good negative correlation with age ,and all the QUS parameters were positively correlated with BMI. The relative risk for developing osteoporosis in women with prolactinoma was found to be 4.5 ,indicating that hyperprolactinemia in women is a major risk factor for osteoporosis.

Effects of hyperprolactinemia on osteoporotic fracture in premenopausal women

The aim of the study was to evaluate the osteoporotic fracture risk in premenopausal women with hyperprolactinemia due to prolactinoma. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in 20 white ,premenopausalwomen with prolactinoma and in 60 healthy control white women ,using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) at the os calcis ,with an Achilles Lunar Plus device. We measured all three parameters of QUS: broadbandultrasound attenuation (BUA) ,speed of sound (SOS) and stiffness. BMD results were expressed also as T- and Z-scores. Age and body mass index (BMI) were not statistically significantly different betweenthe two groups. Comparative analysis showed reduced values of QUS parameters in women with prolactinoma versus controls. Only the difference in SOS parameter was statistically significant between the twostudied groups (p = 0.0001). The Z-score was significant lower in women with prolactinoma than in healthy women. These data reveal a significant bone loss in women with prolactinoma compared to controls.TheSOS parameter showed a good negative correlation with age ,and all the QUS parameters were positively correlated with BMI. The relative risk for developing osteoporosis in women with prolactinoma was foundto be 4.5 ,indicating that hyperprolactinemia in women is a major risk factor for osteoporosis.

Fas-mediated apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with hepatitis C.

In the present study, we demonstrated that a close relationship exists between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and cell-surface Fas expression in patients with hepatitis C, and showed the possibility of PBMCs apoptosis via a Fas-mediated system. The expression of Fas on PBMCs was found by flowcytometric analysis to be significantly increased in these patients. In addition, the treatment of patients' PBMCs with anti-Fas antibody induced cell death, with nuclear condensation and fragmentation and cellular DNA fragmentation. These data indicate that the patients' PBMCs expressed a large amount of functional Fas on the cell surface and were susceptible to stimulation against Fas, causing apoptotic cell death. We then quantified the serum-soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), which was known to bind to Fas and induce the apoptotic signals into the sensitized cells. The patients' serum sFasL levels were significantly higher than those of normal subjects and showed a good negative correlation with their PBMC number. To demonstrate the correlation between Fas expression and HCV infection, nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect HCV RNA. Interestingly, HCV RNA was preferentially detected from Fas-positive cells but not from Fas-negative cells, which had been isolated from PBMCs by magnetic beads. These results suggest that HCV infection of PBMCs might induce Fas expression and additional stimulation such as sFasL might induce apoptosis in these Fas-expressing cells. These mechanisms, in addition to hypersplenism, may explain the decrease in the number of PBMCs observed in patients with chronic hepatitis C.