University of Alabama

About: University of Alabama is a education organization based out in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 27323 authors who have published 48609 publications receiving 1565337 citations. The organization is also known as: Alabama & Bama.

Early production of intracellular IgM by B-lymphocyte precursors in mouse.

Abstract: IN BALB/c mice, surface immunoglobulin (Ig)-bearing B lymphocytes are first detectable by immunofluorescence at 17 d gestation in the liver and spleen1. Explants of 14-d foetal liver1 and spleen2, and 15-d bone marrow (our unpublished observations), have been shown to generate Ig-bearing B cells in vitro after 4–7 d of culture, suggesting that B lymphocytes normally develop multifocally in the haemopoietic tissues of mice. We have used direct immunofluorescence to demonstrate cells with intracellular IgM and no detectable surface Ig in mouse foetal liver as early as 12 d gestation. Our results suggest that B lymphocyte precursors synthesise IgM several days before they incorporate these molecules into their plasma membranes as cell-surface receptors for antigen.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Abstract: malignant pleural mesothelioma is a relatively uncommon disease associated with asbestos exposure. its incidence increased markedly following the widespread mining and use of asbestos in many industries. the legal aspects regarding compensation cases for those who have developed this disease has raised its profile in the media, but also compounds the stress of diagnosis for patients. it has an insidious onset and may clinically and pathologically mimic other benign or malignant processes, complicating diagnosis. radical surgery may be used for a highly selected population of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients in the context of multimodality treatment in an experienced thoracic surgical centre, but there is no randomised evidence to support its benefit. in most cases surgery is used to treat symptoms or obtain tissue for diagnosis. Combination of a platinum agent and pemetrexed is now widely used and shown to prolong life. other treatments including radiotherapy, analgesics and supportive interventions are an integral part of the treatment of this disease. Further research is being undertaken on promising novel therapies for use in this disease, which will be discussed in this review. malignant pleural mesothelioma (mpm) is a neoplasm originating from mesothelial cells, which form the membranes surrounding the lung cavities. it is currently a disease mainly of the industrialised world, closely linked to asbestos exposure.1 seldom diagnosed prior to the advent of widespread asbestos mining in the early to mid twentieth century, it has risen in incidence over the last five decades.2, 3 according to the most recent australian institute of health and Welfare data, in 2009 there were 666 cases of malignant mesothelioma diagnosed in australia.4 this review will provide a brief overview of the diagnosis, current treatment modalities and some novel systemic treatment strategies that have been explored in mpm. Asbestos and malignant mesothelioma mpm is a disease with particular relevance to australia. Asbestos was first mined in Australia in the 1880s near Jones Creek, a town in nsW.5 it was not until the late 1940s when the insulating properties of asbestos rendered it a useful product in the building industry during the post war building boom, and subsequent demand for asbestos saw mining production rise exponentially in mines in nsW, tasmania, south australia and Western australia.5 there has also been widespread exposure within the building and transport industries in which asbestos was broadly utilised.6 Asbestos mining ended in Australia in 1983, and it is expected that malignant mesothelioma related to occupational exposure will plateau in the coming decade. in a Western Australian study, however, a significant increase was noted in the number of people being diagnosed with malignant meosthelioma whose only exposure to asbestos must have occurred in a non-occupational setting (most likely during home maintenance and renovation). Between 2005 and 2008, 8% of males and 5% of females diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in this series reported non-occupational exposure as their only exposure to asbestos.6 these observations ask for confirmation in a case-controlled epidemiological study.

Experimental investigation of geologically produced antineutrinos with KamLAND

Abstract: The detection of electron antineutrinos produced by natural radioactivity in the Earth could yield important geophysical information. The Kamioka liquid scintillator antineutrino detector (KamLAND) has the sensitivity to detect electron antineutrinos produced by the decay of ^(238)U and ^(232)Th within the Earth. Earth composition models suggest that the radiogenic power from these isotope decays is 16 TW, approximately half of the total measured heat dissipation rate from the Earth. Here we present results from a search for geoneutrinos with KamLAND. Assuming a Th/U mass concentration ratio of 3.9, the 90 per cent confidence interval for the total number of geoneutrinos detected is 4.5 to 54.2. This result is consistent with the central value of 19 predicted by geophysical models. Although our present data have limited statistical power, they nevertheless provide by direct means an upper limit (60 TW) for the radiogenic power of U and Th in the Earth, a quantity that is currently poorly constrained.

The Biochemistry of Chromium

Abstract: Chromium has been known to be a micronutrient for mammals for four decades, but progress in elucidating the role of chromium has proceeded slowly. However, recent studies have shed light on a potential role of chromium in maintaining proper carbohydrate and lipid metabolism at a molecular level. The oligopeptide chromodulin binds chromic ions in response to an insulin-mediated chromic ion flux, and the metal-saturated oligopeptide can bind to an insulin-stimulated insulin receptor, activating the receptor's tyrosine kinase activity. Thus, chromodulin appears to play a role in an autoamplification mechanism in insulin signaling. The molecular agent responsible for transporting chromium from mobile pools to insulin-sensitive cells is probably the metal transport protein transferrin. Chromium from the popular dietary supplement chromium picolinate enters cells via a different mechanism. Release of chromium from chromium picolinate for use in cells requires reduction of the chromic center, a process that can lead potentially to the production of harmful hydroxyl radicals.