Galaxy formation and evolution

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Phenylalanine is converted to para- and ortho-tyrosine by hydroxyl free radical, or to para-tyrosine by the phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme. The aim of this study was to measure para- and ortho-tyrosine in the urine and plasma of patients with chronic renal disease and/or diabetes, to obtain information on the renal handling of the different tyrosine isomers and, furthermore, to measure urinary levels of 8-epi-prostaglandin-F(2alpha), a marker of lipid peroxidation. METHODS: In our cross-sectional study we measured para-, ortho-tyrosine, and phenylalanine levels, using high performance liquid chromatography and 8-epi-prostaglandin-F(2alpha) with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We compared 4 groups: (1) controls (CONTR, N = 14), (2) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD, N = 12), (3) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DIAB, N = 17), (4) patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes (DIAB-CKD, N = 19). RESULTS: We found a decreased plasma para-tyrosine level and decreased urinary para-tyrosine excretion in CKD patients, while the fractional excretion of para-tyrosine was similar in all 4 groups, approximately 1%. There was no difference in the plasma ortho-tyrosine levels between the groups. However, urinary ortho-tyrosine excretion was higher in all 3 groups of patients than in the CONTR group, and higher in DIAB and in DIAB-CKD patients than in CKD patients. The fractional excretion of ortho-tyrosine was significantly higher in DIAB and in DIAB-CKD patients than in the CONTR group. The fractional excretion of ortho-tyrosine exceeded 100% in the 2 diabetic groups. Urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin-F(2alpha)/creatinine ratio did not correlate with urinary ortho-tyrosine excretion. CONCLUSION: The difference between para-tyrosine levels of the groups is probably due to renal impairment, while there is indirect evidence for an increased tubular secretion or production of ortho-tyrosine in the kidney in diabetic patients with or without CKD.

Abstract:

Molecular clouds (MCs) are highly structured and ``turbulent''. Colliding gas streams of atomic hydrogen have been suggested as a possible source of MCs, imprinting the filamentary structure as a consequence of dynamical and thermal instabilities. We present a 2D numerical analysis of MC formation via converging HI flows. Even with modest flow speeds and completely uniform inflows, non-linear density perturbations as possible precursors of MCs arise. Thus, we suggest that MCs are inevitably formed with substantial structure, e.g., strong density and velocity fluctuations, which provide the initial conditions for subsequent gravitational collapse and star formation in a variety of galactic and extragalactic environments.