We report on the direct conversion of laser-cooled 41K and 87Rb atoms into ultracold 41K87Rb molecules in the rovibrational ground state via photoassociation followed by stimulated Raman adiabatic passage. High-resolution spectroscopy based on the coherent transfer revealed the hyperfine structure of weakly bound molecules in an unexplored region. Our results show that a rovibrationally pure sample of ultracold ground-state molecules is achieved via the all-optical association of laser-cooled atoms, opening possibilities to coherently manipulate a wide variety of molecules.

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To characterize thyroid hormone action on the ovary, the direct effects of T4 or T3 were investigated in vitro using a monolayer culture system of porcine granulosa cells. Monolayer cultures were maintained for 6 days in 4% serum-supplemented medium in the absence or presence of porcine FSH (20 ng/ml), with or without graded doses of T4 or T3. Combined treatment with FSH and T4 (10(-7) M) induced morphological alternation resembling epithelioid cells, while FSH alone or T4 alone failed to bring about the epithelioid morphology. Concomitant treatment with FSH and T4 (10(-7) M) markedly increased FSH-stimulated induction of [125I]iodo-human CG binding to cultured granulosa cells obtained from small follicles. The combined treatment with FSH and T4 (10(-7) M) also resulted in a significant increase in progesterone and estrogen secretion by the cultured cells relative to treatment with FSH alone. Increases in progesterone, 17 beta-estradiol, and estrone secretion caused by the combined treatment with FSH and T4 (10(-7) M) were further augmented in response to the addition of exogenously provided substrate pregnenolone, testosterone, and androstenedione, respectively. Furthermore, aromatase activity assessed by the release of [3H]water from [1 beta-3H, 4-14C]androstenedione was significantly higher in cells treated concomitantly with FSH and T4 (10(-7) M) than that in cells treated with FSH alone. All the stimulatory effects of T4 (10(-7) M) on the morphological and functional differentiation of cultured granulosa cells were also found in combined treatment with FSH and T3 (10(-9) M). Either treatment with higher or lower concentrations of T4 or T3 gave attenuated effects, and T4 or T3 alone without FSH was incapable of exhibiting these stimulatory effects. These findings suggest that thyroid hormones synergize with FSH to exert direct stimulatory effects on granulosa cell functions, including morphological differentiation, LH/human CG receptor formation and steroidogenic enzyme (3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and aromatase) induction. Hence, decreases in ovarian functions during the states of hypo- or hyperthyroidism may account for diminished responsiveness of the granulosa cells to FSH.

Background and Purpose: Stroke risk factors differ depending on the subtype of stroke; moreover, the distribution of risks is different among countries and races. Methods: Mass health screening data were collected from the Akita Prefectural Federation of Agricultural Cooperative for Health and Welfare from 1991 to 1998. Cerebrovascular events were determined from the Akita stroke registry from 1991 to 2001. Then, clinical risk factors for stroke, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus, were assessed in the different subtypes of stroke. Results: A total of 156,892 persons were included in this study (76,330 men and 80,562 women), and 1,323 subjects had a stroke during the 3 years of the screening period. The distribution of subtypes such as cerebral hemorrhage (CH), cerebral infarction (CI) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was 27.3, 55.9 and 16.8%, respectively. Mean age and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPs) were significantly higher in stroke cases. CH and CI occurred more frequently in men, whereas SAH occurred more frequently in women. Serum total cholesterol (TC) <160 mg/dl was a risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke (CH and SAH), whereas TC >280 mg/dl increased the risk of CI. A multivariable analysis revealed that the lower TC level (<160 mg/dl) and the higher BP increased the relative risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Conclusions: BP was the strongest risk factor for any subtype of stroke. High BP and low TC (<160 mg/dl) were critical risks of hemorrhagic stroke.