Comparison of cardiac troponin I levels in serum and sodium-citrate plasma using the ACCESS 2 immunoassay.

The aim of this study was to determine if sodium-citrate plasma is a suitable substitute for serum for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) measurement using the Beckman ACCESS 2 immunoassay. Linear regression analysis of cTnI levels in paired serum and sodium-citrate plasma samples from 80 patients provided a y-intercept of -0.0193 and a slope of 1.

Microglial stability and repopulation in the retina.

Background/aims: Parenchymal central nervous system microglia are repopulated by bone marrow derived monocytes more slowly than any other reticuloendothelial cells. The contribution of bone marrow derived monocytes to the uninflammed retina has not been studied. The present study sought to determine repopulation of retinal microglia in uniflammed retina by bone marrow derived monocytes in bone marrow chimeric rats.

The E protein is a multifunctional membrane protein of SARS-CoV.

The E (envelope) protein is the smallest structural protein in all coronaviruses and is the only viral structural protein in which no variation has been detected. We conducted genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of SARS-CoV. Based on genome sequencing, we predicted the E protein is a transmembrane (TM) protein characterized by a TM region with strong hydrophobicity and alpha-helix conformation.

Y-branch spot-size converter for a buried silica waveguide with large index difference.

Coupling loss occurs between a standard single-mode fiber and a silica waveguide when the difference between the refractive indices of the core and the cladding of the silica waveguide is high. We designed a Y-branch structure for use as a spot-size converter to reduce this coupling loss. The structure was tested with a three-dimensional beam-propagation method and was shown to exhibit a significantly reduced coupling loss, a low polarization-dependent loss, and a good tolerance of imprecision in fabrication.

Involvement of peripheral neuropeptide Y receptors in sympathetic modulation of acute cutaneous flare induced by intradermal capsaicin.

In a recent study, we have demonstrated that the dorsal root reflex (DRR)-mediated acute cutaneous neurogenic inflammation following intradermal injection of capsaicin (CAP) is sympathetically dependent and subject to modulation by peripheral alpha(1)-adrenoceptors. Postganglionic sympathetic neurons contain not only adrenergic neurotransmitters, but also non-adrenergic substances, including neuropeptide Y (NPY). In this study, we examined if peripheral NPY receptors participate in the flare following CAP injection.

Functional preference of the constituent amino acid residues in a phage-library-based nonphosphorylated inhibitor of the Grb2-SH2 domain.

A nonphosphorylated disulfide-bridged peptide, cyclo(Cys-Glu1-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Asn-Val-Gly-Met-Tyr9-Cys)-amide (termed G1) has been identified, by phage library, that binds to the Grb2-SH2 domain but not the src SH2 domain. Synthetic G1 blocks the Grb2-SH2 domain association (IC50 of 15.5 microM) with natural phosphopeptide ligands.

Brachial plexus catheter reservoir for the treatment of upper-extremity cancer pain: technical case report.

Objective And Importance: Infiltration of the brachial plexus with anesthetics can provide relief of upper-extremity pain from invasive cancer. Because the analgesia is short-lived, however, repeated invasive treatments are necessary. We describe the implantation of a catheter reservoir system, in which anesthetic injections through a subcutaneous port resulted in anesthetic infiltration of the brachial plexus.

Cutting edge: the HLA-A*0101-restricted HY minor histocompatibility antigen originates from DFFRY and contains a cysteinylated cysteine residue as identified by a novel mass spectrometric technique.

In this report, we describe the use of novel mass spectrometry instrumentation to identify a male-specific minor histocompatibility Ag restricted by HLA-A*0101 (A1-HY). This Ag has the sequence IVDC*LTEMY, where C* represents a cysteine disulfide bonded to a second cysteine residue. The core peptide sequence is found in the protein product of DFFRY, a Y chromosome gene not previously identified as the source of an HY Ag.

Novel configurations of the hammerhead ribozyme: increased activity and reduced magnesium ion requirement.

The hammerhead ribozyme is one of the smallest of known catalytic RNAs. Its structure and mechanism have been examined using a broad range of approaches. Recently, crystal structures of the hammerhead have been reported.

Erythropoietin induces activation of Stat5 through association with specific tyrosines on the receptor that are not required for a mitogenic response.

The cytoplasmic domain of the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) contains a membrane-distal region that is dispensable for mitogenesis but is required for the recruitment and tyrosine phosphorylation of a variety of signaling proteins. The membrane-proximal region of 96 amino acids is necessary and sufficient for mitogenesis as well as Jak2 activation, induction of c-fos, c-myc, cis, the T-cell receptor gamma locus (TCR-gamma), and c-pim-1. The studies presented here demonstrate that this region is also necessary and sufficient for the activation of Stat5A and Stat5B.

Sex determination in infants with ambiguous genitalia using the polymerase chain reaction of SRY gene.

It has long been known that testes arise only in the presence of a Y chromosome. The existence of a hypothetical gene, the testis-determining factor (TDF) on the Y chromosome, has therefore been postulated. SRY is the gene located in the sex-determining region of the human Y chromosome and has many of the properties expected for TDF.

Bulge defects in intramolecular pyrimidine.purine.pyrimidine DNA triplexes in solution.

We report below on NMR studies of single base bulges in intramolecular pyrimidine (Y.RY) DNA triplexes in aqueous solution at acidic pH. The structural studies were undertaken with the goal of elucidating the dependence of the bulge site conformation on the nature of the base (adenine or thymine) and the location of the defect site (Watson-Crick pyrimidine and purine strands and Hoogsteen pyrimidine strand).

Effects of yeast DNA topoisomerase III on telomere structure.

The yeast TOP3 gene, encoding DNA topoisomerase III, and EST1 gene, encoding a putative telomerase, are shown to be abutted head-to-head on chromosome XII, with the two initiation codons separated by 258 bp. This arrangement suggests that the two genes might share common upstream regulatory sequences and that their products might be functionally related. A comparison of isogenic pairs of yeast TOP3+ and delta top3 strains indicates that the G1-3T repetitive sequence tracks in delta top3 cells are significantly shortened, by about 150 bp.

Y-specific polymerase chain reaction for the interpretation of a chromosome marker.

Chromosome marker is a very special type of chromosomal aberration. In addition to their normal chromosomes, patients with this type of disease own one (or more) small, unrecognizable chromosome. The extra chromosome markers may originate from the products of breakage and translocation of other chromosomes.

Analysis of peripheral blood of pregnant women for the presence of fetal Y chromosome-specific ZFY gene deoxyribonucleic acid sequences.

Deoxyribonucleic acid sequences of human ZFY (zinc-finger-Y) gene, a Y-chromosome-specific gene and candidate for the testis-determining factor, has been identified by an in vitro enzymatic deoxyribonucleic acid amplification method in peripheral blood specimens of women pregnant with male fetuses. This technique permits detection of ZFY gene deoxyribonucleic acid sequences in as few as a single male cell among 1,000,000 female cells. Maternal blood results were confirmed by amplification of ZFY gene deoxyribonucleic acid sequences in chorionic villus cells and by karyotyping in 33 of 36 pregnant women.

Clinical observations and methods for identifying the existence of cultured epidermal allografts.

Thirty-two burned or plastic surgery patients were grafted with allogeneic cultured epidermis on autograft donor sites. Two techniques, the indirect enzyme conjugated Staphylococcus Protein A assay with monoclonal antibodies against A or B blood group antigens and the polymerase chain reaction to detect a Y chromosome-specific DNA sequence, were employed to identify the presence of cultured epidermal allograft based on different ABO blood grouping or sex between donor and recipient. The methods have the advantage of high sensitivity and specificity in identifying the existence of allogeneic skin cells in grafts.

Association of vertebral end plate fracture with pediatric lumbar intervertebral disk herniation: value of CT and MR imaging.

A retrospective review of the radiologic findings in 31 patients less than 21 years old who underwent laminotomy for lumbar disk herniation revealed six cases of associated avulsion fracture of the vertebral end plate, a prevalence of 19%. All fractures were found in the 14-17-year-old subgroup (six of 19), a prevalence of 32%. In four patients, plain radiographs did not reveal the fracture.

A study of sex identification of trace, dried bloodstains using a Y-chromosome-specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe.

A new method is discussed which examines trace, dried bloodstains by gel in situ hybridization using a Y-chromosome-specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe to determine the sex of the bloodstain for forensic medicine application. The complete DNA is transferred directly by electrophoresis onto the gel intact, bypassing the possibilities of impurities contaminating the sample and of DNA degradation. The method has proven accurate for small (2.

Characterization of two human cell lines (TK-10, TK-164) of renal cell cancer.

Two previously unreported cell lines of human renal cell carcinoma are presented. TK-10 and TK-164 have each been in culture for over 4 years. The epithelial nature of both cell lines has been documented by light and electron microscopy.

Practical value of a new serum digitoxin assay.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new fluorescence polarization immunoassay, TDx, for digitoxin by comparing the results of this assay with those of a radioimmunoassay (RIA). Thirty-three serum samples were obtained from 15 patients during, and for 4 weeks after, a 4-week course of digitoxin therapy. Each sample was separated by centrifugation, coded, and frozen until analysis.

Alterations in the time of X chromosome replication induced by 5-azacytidine in a patient with 48,XXXY/47,XXY.

It has recently been shown that 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) can induce altered replication patterns of the late-replicating X chromosome in normal female cells. This has been demonstrated by bromodeoxyuridine labelling of cells late in the S phase. In the present study the same method was applied to the lymphocytes of a Klinefelter patient (48,XXXY/47,XXY).

Familial supernumerary microchromosome mosaicism: phenotypic effects and an attempt at characterization.

A healthy normally intelligent man and his two daughters who had mild developmental delay and different malformations were determined to have an acrocentric supernumerary microchromosome (MC). The father and both daughters were noted to be mosaic for the MC, perhaps suggesting mitotic instability of the MC cell line with loss over time. The MC was negative staining on G-banding and showed absence of centromeric heterochromatin on C-banding.