Alcohol use disorder-associated structural and functional characteristics of the insula.

Based on our current understanding of insular regions, effects of chronic alcohol use on the insula may affect the integration of sensory-motor, socio-emotional, and cognitive function. There is no comprehensive understanding about these differences in individuals with alcohol use disorder that accounts for both structural and functional differences related to chronic alcohol use. The purpose of this study was to investigate these variations in both the anterior and posterior insula in persons with alcohol use disorder.

Severity of alcohol use disorder influences sex differences in sleep, mood, and brain functional connectivity impairments.

Growing evidence suggests greater vulnerability of women than men to the adverse effects of alcohol on mood and sleep. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here, we examined sex difference in resting state functional connectivity in alcohol use disorder using a whole-brain data driven approach and tested for relationships with mood and self-reported sleep.

Capillary DNA sequencing: maximizing the sequence output.

Like most other DNA sequencing core facilities, one of our continuing goals is to improve our sequence output without substantially adding to cost. To minimize sample-to-sample variability in template DNA concentration, we implemented the rolling circle amplification (RCA) procedure for preparing our DNA templates. In addition to saving time and reducing the number of steps in template DNA preparation, the RCA method has the potential to normalize the DNA concentration in samples that can be sequenced directly without additional purification.

Phase II study of gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in patients with pancreatic cancer.

The primary goal of this phase II study was to determine the efficacy of gemcitabine (Gemzar; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN) plus 5-fluorouracil in patients with pancreatic cancer. Eligibility criteria included nonresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and measurable disease. Gemcitabine at 1,000 mg/m(2) and leucovorin at 20 mg/m(2) were administered intravenously 30 minutes before 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2), weekly for 3 of every 4 weeks.

Morphological and molecular evidence that Culex nigripalpus baculovirus is an unusual member of the family Baculoviridae.

We present evidence that a newly discovered mosquito virus from Culex nigripalpus is an unusual member of the family BACULOVIRIDAE: Development of this virus was restricted to nuclei of midgut epithelial cells in the gastric caeca and posterior stomach. The globular occlusion bodies were not enveloped, measured around 400 nm in diameter, occurred exclusively in nuclei of infected cells and typically contained four, sometimes up to eight, virions. The developmental sequence involved two virion phenotypes: an occluded form (ODV) that initiated infection in the midgut epithelial cells, and a budded form that spread the infection in the midgut.

Sequences of Citrus tristeza virus separated in time and space are essentially identical.

The first Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) genomes completely sequenced (19.3-kb positive-sense RNA), from four biologically distinct isolates, are unexpectedly divergent in nucleotide sequence (up to 60% divergence). Understanding of whether these large sequence differences resulted from recent evolution is important for the design of disease management strategies, particularly the use of genetically engineered mild (essentially symptomless)-strain cross protection and RNA-mediated transgenic resistance.

Systematic analysis of xanthomonads (Xanthomonas spp.) associated with pepper and tomato lesions.

The taxonomy and evolutionary relationships among members of the genus Xanthomonas associated with tomato and pepper have been a matter of considerable controversy since their original description in 1921. These bacteria, which are a major affliction of tomato and pepper crops in warm and humid regions, were originally described as a single species, but subsequent research has shown the existence of at least two genetic groups differentiated by physiological, biochemical and pathological characteristics. This work synthesizes the findings from several approaches, including pathogenicity tests, enzymic activity, restriction fragment analysis of the entire genome, DNA-DNA hybridization and RNA sequence comparisons based on a 2097 base sequence comprising the 16S rRNA gene, the intergenic spacer located between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes and a small region of the 23S rRNA gene.

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa flagellar cap protein, FliD, is responsible for mucin adhesion.

Mucin-specific adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa plays an important role in the initial colonization of this organism in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients. We report here that the flagellar cap protein, FliD, participates in this adhesion process. A polar chromosomal insertional mutation in the P.

A transcriptional activator, FleQ, regulates mucin adhesion and flagellar gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a cascade manner.

Previous work has demonstrated that fleR, the gene for a transcriptional activator belonging to the NtrC subfamily of response regulators, is involved in the regulation of mucin adhesion and flagellar expression by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This report describes the identification and characterization of fleQ, the gene for another transcriptional regulator which also regulates mucin adhesion and motility in this organism. The complete nucleotide sequence of the fleQ gene was determined on both DNA strands, and an open reading frame (ORF) consisting of 1,493 nucleotides was identified.

Porphyromonas gingivalis genes isolated by screening for epithelial cell attachment.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is associated with chronic and severe periodontitis in adults. P. gingivalis and the other periodontal pathogens colonize and interact with gingival epithelial cells, but the genes and molecular mechanisms involved are unknown.

Cloning and characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa fliF, necessary for flagellar assembly and bacterial adherence to mucin.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa adheres to the mucosal surfaces of the lungs. This process appears to be mediated by nonpilus adhesins which bind to mucin. To find this nonpilus adhesin(s), mutagenesis of a nonpiliated mutant of P.

Cloning and phenotypic characterization of fleS and fleR, new response regulators of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which regulate motility and adhesion to mucin.

This work has identified two genes (designated fleS and fleR) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa which are highly homologous to members of the subclass of two-component systems involved in transcriptional regulation of a diverse array of genes from sigma 54 promoters. The genes are located upstream from fliE, a flagellar gene of P. aeruginosa, and they are arranged in a putative fleSR operon.

Partial sequencing and mapping of clones from two maize cDNA libraries.

As one component of a maize genome project, we report the analysis of a number of randomly selected cDNAs, by a combination of measuring mRNA expression, 'single-pass' sequencing (SPS), and genome mapping. Etiolated seedling (490) and membrane-free polysomal endosperm cDNA clones (576) were evaluated for their transcription levels by hybridizing with a probe prepared from total mRNA and categorized as corresponding to abundantly or rarely expressed mRNAs and as either constitutive or tissue-specific. A total 313 clones from the two libraries were submitted to 'single-pass' sequencing from the presumed 5' end of the mRNA and the nucleotide sequence compared with the GenBank database.

Analysis of expressed sequence tags from Plasmodium falciparum.

An initiative was undertaken to sequence all genes of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum in an effort to gain a better understanding at the molecular level of the parasite that inflicts much suffering in the developing world. 550 random complimentary DNA clones were partially sequenced from the intraerythrocytic form of the parasite as one of the approaches to analyze the transcribed sequences of its genome. The sequences, after editing, generated 389 expressed sequence tag sites and over 105 kb of DNA sequences.

Gene sequence tags from Plasmodium falciparum genomic DNA fragments prepared by the "genease" activity of mung bean nuclease.

A genes-first approach to genome sequencing is described which efficiently generates gene sequence tags from genomic DNA. Mung bean nuclease (EC 3.1.

Degradation of insulin and insulin-like growth factors by enzyme purified from human erythrocytes. Comparison of degradation products observed with A14- and B26-[125I]monoiodoinsulin.

An insulin-degrading enzyme has been purified from human erythrocytes. This enzyme degraded 125I-labeled insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) more slowly than 125I-IGF-II and degraded IGF-II more slowly than 125I-insulin. The time course of 125I-insulin degradation suggested the presence of intermediates, each of which was itself shown to be a substrate for the enzyme.

Effects of insulin and streptozotocin-diabetes on isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP production in myocytes isolated from rat heart.

Isoproterenol (ISO), at concentrations of up to 10(-5) mol/L, caused a dose-dependent stimulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) production in rat cardiomyocytes. At higher ISO concentrations, relative inhibition was seen. Insulin augmented ISO-stimulated cAMP production and appeared to mitigate the toxic effects of high ISO concentrations.

Inhibition of insulin-stimulated glucose transport by factor extracted from serum of insulin-resistant patient.

We report a 31-yr-old nondiabetic male patient with acanthosis nigricans whose hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance could not be explained by anti-receptor antibodies or by an intrinsic defect of insulin binding to his cells. An acid-alcohol extract of the patient's serum contained a factor that inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose transport in rat adipocytes. Low levels of the factor could be detected in 9 of 13 unselected patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Undergraduate teaching of oncology in Argentina.

Cancer is a public health problem in Argentina, and the role of the country's physicians in the fight against this disease is very important. Whether they are general physicians or specialists, including clinical oncologists, they must have basic knowledge and permanent updating in oncology. Unfortunately, the teaching of oncology is deficient in this country, the deficiencies being already noticeable at the undergraduate level where the teaching is incomplete and dispersed.

Insulin binding and glucose transport activity in cardiomyocytes of a diabetic rat.

We studied insulin binding and glucose transport in isolated adult cardiomyocytes from rats with 2-wk streptozotocin-induced diabetes. At 37 degrees C, cells from diabetic rats bound less 125I-insulin and exhibited lower rates of 3-O-methylglucose transport than cells from control rats. In contrast, the amount of 125I-insulin bound to myocytes at 4 degrees C was the same in both groups.

The fate of insulin in rat hepatocytes. Evidence for the release of an immunologically active fragment.

We have investigated the fate of 125I-insulin after binding by rat hepatocytes. Approximately 30% of the bound radioactivity dissociated from the cells as intact 125I-insulin; approximately 56% dissociated as 125I- and 125I-Tyr. The remaining radioactivity was recovered as peptides that we postulate are intermediate products of insulin metabolism.

Inhibition of insulin degradation by insulin-like growth factors.

The effect of insulin-like growth factors (IGF 1 and IGF 2) on insulin degradation was studied with the use of a preparation of insulin protease from rat skeletal muscle. Insulin, IGF 1 and IGF 2 inhibited 125I-insulin degradation by this enzyme. IGF 2 was the most potent inhibitor and IGF 1 was the least potent.

Resistance to subcutaneous and intramuscular insulin associated with deficiency of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 2.

A diabetic patient is described whose serum was deficient in IGF 2. The patient responded appropriately to intravenous insulin but was resistant to subcutaneous and intramuscular insulin. His serum degraded insulin in vitro.