Genetic analysis of punt, a type II Dpp receptor that functions throughout the Drosophila melanogaster life cycle.

TGF-beta (transforming growth factor-beta-) mediated signal transduction affects growth and patterning in a variety of organisms. Here we report a genetic characterization of the Drosophila punt gene that encodes a type II serine/threonine kinase TGF-beta/Dpp (Decapentaplegic) receptor. Although the punt gene was originally identified based on its requirement for embryonic dorsal closure, we have documented multiple periods of punt activity throughout the Drosophila life cycle.

Amino acid analogs activate NF-kappaB through redox-dependent IkappaB-alpha degradation by the proteasome without apparent IkappaB-alpha phosphorylation. Consequence on HIV-1 long terminal repeat activation.

We report here that amino acid analogs, which activate hsp70 promoter, are powerful transcriptional activators of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR), an activation which was impaired when the two kappaB sites present in the LTR were mutated or deleted. Amino acid analogs also stimulated the transcription of a kappaB-controlled reporter gene. Upon treatment with amino acid analogs, the two NF-kappaB subunits (p65 and p50), which are characterized by a relatively long half-life, redistributed into the nucleus where they bound to kappaB elements.

Serum-free culture of wool follicles: effects of nutrients, growth factors and hormones.

A serum-free culture system allowed the continued growth of fibre from follicles for 8-10 days. Fibre growth was responsive to changes in the level of calcium, glucose and amino acids in the culture medium, and was stimulated by the inclusion of insulin (10 micrograms/mL) in the medium. Culture of follicles in the presence of conditioned media from dermal papilla cells or of mitomycin-treated dermal papilla cells had no effect on fibre growth.

Identification and analysis of a novel member of the ubiquitin family expressed in dendritic cells and mature B cells.

Using a cDNA subtraction technique, a novel member of the ubiquitin family was isolated from human dendritic cells. This gene encodes a diubiquitin protein containing tandem head to tail ubiquitin-like domains, with the conservation of key functional residues. Expression of this 777-bp mRNA was restricted to dendritic cells and B cells, with strong expression in mature B cells.

Early ambulation following 6 French diagnostic left heart catheterization: a prospective randomized trial.

Outpatient cardiac catheterization is frequently performed, but the optimal recovery time after sheath removal has not been defined. Left heart catheterization was performed via the femoral artery utilizing 6 French catheters on 323 outpatients. One hundred thirty-five patients were randomized to ambulate at a mean of 2.

Use of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock: observations from the GUSTO-I Study. Global Utilization of Streptokinase and TPA for Occluded Coronary Arteries.

Objectives: We sought to examine the use, complications and outcomes with early intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) in patients presenting with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction and treated with thrombolytic therapy.

Background: The use of IABP in patients with cardiogenic shock is widely accepted; however, there is a paucity of information on the use of this technique in patients with cardiogenic shock who are treated with thrombolytic therapy.

Methods: Patients who presented within 6 h of chest pain onset were randomized to one of four thrombolytic regimens.

Revisiting reperfusion therapy in inferior myocardial infarction.

Although thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (MI) is recommended without regard for infarct location, treatment results are less impressive for inferior than for anterior MI because the amount of myocardium at risk is smaller and less strategically located, and the mortality risk is lower. Whereas the risks associated with anterior MI are relatively constant, high risk subsets of patients with an inferior MI can be identified by simple electrocardiographic criteria, including left precordial ST segment depression, complete atrioventricular heart block and right precordial ST segment elevation. Unfortunately, none of the placebo-controlled, randomized trials have analyzed the benefit of thrombolytic therapy for inferior MI in high risk versus low risk subsets.

Impact of an aggressive invasive catheterization and revascularization strategy on mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock in the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-I) trial. An observational study.

Background: Although retrospective analyses have revealed an association between survival and coronary angiography and angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock, the degree to which bias in the selection of patients to undergo these procedures contributes to this observation remains unclear.

Methods And Results: We studied 2200 patients in the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-I) trial with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg for > or = 1 hour) who survived > or = 1 hour after the onset of shock to determine the influence of an aggressive strategy of early angiography (within 24 hours of shock onset) and coronary angioplasty or bypass surgery, if appropriate, on survival. Revascularization was not protocol mandated but was selected by the attending physicians.

Clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of patients in whom congestive heart failure develops after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: development of a predictive model.

Ischemic heart disease is the most common cause of congestive heart failure, which often begins after acute myocardial infarction. To better delineate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients in whom congestive heart failure develops after acute myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era, we prospectively evaluated patients enrolled in six of the TAMI trials. The study cohort comprised 1619 consecutive patients who had at least 1 mm of ST-segment elevation in two contiguous electrocardiographic leads within 6 hours of the onset of acute myocardial infarction and who received intravenous thrombolytic therapy.

Thrombolysis plus aortic counterpulsation: improved survival in patients who present to community hospitals with cardiogenic shock.

Objectives: We sought to explore the potential benefit of combining intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) with thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by cardiogenic shock.

Background: In community hospitals, this condition is usually managed with thrombolysis alone.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 335 patients from two community hospitals who presented with acute MI and had cardiogenic shock between 1985 and 1995.

Is computer interpretation of the exercise electrocardiogram a reasonable surrogate for visual reading? Veterans Affairs ACME Investigators.

Background: Interpretation of exercise tests as positive or negative is primarily based upon exercise-induced ST segment changes. Consistently accurate measurements are difficult to obtain during exercise.

Hypothesis: This study compared on-line computer-generated electrocardiographic (ECG) analysis with visual interpretation.

Endoluminal stenting for unprotected left main stenosis in Takayasu's arteritis.

We describe 2 patients with Takayasu's arteritis and left main coronary stenosis who were considered poor candidates for surgical revascularization. Elective left main coronary artery balloon angioplasty followed by endoluminal stenting was performed with excellent results. At 3-mo follow-up, one patient had evidence of in-stent restenosis, but the other remained asymptomatic.

Coronary revascularization surgery after myocardial infarction: impact of bypass surgery on survival after thrombolysis. GUSTO Investigators. Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the impact of surgical revascularization on outcome after myocardial infarction.

Background: Small variations in rates of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) were noted among thrombolytic regimens in the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) trial, prompting the question of whether survival differences were partly related to differences in CABG rates.

Methods: Patients in the GUSTO trial were randomized to one of four thrombolytic strategies.

Inhibition of stimulus-induced endothelial cell intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, and vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 expression by arachidonic acid and its hydroxy and hydroperoxy derivatives.

Localized adhesion of peripheral blood leukocytes to the endothelial lining is essential for their exit from the blood under both physiological and pathological conditions. The establishment, development, and resolution of the inflammatory response is regulated by an array of mediators, many of which remain to be categorized. These include arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and its hydroperoxy (HPETE) and hydroxy (HETE) derivatives, which are released during inflammation.

Difference in countries' use of resources and clinical outcome for patients with cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction: results from the GUSTO trial.

Background: Use of aggressive and invasive interventions is more common in the USA than in other countries. We have compared use of resources for patients with cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction in the USA and in other countries, and assessed the association between use of resources and clinical outcomes.

Methods: We analysed data for patients with cardiogenic shock after myocardial infarction who were enrolled in the GUSTO-I trial (1891 treated in the USA, 1081 treated in other countries).

Clinical trial results with hirudin and bivalirudin for acute coronary artery syndromes.

Thrombin plays a key role in the pathophysiology of acute coronary artery syndromes. The "thrombin hypothesis" states that more complete and consistent thrombin inhibition may improve clinical outcomes in acute ischemic syndromes. The direct thrombin inhibitors hirudin and bivalirudin are potentially superior agents to heparin and have been tested in several clinical trials.

Connectionism and developmental psychology.

What features of brain processing and neural development support linguistic and cognitive development in young children? To what extent are the profile and timing of development in young children determined by a preordained genetic programme? Does the environment play a crucial role in determining the patterns of change observed in children growing up? These questions have been of central concern to developmental psychologists for well over a century. Yet none of them have received answers that are generally accepted by the profession. This article reviews some recent computational modelling of developmental change in children that promises to contribute to a deeper understanding of the issues behind these questions.

The hamstring index.

The purpose of this study was to assess the limits of hamstring tightness in 369 children by using three common tests. The straight leg-raise test averaged 100 degrees at birth, increasing to 110 degrees at age 1 year, before decreasing to 80 degrees by age 5-6 years. It then remained constant to skeletal maturity.

A continuing education program to retrain registered nurses for careers in client-focused community healthcare.

The purpose of the grant-funded program was to address educational needs arising from the changing role of registered nurses in the delivery of healthcare because of shifts occurring from acute hospital-based care to primary care community-based services. The grant contributed the financial resources necessary to provide administrative support, develop the curriculum and teach the content. Taught jointly by nurse educators and community-based practitioners, the program provided 99 hours of classroom/college laboratory instruction and 96 hours of community-based clinical experiences flexibly structured to meet the needs of working nurses.

Gender priming in Italian.

The goals of the present study were (1) to determine whether grammatical gender on a noun modifier can prime recognition of the following noun, (2) to determine whether the priming effect involves facilitation, inhibition, or both, and (3) to compare performance across three different tasks that vary in the degree to which explicit attention to gender is required, including word repetition, gender monitoring, and grammaticality judgment. Results showed a clear effect of gender priming, involving both facilitation and inhibition. Priming was observed whether or not the subjects' attention was directed to gender per se.

Longitudinal patterns of care for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder.

This study assessed patterns of mental health service use over time by patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - as compared with patients with schizophrenia and major depression - with emphasis on the persistence and episodic versus continuous nature of use. Data on utilization were extracted from Veterans Health Administration (VA) administrative data bases. Temporal patterns of use were categorized into intervals of inpatient, outpatient, and no use.

Prognostic significance of precordial ST segment depression during inferior myocardial infarction in the thrombolytic era: results in 16,521 patients.

Objectives: We examined the prognostic significance of precordial ST segment depression among patients with an acute inferior myocardial infarction.

Background: Although precordial ST segment depression has been associated with a poor prognosis, this correlation has not been adequately quantified, partly because of small sample sizes and methodologic limitations in previous studies.

Methods: We examined the clinical and angiographic outcomes of 16,521 patients with an acute inferior myocardial infarction who underwent thrombolysis in the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and t-PA for Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO-I) study.

Processing across the language boundary: a cross-modal priming study of Spanish-English bilinguals.

A cross-modal naming paradigm was used to assess within- and between-language sentential priming in Spanish-English bilinguals. The paradigm used single-language auditory texts with visual target words under normal, visually degraded, speeded, and delayed naming conditions. Cross-language priming was always observed when the target language was predictable (in the blocked condition), even under speeded conditions.