Development and characterization of fluorescently-labeled myosin light chain kinase calmodulin-binding domain peptides.

Calmodulin-dependent protein kinases such as myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), calmodulin kinase II, and phosphorylase kinase contain specific sequences responsible for binding calmodulin. These regions are known as calmodulin-binding domains and in many cases are contained within sequences that are short enough to be synthesized by solid-phase techniques. The ability to chemically-synthesize target enzyme calmodulin-binding domains has permitted the use of a variety of biophysical techniques to study the interactions between calmodulin and calmodulin-binding domain peptides.

A rare inherited euchromatic heteromorphism on chromosome 1.

Extra genetic material that is euchromatic is generally regarded to be associated with phenotypic abnormalities. However, recent studies suggest that this is not always the case. Chromosome analysis was performed on amniotic fluid cells from a 37-year-old phenotypically normal patient referred for advanced maternal age.

Identification of a cDNA for a human high-molecular-weight B-cell growth factor.

Proliferation is necessary for many of the phenotypic changes that occur during B-cell maturation. Further differentiation of mature B cells into plasma cells or memory B cells requires additional rounds of proliferation. In this manuscript, we describe a cDNA for a human B-cell growth factor we call high-molecular-weight B-cell growth factor (HMW-BCGF).

Childhood meningioma associated with meningio-angiomatosis. Case report.

This paper reports childhood meningioma in association with meningioangiomatosis. The patient was an 11-month-old baby boy who presented with a left focal seizure. He had no stigmata of neurofibromatosis.

Physician payment reform: past and future.

Medicare's decision to compensate physicians using a fee schedule based on the relative value of their services was an attempt to rationalize fee-for-service payment of physicians. Reformers hoped also to control the costs of care, improve its quality, and protect access to health services among Medicare beneficiaries. A close examination of the system's provisions indicates, however, that the reform does not address many fundamental problems that have plagued physician payment under Medicare in the past.

A proposal to provide care to the uninsured through a network of community health centers.

While a national health insurance plan is needed, this alone will not provide access for approximately 30 million persons who face geographic, cultural, language, or health care system barriers, or who live in areas with provider shortages. These barriers often coexist with lack of insurance coverage, but they also affect millions who have public, or even private, coverage. Moreover, large segments of this population suffer from health problems not adequately addressed by the traditional medical model: teenage pregnancy, AIDS, injury, substance abuse, and the like.

Academic-industry relationships in the life sciences. Extent, consequences, and management.

Academic-industry relationships in the life sciences remain controversial. The available evidence suggests that such relationships have both benefits and risks for involved parties. Benefits include additional support of academic research, income for academic health centers, the potential for increased scientific and commercial productivity in both industries and universities, and enhancement of the educational experiences of students and fellows.

Metabolism of glucurolactone to glucarate in Parkinson's disease.

The metabolism of oral glucurolactone to serum D-glucarate by the hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme system was no different in 20 untreated Parkinson's disease (PD) patients as compared with 20 age- and sex-matched controls. There was no evidence for a deficit in hepatic enzymes in PD.

Cancer screening intervention among black women in inner-city Atlanta--design of a study.

This experimental study attempts to determine if an in-home educational intervention conducted by lay health workers (LHWs) can increase adherence among low-income, inner-city black women to schedules for screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer, as well as increase the women's knowledge and change their attitudes regarding these cancers. This paper is a description of the purposes, hypotheses, design, subject recruitment, intervention, and evaluation of the study conducted by Morehouse School of Medicine. Subjects were recruited from a variety of sources, including patients seen in a community health center, women referred by the National Black Women's Health Project (NBWHP), residents of public and senior citizen housing projects, and persons identified in various community settings.

Factors affecting the availability and use of hemodialysis facilities.

This article describes factors related to the geographic distribution of hemodialysis facilities and the relationship between availability and use. Such facilities tend to be concentrated in the same types of areas as other medical resources, and the number of medical specialists in an area is related to the rate of treatment for renal diseases. The proportion of treatment stations in an area owned by for-profit organizations is not related to the total treatment rate, but the market share of for-profit facilities is positively related to in-center treatment and negatively related to home treatment.

Evidence for domain organization within the 61-kDa calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from bovine brain.

The complete amino acid sequence of the 61-kDa calmodulin-dependent, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CaM-PDE) from bovine brain has been determined. The native protein is a homodimer of N alpha-acetylated, 529-residue polypeptide chains, each of which has a calculated molecular weight of 60,755. The structural organization of this CaM-PDE has been investigated with use of limited proteolysis and synthetic peptide analogues.