T cell-independent interleukin 15Ralpha signals are required for bystander proliferation.

Cytokine driven or "bystander" proliferation of T cells occurs in vivo independently of major histocompatibility complex-T cell receptor interactions. This process may be important for supporting T cell homeostasis and facilitating T cell responses to microbial antigens, and may involve the cytokine interleukin (IL)-15. In this study, we find that IL-15Ralpha-deficient (IL-15Ralpha(-/-)) mice fail to undergo poly I:C or IL-15 driven bystander proliferation of CD8(+) T cells.

Short-chain fatty acids induce intestinal epithelial heat shock protein 25 expression in rats and IEC 18 cells.

Background & Aims: Because short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and heat shock proteins (hsps) confer protection to intestinal epithelia cells (IECs), we studied whether SCFAs modulate IEC hsp expression.

Methods: Hsp 25, hsp72, and hsc73 protein expression in rat intestinal tissues and IEC-18 cells were determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Cell survival under conditions of oxidant stress (monochloramine) was determined using (51)Cr release in hsp25 cDNA anti-sense and sense-transfected cells expressing minimal and increased hsp25, respectively.

State-of-the-art research in lower-limb prosthetic biomechanics-socket interface: a review.

Scientific studies have been conducted to quantify attributes that may be important in the creation of more functional and comfortable lower-limb prostheses. The prosthesis socket, a human-machine interface, has to be designed properly to achieve satisfactory load transmission, stability, and efficient control for mobility. The biomechanical understanding of the interaction between prosthetic socket and the residual limb is fundamental to such goals.

Pathway of propionate oxidation by a syntrophic culture of Smithella propionica and Methanospirillum hungatei.

The pathway of propionate conversion in a syntrophic coculture of Smithella propionica and Methanospirillum hungatei JF1 was investigated by (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. Cocultures produced acetate and butyrate from propionate. [3-(13)C]propionate was converted to [2-(13)C]acetate, with no [1-(13)C]acetate formed.

Failure to regulate TNF-induced NF-kappaB and cell death responses in A20-deficient mice.

A20 is a cytoplasmic zinc finger protein that inhibits nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated programmed cell death (PCD). TNF dramatically increases A20 messenger RNA expression in all tissues. Mice deficient for A20 develop severe inflammation and cachexia, are hypersensitive to both lipopolysaccharide and TNF, and die prematurely.

Custom design in lower limb prosthetics for athletic activity.

In summary, the prosthetist is the best source of information with regard to the fast-changing lower extremity prosthetics technology for sports. The needs and desires of the amputee should be outlined and balanced with the cost of the desired components and design. In many cases, one carefully designed prosthesis can serve in dual roles for everyday ambulation and certain athletic activities.

Step activity monitor: long-term, continuous recording of ambulatory function.

In many areas of research and medicine, objective data describing an individual's ambulatory function are sought as useful indicators of that person's condition. Normally, detailed measurements are taken over short periods of time within a controlled laboratory setting. To complement this approach, Prosthetics Research Study has developed a small, unobtrusive instrument that continuously records a simple measure--step counts per unit time--as an individual goes about normal daily life.

Issues of importance reported by persons with lower limb amputations and prostheses.

The purpose of this paper is to report prosthesis-related issues of importance that were identified by a diverse group of persons living with lower limb amputations (LLA) and prostheses. These perceptions and themes validate some old assumptions and challenge others, report both common and unusual experiences, and indirectly identify the information level of our respondents concerning prostheses. Persons with LLA were identified from computerized rosters at a level one regional trauma center and at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System-Seattle, Division.

The surface density of glial fibrillary acidic protein immunopositive astrocytic processes in the rat supraoptic nucleus is reversibly altered by dehydration and rehydration.

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) have provided evidence that retraction and extension of astrocytic processes from between magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) likely plays a role in the release of oxytocin, and/or vasopressin, that accompanies parturition, lactation and dehydration. The present study estimates the surface density (Sv) of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity, predominantly in astrocytic processes, in the SON of normally hydrated, dehydrated and rehydrated rats. The Sv of GFAP processes in dehydrated rats was significantly reduced compared with control levels.

Characterization of the anaerobic propionate-degrading syntrophs Smithella propionica gen. nov., sp. nov. and Syntrophobacter wolinii.

A strain of anaerobic, syntrophic, propionate-oxidizing bacteria, strain LYPT (= OCM 661T; T = type strain), was isolated and proposed as representative of a new genus and new species, Smithella propionica gen. nov., sp.

Phantom limb, residual limb, and back pain after lower extremity amputations.

This study describes the sensations and pain reported by persons with unilateral lower extremity amputations. Participants (n = 92) were recruited from two hospitals to complete the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire which included questions about amputation related sensations and pain. Using a visual analog scale, participants reported the frequency, intensity, and bothersomeness of phantom limb, residual limb, and back pain and nonpainful phantom limb sensations.

Reclassification of Methanogenium tationis and Methanogenium liminatans as Methanofollis tationis gen. nov., comb. nov. and Methanofollis liminatans comb. nov. and description of a new strain of Methanofollis liminatans.

Sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and phylogenetic analysis of Methanogenium tationis DSM 2702T (OCM 43T) (T = type strain) and Methanogenium liminatans GKZPZT (= DSM 4140T) as well as other members of the family Methanomicrobiaceae revealed that both species belong to a separate line of descent within this family. In addition, a new strain of Methanogenium liminatans, strain BM1 (= DSM 10196), was isolated from a butyrate-degrading, fluidized bed reactor and characterized. Cells of both species are mesophilic, highly irregular cocci that use H2/CO2 and formate for growth and methanogenesis.

Microbial Transport, Survival, and Succession in a Sequence of Buried Sediments.

Abstract Two chronosequences of unsaturated, buried loess sediments, ranging in age from <10,000 years to >1 million years, were investigated to reconstruct patterns of microbial ecological succession that have occurred since sediment burial. The relative importance of microbial transport and survival to succession was inferred from sediment ages, porewater ages, patterns of abundance (measured by direct counts, counts of culturable cells, and total phospholipid fatty acids), activities (measured by radiotracer and enzyme assays), and community composition (measured by phospholipid fatty acid patterns and Biolog substrate usage). Core samples were collected at two sites 40 km apart in the Palouse region of eastern Washington State, near the towns of Washtucna and Winona.

IL-15 receptor maintains lymphoid homeostasis by supporting lymphocyte homing and proliferation.

The IL-15 receptor alpha subunit (IL-15Ralpha) mediates high-affinity binding of IL-15, a pleiotropic cytokine implicated in the development of innate immune cells. We have generated IL-15Ralpha null (IL-15Ralpha-/-) mice to understand the role of IL-15Ralpha in immune development and function. IL-15Ralpha-/- mice are markedly lymphopenic despite grossly normal T and B lymphocyte development.

Internal consistency reliability of the Personality Assessment Inventory with psychiatric inpatients.

Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) estimates and standard errors of measurement were determined for the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991) with a group of psychiatric inpatients (N = 111). Full-scale reliabilities were large and acceptable, averaging .82.

Prosthesis evaluation questionnaire for persons with lower limb amputations: assessing prosthesis-related quality of life.

Objective: To develop a self-report questionnaire for persons with lower limb amputations who use a prosthesis. The resulting scales were intended to be suitable to evaluate the prosthesis and life with the prosthesis. The conceptual framework was health-related quality of life.

Computed tomography for evaluating blunt abdominal trauma in the low-volume nondesignated trauma center: the procedure of choice?

Background: Scepticism has been expressed regarding the accuracy of computed tomography for evaluating patients with blunt abdominal trauma in low-volume institutions. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage has been suggested as a more reliable method, and recently ultrasound has been proposed as a quick alternative. We sought to determine the accuracy of computed tomography at our low-volume center, which lacks 24-hour, in-house computed tomography dedicated radiologists.

The effect of adipocyte differentiation on the capacity of 3T3-L1 cells to undergo apoptosis in response to growth factor deprivation.

Objective: Little is known about the regulation of apoptosis in the adipocyte. Using the 3T3-L1 cell model of adipogenesis, we investigated whether induction of apoptosis by serum-starvation is differentiation-specific.

Methods: Apoptosis was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy, Hoechst staining and DNA fragmentation.

Specificity of the WAIS-R subtests with psychiatric inpatients.

Subtest specificities were determined for each of the 11 WAIS-R subtests for a sample of 200 psychiatric inpatients. The subtest's shared variance (defined as the multiple squared correlation between a subtest and all remaining subtests) was subtracted from reliable variance (defined as the subtest's reliability) to yield a measure of subtest specificity. The Information, Arithmetic, Vocabulary, f1p4rehension, Similarities, Picture Arrangement, and Digit Symbol subtests were judged to have adequate to ample specificity for ipsative interpretation.

Caspase-3 in the rat ovary: localization and possible role in follicular atresia and luteal regression.

Apoptosis, the cellular mechanism of ovarian follicular atresia and luteal regression, is triggered by the activation of a proteolytic cascade of cysteine aspartate-specific proteases (caspases). The principle downstream effector of cell death is caspase-3, but little is known about the role or regulation of this enzyme in ovarian apoptosis. Two substrates of caspase-3, actin and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), are inhibitors of DNase I, which is the endonuclease responsible for ovarian apoptotic DNA degradation.

A retrospective study of the incidence and prevalence of thermal corneal injury in patients with burns.

The clinical course of thermal corneal injuries is not well described. A review of 1750 burn admissions to a regional burn center between 1979 through 1993 was done to determine the clinical course of thermal corneal injuries. Twenty-five out of 1750 burn admissions (1%) presented with a thermal corneal injury.