A chromatin-associated kinesin-related protein required for normal mitotic chromosome segregation in Drosophila.

The tiovivo (tio) gene of Drosophila encodes a kinesin-related protein, KLP38B, that colocalizes with condensed chromatin during cell division. Wild-type function of the tio gene product KLP38B is required for normal chromosome segregation during mitosis. Mitotic cells in tio larval brains displayed circular mitotic figures, increased ploidy, and abnormal anaphase figures.

Establishing proficiency in flexible sigmoidoscopy in a family practice residency program.

Background And Objectives: Fiberoptic flexible sigmoidoscopy (FFS) is widely used by family physicians to evaluate abdominal problems and screen for colorectal cancer. We evaluated data on exams performed by family practice residents to determine the number of supervised procedures needed for technical proficiency at FFS.

Methods: We reviewed data recorded from all FFS procedures done at a family practice residency from October 1986-July 1994.

Assembly of ring canals in the male germ line from structural components of the contractile ring.

Stable intercellular bridges called ring canals form following incomplete cytokinesis, and interconnect mitotically or meiotically related germ cells. We show that ring canals in Drosophila melanogaster males are surprisingly different from those previously described in females. Mature ring canal walls in males lack actin and appear to derive directly from structural proteins associated with the contractile ring.

Supplementation patterns of competitive male and female bodybuilders.

This study described the prevalence of supplement use by 309 male and female competitive bodybuilders. Participants completed a comprehensive survey detailing their supplementation patterns with respect to frequency of product use, spending characteristics, and reasons for use. Supplement use varied with training phase.

Collaboration of G1 cyclins in the functional inactivation of the retinoblastoma protein.

The retinoblastoma gene product (pRB) constrains cell proliferation by preventing cell-cycle progression from the G1 to S phase. Its growth-inhibitory effects appear to be reversed by hyperphosphorylation occurring during G1. This process is thought to involve G1 cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks).

A role for autophosphorylation revealed by activated alleles of FUS3, the yeast MAP kinase homolog.

We have isolated dominant gain-of-function (gf) mutations in FUS3, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase homolog, that constitutively activate the yeast mating signal transduction pathway and confer hypersensitivity to mating pheromone. Surprisingly, the phenotypes of dominant FUS3gf mutations require the two protein kinases, STE7 and STE11. FUS3gf kinases are hyperphosphorylated in yeast independently of STE7.

Survival outcome among 54 intubated pediatric bone marrow transplant patients.

Objectives: To assess the outcome of children who required endotracheal intubation after bone marrow transplantation and to determine whether prognostic indicators that might assist decision-making regarding the institution of mechanical ventilation could be identified.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Critical care, reverse isolation unit at a university hospital.

Cantharidin production in a blister beetle.

Cantharidin, a potent defensive chemical, is present in all ten life stages of the blister beetle Epicauta funebris. The first five larval stages accumulate cantharidin as they feed and grow in size. When disturbed, they exude cantharidin in a milky oral fluid, not in hemolymph which adult beetles reflexively discharge from leg joints.

Control of pain.

Pain in critically ill and injured pediatric patients may go unrecognized and undertreated since children often suffer silently and caretakers are often fearful to intervene aggressively to alleviate pain. Methods are now readily available to relieve pain in the vast majority of ICU patients. Administration of inadequate doses of opioids at infrequent intervals or via a noxious route (intramuscularly) can be supplanted by far superior pain management methods.

FUS3 represses CLN1 and CLN2 and in concert with KSS1 promotes signal transduction.

FUS3 is functionally redundant with KSS1, a homologous yeast protein kinase, for a step(s) in signal transduction between the beta subunit of the guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein), STE4, and the mating type-specific transcriptional activator, STE12. Either FUS3 or KSS1 can execute this function; when neither gene encoding these protein kinases is present, signal transduction is blocked, causing sterility. This functional redundancy is strain dependent; some standard laboratory strains (S288C) are kss1-.