Author attitudes to professional medical writing support.

Objective: To understand academic/clinician authors' perceptions regarding the value of professional medical writers.

Research Design And Methods: An online survey of academic/clinician authors was conducted to understand the value of professional medical writer support in the development of publications (abstracts, posters and manuscripts). Responses were collected anonymously.

Specific mesenchymal/epithelial induction of olfactory receptor, vomeronasal, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons.

We asked whether specific mesenchymal/epithelial (M/E) induction generates olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), vomeronasal neurons (VRNs), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, the major neuron classes associated with the olfactory epithelium (OE). To assess specificity of M/E-mediated neurogenesis, we compared the influence of frontonasal mesenchyme on frontonasal epithelium, which becomes the OE, with that of the forelimb bud. Despite differences in position, morphogenetic and cytogenic capacity, both mesenchymal tissues support neurogenesis, expression of several signaling molecules and neurogenic transcription factors in the frontonasal epithelium.

Prevalence of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase in Rhizobium spp.

This is the first report documenting the presence of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase in Rhizobium. This enzyme, previously found in free-living bacteria, yeast and fungi, degrades ACC, the immediate precursor of ethylene in higher plants. Thirteen different rhizobial strains were examined by Southern hybridization, Western blots and ACC deaminase enzyme assay.

Differential and overlapping expression patterns of X-dll3 and Pax-6 genes suggest distinct roles in olfactory system development of the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis.

In Xenopus laevis, the formation of the adult olfactory epithelium involves embryonic, larval and metamorphic phases. The olfactory epithelium in the principal cavity (PC) develops during embryogenesis from the olfactory placode and is thought to respond to water-borne odorants throughout larval life. During metamorphosis, the PC undergoes major transformations and is exposed to air-borne odorants.

Neuronal turnover in the Xenopus laevis olfactory epithelium during metamorphosis.

Metamorphic changes in the amphibian olfactory system present many interesting questions concerning the competing possibilities of neuronal respecification versus replacement. For example, are olfactory neurons retained during this transition with their presumed sensitivity to waterborne versus airborne stimuli respecified, or are olfactory neurons completely replaced? We address this question using the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) as a model. The water-sensing nose (principal cavity; PC) of larval X.

CD4+ T lymphocytes with constitutive CD40 ligand in preautoimmune (NZB x NZW)F1 lupus-prone mice: phenotype and possible role in autoreactivity.

Lupus disease is marked by B lymphocyte hyperactivity and the production of Abs to dsDNA. The production of these anti-dsDNA Abs is T lymphocyte dependent. However, it is not clear how CD4+ T lymphocytes provide help for B lymphocytes to produce IgG anti-dsDNA Abs.

[Control and assessment of the quality of professional competence among physicians and students].

The paper presents a new test method of control which permits to estimate objectively both formal knowledges of students, hospital physicians, post-graduates, physicians and their ability for logical reasoning, for determination of cause-effect relationships between separate phenomena. The list of the standards generally accepted for the test's tasks is proposed as well as recommendations for the users are given. 6 variations of the test's tasks are presented as the examples.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria that decrease heavy metal toxicity in plants.

Kluyvera ascorbata SUD165 and a siderophore-overproducing mutant of this bacterium, K. ascorbata SUD165/26, were used to inoculate tomato, canola, and Indian mustard seeds which were then grown in soil for 25-42 days in the presence of either nickel, lead, or zinc. The parameters that were monitored included plant wet and dry weight, protein and chlorophyll content in the plant leaves, and concentration of heavy metal in the plant roots and shoots.

The role of the brain in metamorphosis of the olfactory epithelium in the frog, Xenopus laevis.

Retrograde signaling from the brain to the olfactory sensory epithelium is important for neuronal survival, but the importance of the olfactory bulb in retrograde signaling during the naturally-induced, neuronal plasticity occurring during metamorphosis is unclear. The olfactory system of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) undergoes dramatic rearrangements during metamorphosis, making this an ideal system in which to examine interactions between the brain and the olfactory sensory epithelium. The main olfactory epithelium of larvae, located in the principal cavity (PC), changes at metamorphosis in function, receptor neuron morphology, biochemistry, and axon termination sites.

Clinical-neurophysiological features of motor lesions in patients with post-stroke epilepsy.

Twenty-two patients with post-stroke epilepsy (group 1) were studied, along with 30 stroke patients without epilepsy (group 2). Bilateral (on both the paralyzed and intact sides) decreases in the central conduction time (CCT) along the pyramidal tract were found in group 1, which were not seen in group 2, who had similarly severe motor lesions (p < 0.01).

Differential antigen expression during metamorphosis in the tripartite olfactory system of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis.

In the adult African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, olfactory epithelium is housed in three separate nasal cavities: the principal cavity, the middle cavity, and the vomeronasal organ. The sensory epithelium in each of these cavities has distinct cellular features, and presumed physiological and behavioral functions, which arise during metamorphosis. Most notably, the middle cavity is formed de novo, and the principal cavity is transformed from a larval sensory epithelium with water exposure to an adult olfactory epithelium with air exposure.

Influence of olfactory innervation on neurogenesis in the developing olfactory bulb of the frog, Xenopus laevis.

Previous research on development of the Xenopus olfactory bulb from our laboratory has shown that mitral cells begin to differentiate after olfactory axons make contact with the olfactory bulb, and the number of olfactory axons is correlated with the number of mitral cells throughout development. In embryos, removal of all afferent innervation before the mitral cells begin to differentiate results in a failure of the bulb to form; removal of half the olfactory axons, results in development of half the normal number of mitral cells. At larval stages, transection of the olfactory nerve results in a decrease in the number of neurons in the olfactory bulb.

[Disorders of muscle tonus and their treatment with sirdalud in patients in the early recovery period of ischemic stroke].

The paper presents the results of clinical and neurophysiologic study of muscular tonus in 94 patients aged 42-70 years in early recovery after ischemic stroke. Selective role of spasticity was estimated in clinical pattern of motor disorders in groups of the patients with different disorders of muscular tonus with the same degree of paresis. Efficiency of antispastic preparation sirdalud was analyzed in 28 patients from this group.

A plant growth-promoting bacterium that decreases nickel toxicity in seedlings.

A plant growth-promoting bacterium, Kluyvera ascorbata SUD165, that contained high levels of heavy metals was isolated from soil collected near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The bacterium was resistant to the toxic effects of Ni2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and CrO4-, produced a siderophore(s), and displayed 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity. Canola seeds inoculated with this bacterium and then grown under gnotobiotic conditions in the presence of high concentrations of nickel chloride were partially protected against nickel toxicity.

[Clinical neuropsychological aspects of motor disorders in patients with post-CVA epilepsy].

The study included 22 patients with poststroke epilepsy (group 1) and 30 patients with stroke without epilepsy (group 2). A bilateral decrease of the time of central conduction (TCC) through pyramidal path (both on the paretic and intact side) was revealed in group 1. This was not observed in patients of group 2 with similar gravity of motor disorders (p < 0.

Ultrastructure of the olfactory organ in the clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, during larval development and metamorphosis.

Development of the olfactory epithelia of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Stages examined ranged from hatching through the end of metamorphosis. The larval olfactory organ consists of two chambers, the principal cavity and the vomeronasal organ (VNO).

[Epilepsy in patients with ischemic brain disease].

The paper presents the results of follow-up study of 610 patients with ischemic stroke. In 52 patients (8.6%) there was observed symptomatic epilepsy conditioned by local causes (2 and more epileptic fits in anamnesis).

Cellular and molecular interactions in the development of the Xenopus olfactory system.

Development of the olfactory system in Xenopus laevis begins during gastrulation, with the induction of olfactory placodes at the rostral edge of the prospective neural plate. Initial placodal induction appears to involve cerberus, a molecule secreted from the involuting anterior endoderm. Possible downstream genes expressed in the anterior neural ridge and sense plate include the transcription factors Pax-6, X-dll2, X-dll3, and Xotx2.

Metamorphic remodeling of the primary olfactory projection in Xenopus: developmental independence of projections from olfactory neuron subclasses.

In adult Xenopus, the nasal cavity is divided into separate middle (MC) and principal (PC) cavities; the former is used to smell water-borne odorants, the latter air-borne odorants. Recent work has shown that olfactory neurons of each cavity express a distinct subclass of odorant receptors. Moreover, MC and PC axons project to distinct regions of the olfactory bulb.

[Nootropil in the treatment of disorders of the higher mental functions in patients with an ischemic stroke].

47 patients with acute ischemic stroke were treated with nootropil (pyracetam, UCB, Belgium) from the first day of the disease (12 g, intravenously, by drops during 2 weeks, then 4.8 g, per os) on the background of basic therapy. There was revealed increase of spontaneous activity, expressive and impulsive speech, audio- and speaking memory (especially delayed memory), tactile, acoustic and visual gnosis, space praxis.

[The metabolic therapy of ischemic stroke: the use of nootropil].

54 patients were treated by notropil (pyracetam). The results of therapy were evaluated statistically according to a number of clinical scales and neurophysiologic indices (EEG and evoked potentials with mapping of bioelectric activity). The results were compared with the data about 56 patients of the control group which were treated by traditional method without application of notropil.

Neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb of the frog Xenopus laevis shows unique patterns during embryonic development and metamorphosis.

We determined the time of origin of neurons in the olfactory bulb of the South African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. Tritiated thymidine injections were administered to frog embryos and tadpoles from gastrulation (stage 11/12) through metamorphosis (stage 65), paraffin sections were processed for autoradiography, and the distribution of heavily and lightly labeled cells was examined. In the ventral olfactory bulb, we observed that the mitral cells were born as early as stage 11/12 and continued to be generated through the end of metamorphosis.

Involvement of a surface-active high molecular weight factor in degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Pseudomonas marginalis.

A strain of Pseudomonas marginalis PD-14B, isolated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated soil, produced an extracellular surface-active factor of high molecular weight containing protein and lipopolysaccharide. A crude preparation of the factor, obtained from the culture both of cells grown in mineral salts (MS) medium with succinate and yeast extract, affected the extent of PAH degradation by the bacterial cells and prevented flocculation of PAHs in an aqueous suspension. A washed suspension of P.