Enhancer-bound LDB1 regulates a corticotrope promoter-pausing repression program.

Substantial evidence supports the hypothesis that enhancers are critical regulators of cell-type determination, orchestrating both positive and negative transcriptional programs; however, the basic mechanisms by which enhancers orchestrate interactions with cognate promoters during activation and repression events remain incompletely understood. Here we report the required actions of LIM domain-binding protein 1 (LDB1)/cofactor of LIM homeodomain protein 2/nuclear LIM interactor, interacting with the enhancer-binding protein achaete-scute complex homolog 1, to mediate looping to target gene promoters and target gene regulation in corticotrope cells. LDB1-mediated enhancer:promoter looping appears to be required for both activation and repression of these target genes.

A highly luminescent spiro-anthracenone-based organic light-emitting diode exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence.

Efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence was observed from a spiro-anthracenone derivative (ACRSA). An organic light-emitting diode containing ACRSA exhibited blue-greenish electroluminescence with a maximum external quantum efficiency of 16.5%.

Antibiotic resistance patterns of community-acquired urinary tract infections in children with vesicoureteral reflux receiving prophylactic antibiotic therapy.

Objective: The goal was to examine bacterial antimicrobial resistance of recurrent urinary tract infections in children receiving antibiotic prophylaxis because of primary vesicoureteral reflux.

Methods: We reviewed data retrospectively for children with documented vesicoureteral reflux in 2 hospitals during a 5-year follow-up period. The patients were receiving co-trimoxazole, cephalexin, or cefaclor prophylaxis or prophylaxis with a sequence of different antibiotics (alternative monotherapy).

Genetic control of pituitary development and hypopituitarism.

The pituitary gland functions as a relay between the hypothalamus and peripheral target organs that regulate basic physiological functions, including growth, the stress response, reproduction, metabolism and lactation. The development of the pituitary gland has been studied extensively in mice, and has begun to be explored in zebrafish, an animal model system amenable to forward genetics. Multiple signaling molecules and transcription factors, expressed in overlapping but distinct spatial and temporal patterns, are required at various stages of pituitary development.

Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis with pulmonary edema presenting as respiratory distress.

Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis(PSGN) is characterized by an abrupt onset of edema,hypertension, and hematuria. Although the association of pulmonary edema with acute glomerulonephritis has been established, it is uncommon for children with PSGN to present with respiratory distress due to pulmonary edema. We encountered six such patients, aged 6-10 years, during a 10-month period.

Ureteral reimplantation for vesicoureteral reflux: comparison of minimally invasive extravesical with transvesical and conventional extravesical techniques.

Objectives: To analyze and compare the different ureteral reimplantation techniques to clarify the decision making for surgical treatment of vesicoureteral reflux.

Methods: From July 1995 to December 2000, 218 patients underwent antireflux surgery. The first 92 cases (143 ureters) were performed with the transvesical technique of Cohen (group 1), the next 37 cases (49 ureters) with the conventional extravesical technique (group 2), and the last 89 cases (113 ureters) with the new minimally invasive technique (group 3).

Identification of a Wnt/Dvl/beta-Catenin --> Pitx2 pathway mediating cell-type-specific proliferation during development.

Understanding the cell type-specific molecular mechanisms by which distinct signaling pathways combinatorially control proliferation during organogenesis is a central issue in development and disease. Here, we report that the bicoid-related transcription factor Pitx2 is rapidly induced by the Wnt/Dvl/beta-catenin pathway and is required for effective cell-type-specific proliferation by directly activating specific growth-regulating genes. Regulated exchange of HDAC1/beta-catenin converts Pitx2 from repressor to activator, analogous to control of TCF/LEF1.

Acute myeloid leukemia complicated with staghorn calculus.

An 11-year-old girl who presented with hyperleukocytosis accompanied by significant increases in serum uric acid and lactate dehydrogenase levels was discovered to be suffering from acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Subsequently a staghorn calculus was identified 22 months after the start of chemotherapy. The diagnosis of staghorn calculi was suggested by plain abdominal X-ray and ultrasonography.

Outcome of prenatally diagnosed fetal hydronephrosis.

Objective: To demonstrate the postnatal investigation, treatment and outcome of infants with hydronephrosis prenatally diagnosed by ultrasound between 1994 and 1996.

Study Design: In a two-year period we studied 20 infants who presented with hydronephrosis diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound and confirmed by postnatal ultrasound. Unilateral hydronephrosis was diagnosed in 17 infants and bilateral hydronephrosis in 3.