Selective precipitation of DNA by spermine during the chemical extraction of insoluble cytoplasmic protein.

The direct chemical extraction of recombinant L1 protein (the major capsid protein of human papillomavirus type 16) from the cytoplasm of E. coli HMS174(DE3) has recently been demonstrated at high cell density (to OD(600) = 160) without the use of reducing agent (1). Coextraction of DNA at high concentration prevents direct coupling to postextraction recovery operations including expanded bed adsorption.

Direct chemical extraction of a recombinant viral coat protein from Escherichia coli at high cell density.

The release of protein and DNA from nonrecombinant E. coli JM101 and recombinant E. coli HMS174(DE3) expressing L1 (the major viral coat protein of human papillomavirus type 16) as an inclusion body was demonstrated at high cell density (OD(600) = 160).

Induction of rapid and extensive beta-chemokine synthesis in macrophages by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and gp120, independently of their coreceptor phenotype.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) interacts with its target cells through CD4 and a coreceptor, generally CCR5 or CXCR4. Macrophages display CD4, CCR5, and CXCR4 that are competent for binding and entry of virus. Virus binding also induces several responses by lymphocytes and macrophages that can be dissociated from productive infection.

Surgical treatment for thoracic spinal stenosis.

Objectives: To describe the underlying causes, surgical results and prognostic factors in thoracic stenosis causing myelopathy.

Methods: The underlying causes and surgical results were analyzed retrospectively in 28 cases of thoracic spinal stenosis which caused myelopathy. Degenerative spondylosis was the most common cause, and three cases were associated with systemic diseases.

Effect of imposed inflation time on respiratory frequency and hyperinflation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Decreases in ventilator inflation time (TI,vent) can cause tachypnea, probably as a response to lung inflation. The response may differ in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because time-constant inhomogeneities could foster overdistention of some lung units during early inflation, causing neural inspiratory time to be shorter than in healthy subjects. We tested the hypothesis that a decrease in TI,vent causes tachypnea, prolongation of exhalation, and a decrease in intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP(i)).

Neural network schemes for detecting rare events in human genomic DNA.

Motivation: Many problems in molecular biology as well as other areas involve detection of rare events in unbalanced data. We develop two sample stratification schemes in conjunction with neural networks for rare event detection in such databases. Sample stratification is a technique for making each class in a sample have equal influence on decision making.

Making and breaking covalent bonds across the magnetic transition in the giant magnetocaloric material Gd5(Si2Ge2).

A temperature-dependent, single crystal x-ray diffraction study of the giant magnetocaloric material, Gd5(Si2Ge2), across its Curie temperature (276 K) reveals that the simultaneous orthorhombic to monoclinic transition occurs by a shear mechanism in which the (Si, Ge)-(Si,Ge) dimers that are richer in Ge increase their distances by 0.859(3) A and lead to twinning. The structural transition changes the electronic structure, and provides an atomic-level model for the change in magnetic behavior with temperature in the Gd5(SixGe1-x)(4).

Functional expression of the seven-transmembrane HIV-1 co-receptor APJ in neural cells.

APJ is a recently described seven-transmembrane (7TM) receptor that is abundantly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). This suggests an important role for APJ in neural development and/or function, but neither its cellular distribution nor its function have been defined. APJ can also serve as a co-receptor with CD4 for fusion and infection by some strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in vitro, suggesting a role in HIV neuropathogenesis if it were expressed on CD4-positive CNS cells.

Expression of multiple functional chemokine receptors and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in human neurons.

Functional chemokine receptors and chemokines are expressed by glial cells within the CNS, though relatively little is known about the patterns of neuronal chemokine receptor expression and function. We developed monoclonal antibodies to the CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR6, CXCR2, CXCR3 and CXCR4 chemokine receptors to study their expression in human fetal neurons cultured from brain tissue as well as the clonally derived NT2.N human neuronal cell line (NTera 2/cl.

Reverse redistribution: revisited with myocardial contrast echocardiography.

The aim of this study is to better understand the pattern and nature of reverse redistribution (RR) in myocardial perfusion imaging. In 20 consecutive acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients, frequency of RR was correlated with that of subendocardial MI that was detected by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE). RR was judged to be present when there was more than one grade of worsening in perfusion on 24 hr delayed images compared with the initial rest images.

The nuclease activity of the yeast DNA2 protein, which is related to the RecB-like nucleases, is essential in vivo.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dna2 protein is required for DNA replication and repair and is associated with multiple biochemical activities: DNA-dependent ATPase, DNA helicase, and DNA nuclease. To investigate which of these activities is important for the cellular functions of Dna2, we have identified separation of function mutations that selectively inactivate the helicase or nuclease. We describe the effect of six such mutations on ATPase, helicase, and nuclease after purification of the mutant proteins from yeast or baculovirus-infected insect cells.

In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of central neurocytomas.

Objective: The authors report on the metabolic features of central neurocytomas observed during in vivo single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Methods: Volume-selective single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed with a 1.5-T unit using a point-resolved spectroscopy sequence (TR/TE = 2000 ms/135 and 270 ms) to obtain spectra of a single 8-cc voxel.

Identification of the Xenopus laevis homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA2 and its role in DNA replication.

The DNA2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is essential for growth and appears to be required for a late stage of chromosomal DNA replication. S. cerevisiae Dna2p (ScDna2p) is a DNA helicase and also a nuclease.

Effect of polyethylene wear on osteolysis in cementless primary total hip arthroplasty: minimal 5-year follow-up study.

We measured polyethylene wear radiographically in 85 cementless primary total hip arthroplasties. All patients were followed up for at least 5 years (mean, 6.3 years).

Radiographic parameters of acetabulum for dysplasia in Korean adults.

We analyzed plain radiographs of 591 normal adult hips of various parameters to evaluate the radiological characteristics of the hip joint including the center-edge (CE) angle, acetabular angle, acetabular depth, acetabular roof obliquity and roof angle, and also to verify the rate of acetabular dysplasia. The CE angle was negatively correlated with acetabular angle and acetabular obliquity, but it was positively correlated with acetabular depth and roof angle. The rate of acetabular dysplasia (CE angle < 20 degrees) was 1.

Pathological mediopatellar plica found in the knee of an infant.

We report the case of a pathological mediopatellar plica found in the right knee of a 15-month-old infant girl. Flexion contracture of the knee was found to be 40 degrees. An arthroscopic view showed a large and thick voluminous mediopatellar plica.

An orphan seven-transmembrane domain receptor expressed widely in the brain functions as a coreceptor for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and simian immunodeficiency virus.

Both CD4 and an appropriate coreceptor are necessary for infection of cells by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and most strains of HIV-2. The chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 are the major HIV-1 coreceptors, although some virus strains can also utilize alternative coreceptors such as CCR3 to infect cells. In contrast, most if not all simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strains use CCR5 as a coreceptor, and many SIV strains can use CCR5 independently of CD4.

Extrarenal uptake of Tc-99m-DTPA in a case of retroperitoneal abscess causing spurious data in renal function assessment.

The author reports CT of the abdomen and quantitative analysis of renal scintigraphy that was spuriously assessed due to unwanted extrarenal uptake. The patient had a retroperitoneal abscess that was related to fistula from the right kidney. Renal scintigraphy was performed to assess split renal function as a preoperative evaluation for nephrectomy.

Late dissociation of the polyethylene liner from a modular acetabular metal shell after primary total hip arthroplasty--a report of five cases.

Modular designs of hip prostheses have become popular recently. Along with complications inherent in all hip arthroplasty systems, modular systems have the additional potential for dissociation of components. Five male patients underwent total hip arthroplasties, in which all of the acetabular components were Harris-Galante II porous acetabular cups.

Extrapontine myelinolysis caused by electrolyte imbalance during the management of suprasellar germ cell tumors. Report of two cases.

Extrapontine myelinolysis (EPM) is caused by marked fluctuation of the serum electrolyte level. Patients with suprasellar germ cell tumors frequently present with diabetes insipidus, which is often aggravated by administration of steroid hormone. In addition, cisplatin-based chemotherapy is sometimes accompanied by marked serum electrolyte fluctuation because it needs massive hydration to prevent renal damage.