Both subunits of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase are regulatory.

The allosteric enzyme ADP-Glc pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) catalyzes the synthesis of ADP-Glc, a rate-limiting step in starch synthesis. Plant AGPases are heterotetramers, most of which are activated by 3-phosphoglyceric acid (3-PGA) and inhibited by phosphate. The objectives of these studies were to test a hypothesis concerning the relative roles of the two subunits and to identify regions in the subunits important in allosteric regulation.

Clearing the cervical spine of paediatric trauma patients.

Objectives: To review the evidence available for clearance of the cervical spine in children under 16 years of age after trauma, and to provide guidance to enable this to be practised safely.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was carried out, and combined with a review of standard texts and liaison with experts.

Results: 241 papers were identified, of which 71 papers were thought possibly relevant.

The effectiveness of implementing a care pathway for femoral neck fracture in older people: a prospective controlled before and after study.

Objectives: To investigate whether a care pathway for older hip fracture patients can reduce length of stay while maintaining the quality of clinical care.

Design: Prospective study of patients admitted 12 months before and after implementation of a care pathway for the management of femoral neck fracture. Audit data for corresponding time periods from nearby orthopaedic units was used to control for secular trends.

Patient knowledge of thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction.

A convenience sample of 50 patients admitted for treatment or ruling out of acute myocardial infarction were asked about their knowledge of thrombolysis. Some 44 of 50 knew nothing of thrombolysis and interestingly 30 of these 44 had been previously diagnosed as having ischaemic heart disease. Greater knowledge of the benefit and timeliness of thrombolysis may provide an important incentive for earlier presentation of this group.

Induction of sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae leads to the formation of N6-methyladenosine in mRNA: a potential mechanism for the activity of the IME4 gene.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is present at internal sites in mRNA isolated from all higher eukaryotes, but has not previously been detected in the mRNA of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This nucleoside modification occurs only in a sequence- specific context that appears to be conserved across diverse species. The function of this modification is not fully established, but there is some indirect evidence that m6A may play a role in the efficiency of mRNA splicing, transport or translation.

The role of rehydration in the prevention of fat embolism syndrome.

We encountered three cases of young sportsmen developing fat embolism syndrome (FES) after sustaining isolated tibial shaft fractures whilst playing football. All fractures were treated with intra-medullary nails and all three patients were kept nil-by-mouth pre-operatively without intravenous fluids. Correction of shock is often quoted as an important factor in the prevention of FES.

Splicing of the maize Sh1 first intron is essential for enhancement of gene expression, and a T-rich motif increases expression without affecting splicing.

Certain plant and animal introns increase expression of protein-coding sequences when placed in the 5' region of the transcription unit. The mechanisms of intron-mediated enhancement have not been defined, but are generally accepted to be post- or cotranscriptional in character. One of the most effective plant introns in stimulating gene expression is the 1,028-bp first intron of the Sh1 gene that encodes maize (Zea mays) sucrose synthase.

Measuring plasma paracetamol concentrations in all patients with drug overdoses; development of a clinical decision rule and clinicians willingness to use it.

Objectives: The study proposed a clinical decision rule: In patients who have taken a deliberate overdose, but deny taking paracetamol or paracetamol containing compounds, who have a GCS of 15, understand English well, and have not taken excessive alcohol, there is no need to take blood for paracetamol estimation.

Methods: 307 consecutive emergency department patients were followed up, and the history of their overdose was correlated to blood paracetamol concentrations. In addition, clinicians were asked what level of confidence they required from such a clinical decision rule before they would use it.

Physiological observations of patients admitted from A&E.

Background: A&E department records were collected over a four-week period for all patients admitted to hospital via A&E. Timing and values of recorded observations were collected, as was the length of time spent in the department. During the study period, 739 patients were admitted.

Enhanced ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase activity in wheat endosperm increases seed yield.

Yield in cereals is a function of seed number and weight; both parameters are largely controlled by seed sink strength. The allosteric enzyme ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP) plays a key role in regulating starch biosynthesis in cereal seeds and is likely the most important determinant of seed sink strength. Plant AGPs are heterotetrameric, consisting of two large and two small subunits.

Airway management in the emergency department.

Airway management in the emergency department and the role of anaesthetists and emergency physicians is reviewed. The training for emergency physicians in the advanced airway skills of rapid sequence induction and tracheal intubation is discussed.

In patients with head injury undergoing rapid sequence intubation, does pretreatment with intravenous lignocaine/lidocaine lead to an improved neurological outcome? A review of the literature.

It is well known that laryngeal instrumentation and endotracheal intubation is associated with a marked, transient rise in intracranial pressure (ICP). Patients with head injury requiring endotracheal intubation are considered particularly at risk from this transient rise in ICP as it reduces cerebral perfusion and thus may increase secondary brain injury. The favoured method for securing a definitive airway in this patient group is by rapid sequence intubation (RSI).

In patients with head injuries who undergo rapid sequence intubation using succinylcholine, does pretreatment with a competitive neuromuscular blocking agent improve outcome? A literature review.

A literature search was undertaken for evidence of the effect of succinylcholine (SCH) on the intracranial pressure (ICP) of patients with acute brain injury and whether pretreatment with a defasciculating dose of competitive neuromuscular blocker is beneficial in this patient group. The authors could find no definitive evidence that SCH caused a rise in ICP in patients with brain injury. However, these studies were often weak and small.

An observational survey of emergency department rapid sequence intubation.

Objectives: To study the current practice of rapid sequence intubations (RSIs) in four different emergency medicine training programmes in the UK.

Methods: Observational study design involving four regional training programmes (Wessex, North West, Yorkshire, Avon). Data were collected in real time using a previously piloted survey tool.

Awareness and use of the Ottawa ankle and knee rules in 5 countries: can publication alone be enough to change practice?

Study Objectives: We evaluate the international diffusion of the Ottawa Ankle and Knee Rules and determine emergency physicians' attitudes toward clinical decision rules in general.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, self-administered mail survey of random samples of 500 members each of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine, Spanish Society for Emergency Medicine, and all members (n=1,350) of the French Speaking Society of Emergency Physicians, France. Main outcome measures were awareness of the Ottawa Ankle and Knee Rules, reported use of these rules, and attitudes toward clinical decision rules in general.

Justifications for ratings of old and young job applicants: an exploratory content analysis.

This study explored the content of 324 managers' written statements justifying their ratings of a hypothetical older or younger job applicant's interpersonal skills, economic worth, and likelihood of being interviewed for an upper level clerical position. Age-related concerns were more often elicited in rating the older applicant than the younger applicant, and importantly, most of these concerns were related to economic issues. Implications for these findings for research and practice are discussed.