Falls risk and functional decline in older fallers discharged directly from emergency departments.

Background: There is currently no standard approach to falls risk assessment and management for older fallers presenting to the emergency department (ED) who are discharged directly home. Hence, this study was conducted to describe the prevalence of falls risk factors associated with older fallers presenting to the ED and to identify the factors associated with postdischarge decline in function in this group.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed with 300 community-dwelling individuals, aged 60 years or older, admitted to the ED following a fall, and discharged directly home.

Characterization of wheat puroindoline proteins.

Puroindoline proteins were purified from selected UK-grown hexaploid wheats. Their identities were confirmed on the basis of capillary electrophoresis mobilities, relative molecular mass and N-terminal amino acid sequencing. Only one form of puroindoline-a protein was found in those varieties, regardless of endosperm texture.

Motorcycle deployment and rider characteristics on Victorian farms.

Objective: To describe the motorcycle fleet and rider characteristics on Victorian farms.

Design: Cross-sectional postal survey.

Setting: Victorian agricultural industries.

Androgen and the elaborate courtship behavior of a tropical lekking bird.

In most bird species, male courtship behavior is controlled by testosterone (T) and its metabolites. In species breeding in temperate and arctic regions T circulates at high levels during a relatively short courtship period because high levels of T can be costly in terms of immunocompetence and parental care. Few studies have investigated androgen modulation of courtship behavior in tropical birds.

Multivalent sequence recognition by Epstein-Barr virus Zta requires cysteine 171 and an extension of the canonical B-ZIP domain.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immediate-early protein Zta is a member of the basic-leucine zipper (B-ZIP) family of DNA binding proteins that has an unusual capacity to recognize multiple DNA recognition sites, including AP-1 and C/EBP binding sites. To better understand the structure and function of Zta, we have mutagenized cysteine residues within or adjacent to the B-ZIP domain. We found that serine substitution for cysteine 171 (C171S), which lies outside and amino terminal to the B-ZIP basic region, completely abrogates Zta capacity to initiate lytic cycle replication.

Clinical features in a family with an R460H mutation in transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 gene.

Objectives: To describe the clinical findings and natural history in 22 carriers of an R460H mutation in the transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 gene (TGFbetaR2) from a five-generation kindred ascertained by familial aortic dissection.

Methods: 13 of the confirmed carriers were interviewed and examined, and information about the remaining carrier was obtained from medical records. Clinical information about deceased individuals was obtained, when possible, from postmortem reports, death certificates and medical records.

CCL2 is a potent regulator of prostate cancer cell migration and proliferation.

Tumor cells in the bone interact with the microenvironment to promote tumor cell survival and proliferation, resulting in a lethal phenotype for patients with advanced prostate cancer. Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (CCL2) is a member of the CC chemokine family and is known to promote monocyte chemotaxis to sites of inflammation. Here we have shown that human bone marrow endothelial (HBME) cells secrete significantly higher levels of CCL2 compared to human aortic endothelial cells and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells.

Acetylation of the latency-associated nuclear antigen regulates repression of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus lytic transcription.

Reactivation of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) lytic cycle can be initiated by transcription activation of the ORF50 immediate early gene (Rta). We show that ORF50 transcription is actively repressed by the KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) during latency. Depletion of LANA by small interfering RNA derepressed ORF50 transcription in the latently infected BCBL1 pleural effusion lymphoma-derived cell line.

Inhibition of decay-accelerating factor (CD55) attenuates prostate cancer growth and survival in vivo.

Decay-accelerating factor (CD55) is a member of membrane-bound complement-regulatory proteins. CD55 expression correlates with poor survival in patients with colorectal cancer and has been implicated in the survival and tumorigenesis of blood-borne malignancies. Histologic analysis of clinical specimens from patients with advanced prostate cancer revealed an increase in CD55 expression in prostate tumor epithelial cells.

Development of the VCaP androgen-independent model of prostate cancer.

Prostate epithelial cell growth is dependent on the presence of androgens, and transition of prostate cancer to an androgen-independent phenotype results in a highly aggressive, currently incurable cancer. We have developed a new preclinical model of androgen-independent prostate cancer derived from the VCaP prostate cancer epithelial cell line. VCaP cells were subcutaneously implanted and serially passaged in castrated male severe combined immunodeficient mice.

Injury in Australian veterinarians.

Background: There are a number of risk factors for traumatic injury in veterinary practice but there is little information on the prevalence of injuries or the factors associated with injury in this profession.

Aims: To identify the prevalence of injuries sustained by veterinarians and the groups most at risk for different types of injury.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey of Australian veterinarians.

Analysis of membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins in prostate cancer.

Objectives: Membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins (mCRPs) are ubiquitously expressed throughout the cells of the hematopoietic system and protect host cells from complement-mediated lysis. The expression and functionality of mCRPs have been demonstrated in several types of cancers; however, no clear correlation has been appreciated between tumor stage and mCRP expression.

Methods: We investigated the expression pattern of CD46, CD55, CD59, and CD97 (a receptor for CD55) in prostate cancer by tissue microarray analysis using high-density tissue microarrays spotted with tissue cores from biopsy and autopsy specimens.