Identification of MAGI-3 as a transforming growth factor-alpha tail binding protein.

The cytoplasmic domain of the transforming growth factor-alpha precursor (proTGFalpha) contains a C-terminal PSD-95/SAP90, Discs Large, and Zona Occludens-1 (PDZ) recognition motif (TVV). By yeast two-hybrid screening of a mouse embryo library, we have found that a third member of a family of PDZ-containing proteins, membrane associated guanylate kinase inverted-3 (MAGI-3), binds to TGFalpha's TVV. MAGI-3 is widely expressed in multiple mouse tissues, including brain.

The effect of force distribution and magnitude at the hand-tool interface on the accuracy of grip force estimates.

The ability to accurately estimate grip force requirements may be important in exposure assessment, determining fitness for duty, or setting rehabilitation goals. This study investigates the effects of learning and experience, measurement system, and the nature of the task on grip force estimate accuracy. The grip forces applied during "pure" power grip tasks and simulated meat cutting tasks conducted in the laboratory, and during meat cutting operations at meat packing plants were measured with an instrumented tool handle.

The effect of blade finish and blade edge angle on forces used in meat cutting operations.

Meat cutting causes a much greater incidence of upper extremity disorders than industry averages. Grip forces and cutting moments in meat cutting operations can be very high. Recently published studies indicate that the blade sharpness can significantly affect force exposure during meat cutting.

The effect of workstation and task variables on forces applied during simulated meat cutting.

The purpose of the study was to investigate factors related to force and postural exposure during a simulated meat cutting task. The hypothesis was that workstation, tool and task variables would affect the dependent kinetic variables of gripping force, cutting moment and the dependent kinematic variables of elbow elevation and wrist angular displacement in the flexion/extension and radial/ulnar deviation planes. To evaluate this hypothesis a 3 x 3 x 2 x 2 x 2 (surface orientation by surface height by blade angle by cut complexity by work pace) within-subject factorial design was conducted with 12 participants.

ADAM10 mediates ectodomain shedding of the betacellulin precursor activated by p-aminophenylmercuric acetate and extracellular calcium influx.

Betacellulin belongs to the family of epidermal growth factor-like growth factors that are expressed as transmembrane precursors and undergo proteolytic ectodomain shedding to release a soluble mature growth factor. In this study, we investigated the ectodomain shedding of the betacellulin precursor (pro-BTC) in conditionally immortalized wild-type (WT) and ADAM-deficient cell lines. Sequential ectodomain cleavage of the predominant cell-surface 40-kDa form of pro-BTC generated a major (26-28 kDa) and two minor (20 and 15 kDa) soluble forms and a cellular remnant lacking the ectodomain (12 kDa).

PIAS1 selectively inhibits interferon-inducible genes and is important in innate immunity.

Interferon (IFN) activates the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway to regulate immune responses. The protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS) family has been suggested to negatively regulate STAT signaling. To understand the physiological function of PIAS1, we generated Pias1(-/-) mice.

Role of sonography in diagnosing and staging invasive lobular carcinoma.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to compare the sensitivity of sonography with that of mammography in the detection of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), to identify ILC's typical imaging characteristics, and to further show the important role of ultrasound in the staging and treatment planning of this elusive tumor.

Methods: We identified all patients with ILC seen at our institution from 1998 through 2001; 62 had pathologically proven pure ILC. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the sonographic appearances in correlation with mammographic, pathologic, and clinical findings.

The history of breast ultrasound.

What began as a laboratory-based spin-off of military technology has matured over the past 50 years into an integral part of the breast imaging armamentarium. It has revolutionized the evaluation of breast abnormalities and has provided a rapid, cost-effective, and accurate guidance method for a wide range of interventional techniques. Subsequent improvements in technology will only serve to further enhance its pivotal clinical role.

Investigation of a pork shoulder deboning operation.

An ergonomic investigation of force exertions during pork shoulder deboning was conducted. Nine male workers volunteered to participate in the study. Three cycles of the shoulder deboning task were measured for each worker, using an instrumented knife that provided direct measurements of grip forces and cutting moments applied to the knife.

Signal transduction of betacellulin in growth and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) family ligands have been implicated in cardiovascular diseases because of their enhanced expression in vascular lesions and their promoting effects on growth and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Betacellulin (BTC), a novel EGF family ligand, has been shown to be expressed in atherosclerotic lesions and to be a potent growth factor of VSMCs. However, the molecular mechanisms downstream of BTC involved in mediating vascular remodeling remain largely unknown.

Practical aspects of functional capacity evaluations.

Physicians, employers, insurers, and benefits adjudicators often rely upon functional capacity evaluations (FCEs) to determine musculoskeletal capacity to perform physical work, often with legal or occupational consequences. Despite their widespread application for several decades, a number of scientific, legal, and practical concerns persist. FCEs are based upon a theoretical model of comparing job demands to worker capabilities.

[Study on lifting-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers in metal processing].

Objective: To investigate lifting-related musculoskeletal disorders in metal processing, to analyze the risk factors, and to study the validity and feasibility of using NIOSH lifting equation in China.

Methods: The questionnaires of semi-structured interview, the Ovako Working Posture Analysing System (OWAS) postural analysis and variables of the NIOSH equation were applied to the study. The study population consisted of 69 workers mainly involved in manual materials handling (MMH), categorized as Job A; and 51 machinery workers, served as controls, that were less MMH task involved, as Job B.

Study on musculoskeletal disorders in a machinery manufacturing plant.

Musculoskeletal disorders and related risk factors in machinery manufacturing were investigated using interviews, postural analysis, and the revised National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health lifting equation. Sixty-nine workers involved in manual materials handling (Job A) and 51 machinery workers less involved with manual material-handling tasks (Job B) were studied. Low back pain (LBP) (at least one episode lasting for 24 hours or more in past 12 months) prevalence rates were 63.

Needle localization for excisional biopsy of breast lesions: comparison of effect of use of full-field digital versus screen-film mammographic guidance on procedure time.

The time required to perform needle localization with full-field digital (FFD) mammography was compared with the time required to perform it with screen-film (SF) mammography in 158 women with breast lesions. The time needed to position the patient before the first image was acquired, needle placement time, and total procedure time were compared between techniques. Regression modeling was performed to assess the effect of mammographic guidance method while simultaneously adjusting for other significant covariates.

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10-mediated cleavage and shedding regulates the cell surface expression of CXC chemokine ligand 16.

CXC chemokine ligand (CXCL)16 and scavenger receptor for phosphatidylserine and oxidized low-density lipoprotein were independently identified as a chemokine and a scavenger receptor, respectively, but have since been shown to be identical. CXCL16 is synthesized as a transmembrane protein with its chemokine domain at the end of a mucin-rich stalk. When expressed at the cell surface, CXCL16 functions as a scavenger receptor, binding and internalizing oxidized low-density lipoprotein and bacteria.

The art of war: Innate and adaptive immune responses.

Research over the last several years has greatly advanced our understanding of the mechanisms by which the immune system functions. There exist two main branches of immunity, termed innate and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity uses the genetic memory of germline-encoded receptors to recognize the molecular patterns of common pathogens.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytodiagnosis of leiomyosarcoma metastatic to the breast. A case report.

Background: Leiomyosarcomas are characterized by slow growth and late metastasis and most often involve the lung, liver and subcutaneous tissue. Metastasis to the breast is rare, with only four cases published in the English-language literature to date. Because of its rarity and the prolonged time interval between the diagnosis of the primary tumor and involvement of distant sites, accurate diagnosis of these tumors can be challenging.

Cutting moments and grip forces in meat cutting operations and the effect of knife sharpness.

The force exposure associated with meat cutting operations and the effect of knife sharpness on performance and productivity have not been well documented. Specialized hardware was used to measure grip force and reactive moments with 15 professional meat cutters performing lamb shoulder boning, beef rib trimming and beef loin trim operations in a field study conducted in two meat packing plants. A system for measuring relative blade sharpness was developed for this study.

Stimulated shedding of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme (ADAM 17).

A variety of cell surface adhesion molecules can exist as both transmembrane proteins and soluble circulating forms. Increases in the levels of soluble adhesion molecules have been correlated with a variety of inflammatory diseases, suggesting a pathological role. Although soluble forms are thought to result from proteolytic cleavage from the cell surface, relatively little is known about the proteases responsible for their release.

The signaling adaptors and pathways activated by TNF superfamily.

Members of the TNF receptor superfamily play pivotal roles in numerous biological events in metazoan organisms. Ligand-mediated trimerization by corresponding homo- or heterotrimeric ligands, the TNF family ligands, causes recruitment of several intracellular adaptors, which activate multiple signal transduction pathways. While recruitment of death domain (DD) containing adaptors such as Fas associated death domain (FADD) and TNFR associated DD (TRADD) can lead to the activation of a signal transduction pathway that induces apoptosis, recruitment of TRAF family proteins can lead to the activation of transcription factors such as, NF-kappaB and JNK thereby promoting cell survival and differentiation as well as immune and inflammatory responses.