Publications by authors named "Diamond D"

We have reviewed two areas of research on stress, memory, and synaptic plasticity which may be relevant toward understanding the neurobiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). First, we have presented the view that the hippocampus (HC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) function jointly as a memory system which enables multitask processing (working memory) and consolidation of contextual information. The amygdala, by contrast, is necessary for the consolidation of emotional memories.

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A prime-boost immunization regimen allowed the use of low titer, helper-free rAAV-pp65mII and rAAV-IE1 virus to elicit specific humoral and cellular responses to two important cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens: the immediate-early 1 (IE-1) and pp65 proteins. Simultaneous immunization of both CMV proteins, using DNA vaccine priming followed by rAAV boost, induced antibody (Ab) response, CD8 lymphocytes with cytotoxic function, and detectible binding of the cognate peptide epitopes for human HLA A*0201 restriction using tetramer technology.

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Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a steroid hornone that is synthesized, de novo, in the brain. Endogenous DHEAS levels correlate with the quality of mental and physical health, where the highest levels of DHEAS occur in healthy young adults and reduced levels of DHEAS are found with advanced age, disease, or extreme stress. DHEAS supplementation, therefore, may serve as a therapeutic agent against a broad range of maladies.

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When a disaster strikes, parents are quick to seek out the medical advice and reassurance of their primary care physician, pediatrician, or in the case of an emergency, an emergency department physician. As physicians often are the first line of responders following a disaster, it is important that they have a thorough understanding of children's responses to trauma and disaster and of recommended practices for screening and intervention. In collaboration with mental health professionals, the needs of children and families can be addressed.

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Purpose: We determined whether there was evidence of progression in either varicocele grade or testicular volume differentials over time in our adolescent varicocele population.

Materials And Methods: A total of 41 boys 7.3 to 19 years old (mean age 13.

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Objective: The study compared two populations of patients undergoing bladder neck reconstruction using the silastic sheath in two major pediatric centers. The success with this technique was markedly different in the two centers. The purpose of the study was to determine factors that might explain the divergent results.

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Background: Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) plays a critical role in renal development, accelerates recovery from acute renal injury, and more recently it has been shown to delay progressive renal disease. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of BMP-7 on interstitial fibrosis in the rat protein-overloaded model.

Methods: Renal disease was induced in 26 rats by daily intraperitoneal injections of bovine serum albumin (BSA); controls (n = 28) were injected with saline.

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Both hypothyroidism and stress interfere with cognitive function in patients. This study examined the effect of hypothyroidism and stress on hippocampus-dependent learning and memory in rats using the novel radial arm water maze (RAWM), which measures spatial working memory. Hypothyroidism was accomplished by thyroidectomy and 2 weeks later a form of intruder stress was used as the chronic psychosocial stressor.

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Preparation of semiconducting films by electropolymerisation of a monomer which is itself a redox mediator is an attractive and simple method for biosensor fabrication. A polymeric film of the redox dye thionine (phenothiazine) enables the stable immobilisation of polyphenol oxidase (tyrosinase) while acting as mediator for the enzymatic process. The immobilisation method is based on an inner crosslinked tyrosinase layer which contains thionine with an electropolymerised film of poly(thionine) on top.

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Objective: To review a series of children with anterior urethral valves and diverticula, to elucidate the pathophysiology and optimal management of this entity.

Patients And Methods: Nine cases (all boys; 1963 to 2003) were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: Seven of nine boys had bulbar diverticula.

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The p53 gene product is overexpressed by almost 50% of cancers, making it an ideal target for cancer immunotherapy. We previously demonstrated rejection of established p53-overexpressing tumors without stimulating autoimmunity by immunization with modified vaccinia Ankara-expressing murine p53 (MVAp53). Tumor rejection was enhanced through antibody-mediated CTL-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) blockade.

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Heat-shock proteins (Hsp) play an important role in stress physiology. Exposure to a variety of stressors will induce intracellular Hsp72, and this induction is believed to be beneficial for cell survival. In contrast, Hsp72 released during stress (extracellular Hsp72; eHsp72) activates pro-inflammatory responses.

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Purpose: To analyze sonographic imaging features of renal collecting systems, ureters, and bladder in 32 children after endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux with autologous chondrocytes and to determine whether any features are associated with persistent reflux.

Materials And Methods: Sonograms obtained at mean intervals of 1.4 and 12 months after treatment were compared with cystograms obtained at mean intervals of 2.

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Effective reconstitution of cellular immunity following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is thought to be important for protection from the morbidity caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and disease. This review critically discusses current methods for assessment of CMV-specific cellular immune responses, with emphasis on flow cytometry-based methodologies such as MHC-I and MHC-II tetramer staining and intracellular cytokine assays. The advantages and weaknesses of these assays are considered in comparison to traditional immunologic techniques.

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Cell-mediated memory immune responses to viral antigens are important for protection against viruses causing persistent or acute infections. This study compared the cytokine profile of memory T-helper cells specific for cytomegalovirus (CMV) in healthy CMV-seropositive men and women. The cytokine response reflected T(H)1 bias, with dominant secretion of interferon (IFN)-gamma along with moderate levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-2.

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Models of the neurobiology of memory have been based on the idea that information is stored as distributed patterns of altered synaptic weights in neuronal networks. Accordingly, studies have shown that post-training treatments that alter synaptic weights, such as the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), can interfere with retrieval. In these studies, LTP induction has been relegated to the status of a methodological procedure that serves the sole purpose of disturbing synaptic activity in order to impair memory.

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Immunotherapeutic approaches to limit cytomegalovirus (CMV) morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) are currently under investigation as alternatives to antiviral drugs. In this context, we have inserted full-length and ubiquitin-modified CMV phosphoprotein 65 (pp65), phosphoprotein 150 (pp150), and immediate early protein 1 (IE1) immunodominant antigens into the virulent Western Reserve strain of vaccinia virus (VV) and the highly attenuated strain, modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA). Recombinant (r) VV or rMVA stimulated vigorous expansion of CMV-specific CD8+ T cells in CMV-positive donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which showed minimal alloreactivity and high levels of HLA tetramer binding, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity.

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Stress impairs hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), a model of synaptic plasticity that is assumed to underlie memory formation. In the amygdala, little is known about the effects of stress on LTP, or about its longevity. Here we assessed the ability of entorhinal cortex (EC) stimulation to induce LTP simultaneously in the basal amygdaloid nucleus (B) and in the dentate gyrus (DG) of freely behaving Wistar rats.

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Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a viral pathogen that infects both genders, who remain asymptomatic unless they receive immunosuppressive drugs or acquire infections that cause reactivation of latent virus. CMV infection also causes serious birth defects following primary maternal infection during gestation. A safe and effective vaccine to limit disease in this population continues to be elusive.

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The hepatitis C virus NS5A protein plays a critical role in virus replication, conferring interferon resistance to the virus through perturbation of multiple intracellular signaling pathways. Since NS5A is a phosphoprotein, it is of considerable interest to understand the role of phosphorylation in NS5A function. In this report, we investigated the phosphorylation of NS5A by taking advantage of 119 glutathione S-transferase-tagged protein kinases purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to perform a global screening of yeast kinases capable of phosphorylating NS5A in vitro.

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A simple colorimetric technique is implemented in a polymer microfluidic manifold. The simple chemistry aids an uncomplicated microchannel design, which is fabricated by CO(2) laser ablation. Issues such as bonding of multiple layers, alignment of micro-fabricated structures and integration of optical components are addressed.

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Recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara- and peptide-based IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays were used to detect and measure human CMV (HCMV)-specific CD8(+) T cell responses to the pp65 (UL83) and immediate early protein 1 (IE1; UL123) gene products in 16 HCMV-infected infants and children. Age at study ranged from birth to 2 years. HCMV-specific CD8(+) T cells were detected in 14 (88%) of 16 children at frequencies ranging from 60 to >2000 spots/million PBMC.

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Mice transgenic for mutated forms of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) plus presenilin-1 (PS1) genes (APP + PS1 mice) gradually develop memory deficits which correlate with the extent of amyloid deposition. The expression of several immediate-early genes (IEGs: Arc, Nur77 and Zif268) and several other plasticity-related genes (GluR1, CaMKIIalpha and Na-K- ATPase alphaIII) critical for learning and memory was normal in young APP + PS1 mice preceding amyloid deposition, but declined as mice grew older and amyloid deposits accumulated. Gene repression was less in APP + PS1 mouse brain regions that contain less Abeta and in APP mice compared with APP + PS1 mice, further linking the extent of amyloid deposition and the extent of gene repression.

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