Alternative splicing in the pore-forming region of shaker potassium channels.

We have cloned cDNAs for the shaker potassium channel gene from the spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus. As previously found in Drosophila, there is alternative splicing at the 5' and 3' ends of the coding region. However, in Panulirus shaker, alternative splicing also occurs within the pore-forming region of the protein.

The utility of dobutamine echocardiography in preoperative evaluation for elective aortic surgery.

Background: Preoperative cardiac evaluations have been advocated prior to major vascular procedures to reduce the incidence of postoperative cardiac complications. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and predictive value of routine dobutamine echocardiography (DE) in the screening of patients undergoing elective aortic surgery.

Methods: Dobutamine echocardiography was performed preoperatively on all patients having elective aortic procedures by our university surgical group from June 1995 to August 1996.

Algorithm for managing a baby with dusky soles.

We have been using dusky colour of the sole in newborns as proxy to cyanosis. An algorithm for management of dusky soles was developed presupposing that a baby can have dusky soles due commonly to hypothermia, hypoxaemia, or hypotension in isolation or in combination. Fifty-one consecutive babies were managed according to a predetermined algorithm based largely on clinical signs.

Irritable bowel syndrome in patients discharged from surgical wards with non-specific abdominal pain.

A questionnaire was used to discover the prevalence of seven recognized symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in 96 patients who had been discharged from hospital 1-2 years previously with the diagnosis of non-specific abdominal pain. Compared with 1897 controls from a population survey in the same city, the patients were more likely to have these symptoms; the differences were statistically significant in most cases. The frequency of recurrent abdominal pain with features suggesting an intestinal origin was increased fivefold in male and fourfold in female patients (P < 0.

Cytotoxic effect of IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha on human islet cells.

We have previously reported that the combination of IFN-gamma plus TNF-alpha is able to induce the de novo expression of HLA class II on human beta cells. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of these cytokines, alone or in combination, on the function and viability of human islet cells in vitro. Three hour insulin release was markedly reduced in human islet monolayer cultures after 4 days' exposure to 1000 U/ml of the combination TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma (36.

HLA DR, DP, DQ induction in human islet beta cells by the cytokine combination IFN-gamma + TNF-alpha.

Human islet beta cells do not express HLA Class II normally, yet, in the diabetic pancreas, beta cells are selectively positive for Class II and this may facilitate their recognition by T cells. It has been demonstrated that human beta cells can be induced to express Class II when cultured with IFN-gamma + TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma + TNF-beta. To assess whether or not they can be induced to express the products of the Class II subregions, DR, DP and DQ, human islet cultures from 10 pancreas were supplemented with the combination of IFN-gamma + TNF-alpha using MoAbs specific for DR, DP and DQ products, and antibodies to insulin and glucagon.

HLA class II induction in human islet cells by interferon-gamma plus tumour necrosis factor or lymphotoxin.

HLA class II molecules are surface glycoproteins which are essential in the initiation of immune responses. It has been postulated that induction of class II in epithelial cells such as endocrine cells, which are normally class II negative, may result in autoimmunity. In type I diabetes, islet beta cells, the target of the autoimmune process, selectively express class II antigens.

Differential expression and regulation of MHC products in the endocrine and exocrine cells of the human pancreas.

Inappropriate expression of HLA Class II (D/DR) molecules has been detected in the target cells of most autoimmune diseases including Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes. The possibility that this phenomenon is due to the action of lymphocytes or some of their products has been investigated by analysing in vitro the modulation of HLA products in Beta cells. Monolayer cultures from 25 human pancreatic glands were supplemented with alpha-interferon (IFN), beta-IFN or gamma-IFN, interleukin 2 (IL-2) and supernatants from activated lymphocytes.

Accuracy of consumer performed in-home tests for early pregnancy detection.

We investigated the accuracy of the in-home pregnancy test in early pregnancy detection. A total of 109 women volunteered to perform their own pregnancy test using one of three brands. Kit accuracy ranged from 45.

Cyclic GMP in the retinas of normal mice and those heterozygous for early-onset photoreceptor dystrophy.

Cyclic GMP metabolism has been investigated in the retinas of mice that are heterozygous for a 'photoreceptor dystrophy' gene and have a lowered concentration of cGMP in their photoreceptor cells. The concentration of rhodopsin, retinal morphology and guanylate cyclase kinetics were normal. Cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase had a lowered affinity for cGMP.

Effect of palliative and corrective surgery on ventricular volumes in complete atrioventricular canal.

The effect of pulmonary artery banding (PAB) and intracardiac repair on ventricular volumes was studied in 35 patients with uncomplicated complete atrioventricular canal (CAVC). Right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volumes (EDV), determined from biplane cineangiograms using Simpson's rule, were expressed as a percent of normal mean (% Nl) for body surface area; normal range (mean +/- 1SD) is equivalent to 75%-125% Nl. In preoperative studies (RV 26, LV 33), EDV averaged 149 +/- 51% and 184 +/- 50% Nl, respectively, P vs Nl less than 0.

Measurements of benzo(a)pyrene in the city of Bombay for the evaluation of carcinogenic risk.

Cigarette smoking, environmental chemicals and ionizing radiations are the three factors known to cause cancer in human beings. The relative importance of each of these is being constantly evaluated. There is an urgent need to monitor the environmental carcinogens on a large scale to assess the role of environmental chemicals in the incidence of cancer in human populations.

Mycotic aneurysm of the ulnar artery.

A mycotic aneurysm is an uncommon, but serious, complication of infective endocarditis, occurring as a result of an infected embolus being lodged in the vasa vasorum or lumen of an artery. Involvement of the ulnar artery is rare, but its peripheral location renders its diagnosis more simple. A case of mycotic aneurysm of the ulnar artery complicating infective endocarditis is reported, with successful management by ligation and excision.