DBA/2J (Mls-1a) B-cell differentiation in BALB.xid recipients.

Studies of superantigens (SAg) have focused primarily on their impact on CD4+ T cells, largely bypassing the impact of the sequelae of this interaction upon the antigen-presenting cell (APC). Sequelae of SAg-induced CD4+ T-cell activation include the 'bathing' of the SAg-presenting cell with cytokines that promote the differentiation of the APC. In this report, the SAg-induced differentiation of Mls+ DBA/2J B cells was studied in vivo by their transplantation into B-cell-defective BALB.

Graft-versus-tumor induction with donor leukocyte infusions as primary therapy for patients with malignancies.

Purpose: Histocompatible allogeneic donor leukocyte infusions (DLIs) were administered as primary cancer therapy in a phase I trial to determine (1) whether mixed chimerism could be detected without a prior allogeneic transplantation, (2) the toxicity of primary DLI, and (3) whether a graft-versus-tumor (GVT) reaction could be observed.

Patients And Methods: Eighteen patients were studied. Patients received interferon alfa-2b for a minimum of 4 weeks, followed by DLI (level 1).

The yeast PRS3 gene is required for cell integrity, cell cycle arrest upon nutrient deprivation, ion homeostasis and the proper organization of the actin cytoskeleton.

PRS3 is one of a family of five genes encoding phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase, an enzyme which catalyses the first step in a variety of biosynthetic pathways, including purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis. We report here that prs3Delta mutants have a number of phenotypes that suggest an unexpected role for PRS3 in linking nutrient availability to cell cycle progression, cell integrity and the actin cytoskeleton. Upon nutrient limitation, prs3Delta mutants fail to arrest in G(1)-cells remain budded and a significant fraction have a G(2) DNA content.

Design and synthesis of diaminopyrrolidinone inhibitors of human osteoclast cathepsin K.

The structure-based design and synthesis of lactam-constrained azapeptide inhibitors of human cathepsin K are described. Enhanced stability to proteolytic cleavage over acyclic analogues is discussed.

Experience-dependent development of NMDAR1 subunit expression in the lateral geniculate nucleus.

Monocular deprivation early in postnatal development leads to anatomical and physiological changes in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and visual cortex. Many of these changes are dependent upon activation of the NMDA receptor. We have examined the role of visual experience in modifying NMDAR1 subunit expression in the LGN of animals reared with various forms of visual deprivation.

Analysis of the postnatal growth of visual cortex.

Development and growth of V1 begins during embryogenesis and continues postnatally. The growth of V1 has direct implications on the organization of features such as the retinotopic map and the pattern of visual cortical columns. We have examined the postnatal growth and two-dimensional shape of V1 in macaque monkeys, cats, and rats.

Viewing an old issue through a new lens: a critical theory insight into the education--practice gap.

The education-practice gap is not new to lecturers or practitioners and has been widely discussed in previous literature. This paper explores issues relating to this concept from Habermas' critical theory viewpoint. The historical and philosophical underpinnings of critical theory, as well as its central elements, are described.

Patchy distribution of NMDAR1 subunit immunoreactivity in developing visual cortex.

Development of ocular dominance columns is dependent on patterned retinal activity, and yet patterned activity alone cannot explain all aspects of cortical column development. Features intrinsic to the cortex have been proposed to interact with activity to guide the patterning of cortical columns (), and the NMDA receptor, because of its role in experience-dependent plasticity, is an obvious candidate. Using immunohistochemical techniques, we found a transiently patchy distribution of the NMDA receptor 1 (NMDAR1) subunit in kitten visual cortex.

Residence time calculation for chemotactic bacteria within porous media.

Local chemical gradients can have a significant impact on bacterial population distributions within subsurface environments by evoking chemotactic responses. These local gradients may be created by consumption of a slowly diffusing nutrient, generation of a local food source from cell lysis, or dissolution of nonaqueous phase liquids trapped within the interstices of a soil matrix. We used a random walk simulation algorithm to study the effect of a local microscopic gradient on the swimming behavior of bacteria in a porous medium.

Health assessment in the rheumatic diseases of childhood.

Assessment of children and adults with rheumatic diseases, both in clinical practice and controlled clinical trials in rheumatology, has traditionally focused on the measurement of disease activity. More recently emphasis has been placed on the need to incorporate estimates of physical, social, and mental functioning into health assessment. Thus there has been a tremendous growth in the development of measurement instruments that evaluate health status, functional status, disability, and quality of life.

Secretory and nonsecretory pituitary adenomas are distinguishable by 1/T1 magnetic relaxation rates at very low magnetic fields in vitro.

Rationale And Objectives: The authors investigated whether hormonally active and inactive pituitary adenomas can be discriminated in vitro by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging-related data.

Methods: 1/T1 nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion profiles were measured for 39 fresh surgical specimens of secreting and nonsecreting adenomas, classified using clinical criteria or preoperative serum hormone levels. Nonsecreting adenomas were subdivided into hormone-producing and nonhormone-producing by immunostains.

The Juvenile Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire--development of a new responsive index for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile spondyloarthritides.

Objective: To develop a disease specific measure of quality of life for application in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile spondyloarthritides-the Juvenile Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JAQQ).

Methods: Patients and their parents were interviewed by a trained interviewer using a questionnaire focusing on physical function, psychosocial function, and general symptoms to determine the most appropriate items to include in the JAQQ. Respondents volunteered items and scored them for frequency of occurrence and importance.

Turn angle and run time distributions characterize swimming behavior for Pseudomonas putida.

The swimming behavior of Pseudomonas putida was analyzed with a tracking microscope to quantify its run time and turn angle distributions. Monte Carlo computer simulations illustrated that the bimodal turn angle distribution of P. putida reduced collisions with obstacles in porous media in comparison to the unimodal distribution of Escherichia coli.

Herpes viruses in multicase families with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the rate and extent of infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus, and herpesvirus 6 in families (affected and nonaffected members) with multiple cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Viral DNA was detected by polymerase chain amplification in cells from saliva and peripheral blood. Human leukocyte antigen pedigrees were characterized.

Random walk calculations for bacterial migration in porous media.

Bacterial migration is important in understanding many practical problems ranging from disease pathogenesis to the bioremediation of hazardous waste in the environment. Our laboratory has been successful in quantifying bacterial migration in fluid media through experiment and the use of population balance equations and cellular level simulations that incorporate parameters based on a fundamental description of the microscopic motion of bacteria. The present work is part of an effort to extend these results to bacterial migration in porous media.

Relaxometry of noncalcified human meningiomas. Correlation with histology and solids content.

Rationale And Objectives: Resected meningiomas were examined by relaxometry and light microscopy to evaluate the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for identifying histologic subtypes and for discriminating among benign, radiation therapy-induced, and malignant meningiomas.

Methods: The magnetic field dependence of 1/T1 of water protons (nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion [NMRD] profile) and the water content (dry weight) were measured for 67 specimens, and the data were compared with histology. Only noncalcified, nonhemorrhagic meningiomas are reported.

Multiple spinal intradural schwannomas in the absence of von Recklinghausen's disease.

A case of multiple spinal schwannomas is reported without any evidence of other manifestations of neurofibromatosis. Although cases of multiple schwannomas have been described in the setting of "Schwannomatosis," this case is unique in that all tumors were within the spinal canal. The presence of a schwannoma should prompt a complete investigation for other tumors of the nervous system preferably with magnetic resonance imaging.

Level of agreement between parents and children in rating dysfunction in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile spondyloarthritides.

Objective: To determine the level of agreement between parents and children in rating dysfunction in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and juvenile spondyloarthritides.

Methods: We conducted separate interviews (parents and patients) of children > or = 9 years of age with JRA and spondyloarthritis attending our clinic. A questionnaire consisting of 100 probes (57 physical activities, 26 psychosocial issues and 17 general symptoms) was used.

Immunoglobulin-A detection and the investigation of clinical toxoplasmosis.

Current serological methods for the investigation of Toxoplasma gondii infection are unreliable for the diagnosis of congenital disease, reactivated infection associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or the determination of the date of onset of infection. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA) were developed for the detection of toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulin-A (IgA) and used to investigate patients in these three categories. The IgA ISAGA and IgA ELISA were found to be reproducible and specific tests.

Use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for fingertip analgesia: a pilot study.

Study Objectives: To determine if transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can produce fingertip analgesia.

Design: Randomized, crossover trial.

Participants: Fifteen healthy volunteers, naive to the technique of TENS.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in breast cancer.

Amplification or increased expression of the c-erbB-2 gene has previously been reported to be a prognostic marker for breast cancer. Gene amplification is usually measured by Southern blotting, whereas increased protein expression is usually detected by immunocytochemistry. We measured c-erbB-2 protein with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Cancer prevention counseling on telephone helplines.

Since 1983, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has collected data by means of its Cancer Information Service (CIS), a toll-free telephone helpline for health care professionals and members of the public who have questions about cancer treatment, diagnosis, and prevention. These data reveal information about the characteristics of callers and their questions and about how inquiries reflect mass media promotions and secular trends. A request for a publication is the most common type of inquiry, followed by information about specific cancer sites, smoking prevention and cessation, other types of prevention, cancer treatment, cancer symptoms, referrals to physicians, NCI clinical trials, hospital and clinic-based screening programs, and general counseling or coping.