Maternal hypothyroidism in the rat influences placental and liver glycogen stores: fetal growth retardation near term is unrelated to maternal and placental glucose metabolic compromise.

Maternal hypothyroidism impairs fetal growth in the rat, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are unknown. Since the fetus derives its glucose supply from the mother, and maternal thyroidectomy may disturb maternal and placental glucose metabolism, we postulated that maternal and/or placental glucose metabolic compromise may contribute to fetal growth retardation in hypothyroid dams. Feto-placental growth, tissue glycogen stores and glucose levels in sera and amniotic fluid were determined in rat dams partially thyroidectomized (TX) before pregnancy and in euthyroid controls.

Influence of maternal hyperthyroidism in the rat on the expression of neuronal and astrocytic cytoskeletal proteins in fetal brain.

Maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy impairs brain function in human and rat offspring, but little is known regarding the influence of maternal hyperthyroidism on neurodevelopment. We have previously shown that the expression of neuronal and glial differentiation markers in fetal brain is compromised in hypothyroid rat dam pregnancies and have now therefore extended this investigation to hyperthyroid rat dams. Study groups comprised partially thyroidectomised dams, implanted with osmotic pumps infusing either vehicle (TX dams) or a supraphysiological dose of thyroxine (T4) (HYPER dams), and euthyroid dams infused with vehicle (N dams).

Identification of aster yellows phytoplasma in garlic and green onion by PCR-based methods.

In the summer of 1999, typical yellows-type symptoms were observed on garlic and green onion plants in a number of gardens and plots around Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. DNA was extracted from leaf tissues of evidently healthy and infected plants. DNA amplifications were conducted on these samples, using two primer pairs, R16F2n/R2 and R16(1)F1/R1, derived from phytoplasma rDNA sequences.

Randomized trial of breast self-examination in Shanghai: final results.

Background: Among women who practice breast self-examination (BSE), breast cancers may be detected when they are at an earlier stage and are smaller than in women who do not practice BSE. However, the efficacy of breast self-examination for decreasing breast cancer mortality is unproven. This study was conducted to determine whether an intensive program of BSE instruction will reduce the number of women dying of breast cancer.

Conflict of interest: the importance of potential.

The UK Medical Research Council (MRC) takes the issue of conflict of interest very seriously. The overall aim is to preserve a climate in which personal and organisational innovation can flourish while ensuring that potential conflicts are disclosed and identified and conflicts are either avoided or managed with integrity. The approach needs to encompass the MRC's various responsibilities and the levels at which conflicts might arise: MRC staff (scientists and administrators); the governing Council; research Boards and committees; external peer-reviewers; and applicants for funding.

Ab initio structure determination of BiPb2VO6 from powder diffraction data.

The crystal structure of BiPb2VO6 has been determined from powder diffraction data using a combination of direct methods and the novel approach of applying simulated annealing methods simultaneously to X-ray and neutron data; BiPb2VO6 is a polar, noncentrosymmetric, second harmonic generation active material and its crystal structure is one of the more complex to be solved ab initio from powder diffraction data.

The POLARIS gene of Arabidopsis encodes a predicted peptide required for correct root growth and leaf vascular patterning.

The POLARIS (PLS) gene of Arabidopsis was identified as a promoter trap transgenic line, showing beta-glucuronidase fusion gene expression predominantly in the embryonic and seedling root, with low expression in aerial parts. Cloning of the PLS locus revealed that the promoter trap T-DNA had inserted into a short open reading frame (ORF). Rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR, RNA gel blot analysis, and RNase protection assays showed that the PLS ORF is located within a short ( approximately 500 nucleotides) auxin-inducible transcript and encodes a predicted polypeptide of 36 amino acid residues.

Can warfarin be continued during dental extraction? Results of a randomized controlled trial.

A randomized controlled trial was set up to investigate whether patients who were taking warfarin and had an International Normalised Ratio (INR) within the normal therapeutic range require cessation of their anticoagulation drugs before dental extractions. Of 109 patients who completed the trial, 52 were allocated to the control group (warfarin stopped 2 days before extraction) and 57 patients were allocated to the intervention group (warfarin continued). The incidence of bleeding complications in the intervention group was higher (15/57, 26%) than in the control group (7/52, 14%) but this difference was not significant.

Maternal immunization with a herpes simplex virus type 2 replication-defective virus reduces visceral dissemination but not lethal encephalitis in newborn mice after oral challenge.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes devastating infections in newborns. Maternal immunization is one potential strategy to reduce neonatal HSV disease. Female mice were immunized with an HSV type 2 (HSV-2) replication-defective mutant (HSV-2 dl5-29, which is defective for the genes UL5 and UL29) and then mated.

Thyroid hormone regulates the expression of alpha-internexin in neurons in culture.

Maternal hypothyroidism in the rat compromises alpha-internexin (alpha-IN) expression in early fetal brain. We have therefore examined whether 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) regulates alpha-IN expression in fetal brain neurons in culture. Cells expressed transcripts encoding T3 nuclear receptor isoforms in a T3-independent manner.

Children's perceptions of unfair reward and punishment.

Being able to judge the fairness of a personal encounter and having an appreciation of the associated feelings are important components of prosocial development. This study explored a common feature of everyday experience: unfair reward and unfair punishment. Scenarios depicting 4 possible variants of unfairness were read to children aged 9 to 11 years, who then made judgments regarding the degree of unfairness and the nature and strength of the feelings experienced by the characters.

Thyroid hormone receptor expression in rat placenta.

The expression of c- erbAalpha and -beta encoded thyroid hormone receptors (TR) was investigated in rat placenta between 16 and 21 days of gestation (dg), and in fetal liver and brain at 16 dg, using semi-quantitative RT-PCR and nuclear 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T(3)) binding. TRalpha1, TRbeta1, c- erbAalpha 2 and c- erbAalpha 3 mRNA abundance was unchanged in placenta between 16 and 21 dg, as was the dissociation constant (K(d)) of T(3) binding. The maximal T(3) binding capacity (B(max)) in placenta doubled over this period, suggesting placental TR binding activity is post-transcriptionally regulated.

The Medical Research Council's approach to allegations of scientific misconduct.

The UK's Medical Research Council (MRC) introduced a specific policy and procedure for inquiring into allegations of scientific misconduct in December 1997; previously cases had been considered under normal disciplinary procedures. The policy formally covers staff employed in MRC units, but those in receipt of MRC grants in universities and elsewhere are expected to operate under similar policies. The MRC's approach is stepwise: preliminary action; assessment to establish prima facie evidence of misconduct; formal investigation; sanctions; and appeal.

The frequency of silencing in Arabidopsis thaliana varies highly between progeny of siblings and can be influenced by environmental factors.

In a collection of 111 transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines, silencing of the nptII gene was observed in 62 (56%) of the lines and three distinct nptII-silencing phenotypes were identified. Two T-DNA constructs were used, which differed in distance and orientation of the marker gene relative to the border sequences. Comparison of the sets of lines generated with each vector, indicate that the T-DNA construct configuration influence the incidence of lines displaying silencing, as well as the distribution of silencing phenotypes.

Having friends and Rett syndrome: how social relationships create meaningful contexts for limited skills.

Purpose: The experiences of a teenage girl with Rett syndrome who was being educated in an inclusive middle school are described to provide a better understanding of how social relationships create meaningful contexts for individuals with limited skills. The case example is used to illustrate the principle that contexts (including expectancies, acceptance, philosophical principles) can be designed to support meaningful social relationships, despite social and intellectual disabilities.

Method: Naturalistic observations of social interactions over a two year period are reported to illustrate the possible types of social relationship between this young person and her adolescent friends and peers.

Coping and catastrophizing in chronic pain: a psychometric analysis and comparison of two measures.

We analyzed and compared the psychometric properties of two measures of strategiesfor coping with pain:The Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) and the Cognitive Coping Strategies Inventory (CCSI). The CSQ and CCSI were repeatedly administered to 30 chronic pain patients. Several subscales of both measures showed inadequate internal consistency, and test-retest (one week interval) reliability lower than 0.

Uptake of aflatoxin B1 and T-2 toxin by two mycotoxin bioassay microorganisms: Kluyveromyces marxianus and Bacillus megaterium.

Uptake of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and trichothecene T-2 toxin from growth medium by mycotoxin bioassay strains of Klutyveomyces marxianus and Bacillus megaterium was assessed by incubating, washing, and sonicating the cells, extracting samples with chloroform, and analysing the extracts by a combination of high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and fluorescence densitometry. Using cultures of K. marxianus, the entire AFB1 dose was recovered and no AFB1 metabolites were detected.

Maternal thyroid status regulates the expression of neuronal and astrocytic cytoskeletal proteins in the fetal brain.

Maternal thyroid hormone (TH) crosses the placenta and is postulated to regulate fetal brain development. However, TH-dependent stages of fetal brain development remain to be characterised. We have therefore compared the levels of several neuronal and glial cytoskeletal proteins in fetal brains from normal (N) and partially thyroidectomised (TX) rat dams by immunoblotting.

Risk factors for a New Zealand sample of sexually abusive children and adolescents.

Objective: The aim was to understand variables contributing to the occurrence of sexual offending in children and adolescents.

Method: Twenty youngsters who had engaged in coercive sexual behavior involving other children were compared to a matched group of clinic-referred youngsters with conduct disorders. Assessments included family histories, interviews, and psychometric measures.

Defining effective community support for long-term psychiatric patients according to behavioural principles.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to define the characteristics of effective support in community mental health settings for patients with serious and persistent mental illness.

Method: A broad literature providing empirical evidence on competent caregiver behaviours and styles is selectively reviewed. Relevant findings from family caregiver research and studies of social environments that enhance skill development in people with intellectual disabilities are incorporated, within a cognitive-behavioural framework.

Thyroid hormone receptor gene expression in first trimester human fetal brain.

Maternal thyroid hormone is transferred to the fetus early in pregnancy and is postulated to regulate brain development. Thyroid hormone nuclear receptor (TR) proteins are present in fetal brain, but their isoformal composition is unknown. We therefore investigated the ontogeny of TR isoforms and related splice variants in first trimester human fetal brain (n = 9) by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Molecular and microscopical detection of aster yellows phytoplasma associated with infected parsnip.

Typical phytoplasma yellows symptoms were observed in parsnip (Pastinaca sativa L.) plants grown around Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Examination of ultrathin sections of leaf midribs by electron microscopy revealed numerous phytoplasma bodies localized in the phloem cells.

A Chandra High-Resolution X-ray Image of Centaurus A.

We present first results from a Chandra X-Ray Observatory observation of the radio galaxy Centaurus A with the High-Resolution Camera. All previously reported major sources of X-ray emission including the bright nucleus, the jet, individual point sources, and diffuse emission are resolved or detected. The spatial resolution of this observation is better than 1&arcsec; in the center of the field of view and allows us to resolve X-ray features of this galaxy not previously seen.