ChanFAD: A Functional Annotation Database for Ion Channels.

Ion channels are integral membrane protein complexes critical for regulation of membrane potential, cell volume, and other signaling events. As complex molecular assemblies with many interacting partners, ion channels have multiple structural and functional domains. While channel sequence and functional data are readily available across multiple online resources, there is an unmet need for functional annotation directly relating primary sequence information, 2D interactions, and three-dimensional protein structure.

Food-induced anaphylaxis and cofactors - data from the anaphylaxis registry.

Food allergens are frequent causes of anaphylaxis. In particular in children and adolescents they are the most frequent elicitors of severe allergic reactions, and in adults food allergens rank third behind insect venom and drugs. Since July 2006 severe allergic reactions from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are collected in the anaphylaxis registry.

Reported Exercise-Related Respiratory Symptoms and Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Asthmatic Children.

Background: Unlimited physical activity is one of the key issues of asthma control and management. We investigated how reliable reported exercise-related respiratory symptoms (ERRS) are in predicting exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in asthmatic children.

Methods: In this prospective study, 179 asthmatic children aged 7 - 15 years were asked for specific questions on respiratory symptoms related to exercise and allocated into two groups according to whether they complained about symptoms.

Dissociations between developmental dyslexias and attention deficits.

We examine whether attention deficits underlie developmental dyslexia, or certain types of dyslexia, by presenting double dissociations between the two. We took into account the existence of distinct types of dyslexia and of attention deficits, and focused on dyslexias that may be thought to have an attentional basis: letter position dyslexia (LPD), in which letters migrate within words, attentional dyslexia (AD), in which letters migrate between words, neglect dyslexia, in which letters on one side of the word are omitted or substituted, and surface dyslexia, in which words are read via the sublexical route. We tested 110 children and adults with developmental dyslexia and/or attention deficits, using extensive batteries of reading and attention.

Bone marrow transplantation for cartilage-hair-hypoplasia.

The association of cartilage hair hypoplasia (CHH) with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has been known for more than three decades. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) remains the only effective treatment that might cure SCID. Surprisingly little has been reported on the experience with BMT in CHH.

Characterization of an immortalized human granulosa cell line (COV434).

We have investigated the biological characteristics of an immortalized granulosa cell line (COV434), which may be used to study follicular and oocyte maturation in vitro. Granulosa cell function was defined as consisting of three distinct properties: (i) production of 17beta-oestradiol in response to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH); (ii) presence of specific molecular markers of apoptosis enabling the induction of follicular atresia; and (iii) capacity to form intercellular connections with cells surrounding an oocyte. The addition of FSH to the culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum and 4-androstene-3,17-dione resulted in proliferation of the COV434 granulosa cells and in an increased synthesis of 17beta-oestradiol, indicating the presence of the FSH receptor and cytochrome P450 aromatase in these cells.

PR-1 protein inhibits the differentiation of rust infection hyphae in leaves of acquired resistant broad bean.

Treatment of broad bean leaves with salicylic acid (SA) or 2, 6-dichloro-isonicotinic acid (DCINA) induces resistance against the rust fungus Uromyces fabae resulting in reduced rust pustule density. Light-microscopy studies showed that in induced resistant plants the rust fungus is inhibited immediately after penetration through the stomatal pore. The differentiation of infection structures growing within the intercellular space of the leaf, i.

Evaluation of the interface between one-bottle bonding agents and dentin by cryopreparation and low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM). A pilot study on perfused dentinal samples.

Objectives: Dentin bonding samples are generally observed in the high vacuum chamber of an electron microscope only after completion of the bonding procedure fixation, dehydration and drying of the specimens. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of each step in the application of various one-bottle dentin bonding agents (DBA) using cryopreparation followed by low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM).

Methods: Prime&Bond 2.

Marginal adaptation of titanium frameworks produced by CAD/CAM techniques.

This study evaluated the Digitizing Computer System (DCS Production) for computer-controlled fabrication of titanium copings. The three-dimensional shape of the crown preparations was acquired through micropalpation with a contact digitizer on the master cast. In this in vitro study the marginal fit of computer-machined titanium frameworks for veneered crowns was assessed using scanning electron microscopy.

Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type III.

Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome (TRPS) type III is a newly defined clinical entity. This symptom complex is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and clinically characterized by growth retardation, craniofacial abnormalities, severe brachydactyly and sparse hair. In addition, absence of mental retardation and cartilaginous exostoses are required for the diagnosis of TRPS III.

Marginal fit of prefabricated crowns of the Ha-Ti implant system: an in vitro scanning electron microscopic study.

This study investigated the marginal fit of the prefabricated crowns for the Ha-Ti implant system using scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrated that the mean gap between the crown margin and the implant base was less than 3 micrometers following simulated ceramic firing and continuous loading in vitro.

[Hair-like hyperkeratoses in patients with kidney transplants. A new cyclosporin side-effect].

We report a 31-year-old renal transplant patient treated with cyclosporin A who developed an unusual sebaceous gland hyperplasia accompanied by a disseminated follicular spiny hyperkeratosis. Those alterations were most evident on his face and limbs. In some locations hairy hyperkeratosis with authentic hair neogenesis was found.

A new clinical disorder of twisted and rolled body hairs with multiple, large knots.

Background: We present a new hair disorder characterized by an unusual twisting and matting of body hairs. This disorder may occur as an acquired or, possibly, an inherited trait.

Objective: Our purpose was to analyze the clinical features of three patients and report the changes revealed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Pili trianguli et canaliculi: a distinctive hair shaft defect leading to uncombable hair.

Uncombable hair syndrome refers to a clinical disorder characterized by scalp hairs arranged in bundles in all directions that resist to brush and comb. Several entities may lead to spun-glass hair. As a rule the syndrome becomes obvious during the first years of life.

Effectiveness of open flap root debridement with rubber cups, interdental plastic tips and prophy paste. An SEM study.

This study was designed to ascertain whether conservative cleaning of surgically-exposed root surfaces can achieve complete plaque removal. 10 single-rooted teeth (40 surfaces) from 4 patients with advanced periodontitis were included in the study. After flap reflection, the root surfaces were cleaned using only rubber cups, EVA plastic tips and prophy paste.

Non-surgical periodontal treatment: where are the limits? An SEM study.

In the present scanning electron microscopic study, the possibilities and limitations of non-surgical root planing were investigated. 10 single-rooted teeth from 4 patients with advanced periodontitis were studied. The root surfaces were cleaned and planed without flap reflection, using fine curettes.

Coronin, an actin binding protein of Dictyostelium discoideum localized to cell surface projections, has sequence similarities to G protein beta subunits.

A soluble actin binding protein of Dictyostelium discoideum cells has been extracted and purified from precipitated actin-myosin complexes. This protein with a relative molecular mass of 55 kDa has been named coronin because of its association with crown-shaped cell surface projections of growth-phase D. discoideum cells.

[In-vitro research on the precision of the marginal adaptation of computer-milled titanium crowns (I). Scanning electron microscopy marginal fissure analysis].

The Digitising Computer System (DCS) can be mechanically programmed to produce computer-milled titanium frameworks for veneered ceramic single crowns using three-dimensional computer models. Titanium frameworks were constructed in this way during the present in-vitro investigation involving twelve extracted teeth with shoulder or chamfered preparation. An electron scanning microscope was used to evaluate the marginal accuracy of fit of the cemented crowns.