T-cell responses induced in normal volunteers immunized with a DNA-based vaccine containing HIV-1 env and rev.

Objective: An effective HIV-1 vaccine will likely need to induce strong cell-mediated immunity in humans. Therefore, we examined the ability of a DNA HIV-1 vaccine to induce a T-cell response in HIV-1 seronegative humans.

Design: Individuals were enrolled in a phase I clinical trial of safety and immune responses to an env/rev-containing plasmid at doses of 100, 300 or 1000 microg.

Osteoid osteoma of the distal humerus mimicking tennis elbow.

Osteoid osteoma is an uncommon bony neoplasm which rarely occurs in the elbow region. We present a case in a sixteen year old male whose symptoms were suggestive of lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, and he had been treated as such for a period of eighteen months. CT scan and isotope bone scan showed typical features of osteoid osteoma and his symptoms resolved rapidly following excision of the lesion.

Crystallographic investigation of the role of aspartate 95 in the modulation of the redox potentials of Desulfovibrio vulgaris flavodoxin.

The side chain of aspartate 95 in flavodoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris provides the closest negative charge to N(1) of the bound FMN in the protein. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to substitute alanine, asparagine, or glutamate for this amino acid to assess the effect of this charge on the semiquinone/hydroquinone redox potential (E(1)) of the FMN cofactor. The D95A mutation shifts the E(1) redox potential positively by 16 mV, while a negative shift of 23 mV occurs in the oxidized/semiquinone midpoint redox potential (E(2)).

A biomechanical analysis of fixation of intra-articular distal radial fractures with calcium-phosphate bone cement.

Background: Calcium phosphate cement has been used to treat unstable fractures of the distal end of the radius with the intent of avoiding the stiffness and morbidity associated with prolonged immobilization in a cast or external fixation. The purpose of this study was to compare the stability of the fracture fragments after fixation with augmented calcium phosphate cement with that after alternative methods of percutaneous fracture treatment.

Methods: Both an osteotomy and osteoclasis were used to create a model of an intra-articular fracture of the distal part of the radius (AO type C2) with dorsal bone loss in seven pairs of fresh-frozen upper extremities.

Seed-specific overexpression of a potato sucrose transporter increases sucrose uptake and growth rates of developing pea cotyledons.

During the storage phase, cotyledons of developing pea seeds are nourished by nutrients released to the seed apoplasm by their maternal seed coats. Sucrose is transported into pea cotyledons by sucrose/H+ symport mediated by PsSUT1 and possibly other sucrose symporters. PsSUT1 is principally localised to plasma membranes of cotyledon epidermal and subepidermal transfer cells abutting the seed coat.

Plasticity of seed protein composition in response to nitrogen and sulfur availability.

Seed composition is genetically programmed, but the implementation of that program is affected by many factors including the nutrition of the parent plant. In particular, seeds demonstrate a remarkable capacity to maintain nitrogen homeostasis in conditions of varying sulfur supply. They do this by altering the expression of individual genes encoding abundant storage proteins.

Eradication of established tumors by vaccination with Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles delivering human papillomavirus 16 E7 RNA.

The etiological role of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in cervical and other cancers suggests that therapeutic vaccines directed against requisite viral antigens may eradicate tumors or their precursors. A Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) alphavirus vector delivering the HPV16 E7 RNA was evaluated for antitumor efficacy using a murine E7+ tumor model. Vaccination with VEE replicon particles expressing E7 (E7-VRP) induced class I-restricted CD8+ T-cell responses as determined by IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT), tetramer, and cytotoxicity assays.

Analytical evaluation of the Bio-Rad variant II automated HbA(1C) analyzer.

Objectives: To evaluate the analytical performance of the Bio-Rad Variant II HbA(1C) analyzer (a completely automated system for the quantification of glycohemoglobin [HbA(1C)] in blood).

Design And Methods: The analytical parameters of precision, linearity and analytical range were assessed and HbA(1C) results from the Variant II were compared to HbA(1C) results from the Bio-Rad Variant (a method certified by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program). The effect of a variety of hemoglobin variants on HbA(1C) obtained on the system was investigated.

Premature hair greying may predict reduced bone mineral density in Graves' disease.

Background: Premature hair greying has been associated with low bone mineral density (BMD), and it may be more frequent in Graves' disease.

Aims: To determine whether premature greying is associated with reduced BMD in women with Graves' disease and in control women, and to examine whether premature greying is more common in Graves' disease.

Methods: Premature greying (> 50% grey by 40 years) and BMD were determined in 44 women with a history of Graves' disease and 133 female controls referred for routine BMD measurement.

Terthienyl and poly-terthienyl ligands as redox-switchable hemilabile ligands for oxidation-state-dependent molecular uptake and release.

Mononuclear, dinuclear, and polymeric Ru(II) complexes formed from terthienylalkylphosphino redox-switchable hemilabile ligands demonstrate that this class of ligand provides electrochemical control over the electronic properties, coordination environments, and reactivities of bound transition metals. Specifically, [CpRuCO(kappa(2)-3'-(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)-5,5' '-dimethyl-2,2':5',2' '-terthiophene)][B(C(6)H(3)-3,5-(CF(3))(2))(4)] (4a) exhibits a 3 orders of magnitude increase in binding affinity for acetonitrile upon terthienyl-based oxidation. FT-IR spectroelectrochemical experiments on 4a indicate that terthienyl-based oxidation removes electron density from the metal center, equivalent to approximately 11-17% of the electronic change that occurs upon direct oxidation of Ru(II) to Ru(III) in analogous complexes.

Isolation and characterization of a thermostable endo-beta-glucanase active on 1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucans from the aerobic fungus talaromyces emersonii CBS 814.70.

A novel endoglucanase active on 1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucans was purified to apparent homogeneity from submerged cultures of the moderately thermophilic aerobic fungus Talaromyces emersonii CBS 814.70. The enzyme is a single subunit glycoprotein with M(r) and pI values of 40.

Defined flanking spacers and enhanced proteolysis is essential for eradication of established tumors by an epitope string DNA vaccine.

Loss of immunogenic epitopes by tumors has urged the development of vaccines against multiple epitopes. Recombinant DNA technologies have opened the possibility to develop multiepitope vaccines in a relatively rapid and efficient way. We have constructed four naked DNA-based multiepitope vaccines, containing CTL, Th cell, and B cell epitopes of the human papillomavirus type 16.

Trace element homeostasis during continuous sedation with propofol containing EDTA versus other sedatives in critically ill patients.

Objective: To evaluate changes in serum and urinary zinc, cobalt, copper, iron, and calcium concentrations in critically ill patients receiving propofol containing disodium edetate (disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA]) versus sedative agents without EDTA.

Design: This was a randomised, open-label, parallel-group study with randomisation stratified by baseline Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) scores.

Setting: Intensive care units (ICU) in 23 medical centres.

Plasmid DNA-expressed secreted and nonsecreted forms of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D2 induce different types of immune responses.

Herpes simplex viruses (HSVs) are significant pathogens and major targets of vaccine development. Several attempts have been made to develop prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for HSV types 1 and 2. Although these vaccines elicit strong humoral responses, the overall impact on pathology has been disappointing.

Herpes simplex virus DNA vaccine efficacy: effect of glycoprotein D plasmid constructs.

The impact of vaccination with plasmid DNA encoding full-length glycoprotein D (gD) from herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 (gD2), secreted gD2, or cytosolic gD2 was evaluated in mice and guinea pigs. Immunization with plasmids encoding full-length gD2 or secreted gD2 produced high antibody levels, whereas immunization with DNA encoding cytosolic gD2 resulted in significantly lower antibody titers in both species (P<.001).

Characterization of a new class of DNA delivery complexes formed by the local anesthetic bupivacaine.

Bupivacaine, a local anesthetic and cationic amphiphile, forms stable liposomal-like structures upon direct mixing with plasmid DNA in aqueous solutions. These structures are on the order of 50-70 nm as determined by scanning electron microscopy, and are homogeneous populations as analyzed by density gradient centrifugation. The DNA within these structures is protected from nuclease degradation and UV-induced damage in vitro.

Is high titre ANA specific for connective tissue disease?

Objective: A positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), while sensitive, is not specific for systemic lupus erythematosus or connective tissue diseases (CTD). The purpose of the present study was to review those sera with a high titre (> or = dilutions above screening) ANA and determine from a review of the charts if these higher titres offered a satisfactory specificity for CTD.

Methods: All FANA testing in this region is carried out in one of two related laboratories.