Abnormal dendritic spines in fragile X knockout mice: maturation and pruning deficits.

Fragile X syndrome arises from blocked expression of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Golgi-impregnated mature cerebral cortex from fragile X patients exhibits long, thin, tortuous postsynaptic spines resembling spines observed during normal early neocortical development. Here we describe dendritic spines in Golgi-impregnated cerebral cortex of transgenic fragile X gene (Fmr1) knockout mice that lack expression of the protein.

Fragile X mental retardation protein is translated near synapses in response to neurotransmitter activation.

Local translation of proteins in distal dendrites is thought to support synaptic structural plasticity. We have previously shown that metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1) stimulation initiates a phosphorylation cascade, triggering rapid association of some mRNAs with translation machinery near synapses, and leading to protein synthesis. To determine the identity of these mRNAs, a cDNA library produced from distal nerve processes was used to screen synaptic polyribosome-associated mRNA.

Accumulation of Diplostomum spp. (Digenea: Diplostomatidae) metacercariae in the eyes of 0+ and 1+ roach (Rutilus rutilus).

Unlike other long-term studies of Diplostomum spp. metacercariae in fish eyes, this study investigated accumulation of the parasites in the eyes of very young roach for 3 consecutive years. Fish were caught by electro-fishing in the summers of 1990, 1991 and 1992 and the numbers of parasites located in the hosts eyes were recorded.

The structure and formation of metacercarial cysts in the trematode family Microphallidae travassos 1920.

This study deals with the formation of the metacercarial cysts of four microphallid trematodes, Maritrema subdolum, M. arenaria, Levinseniella brachysoma and Microphallus claviformis. The first observable cyst was present around Maritrema arenaria 18 h p.

Synthetic spider dragline silk proteins and their production in Escherichia coli.

Synthetic genes were designed to encode analogs of the two proteins of Nephila clavipes dragline silk, spidroins 1 and 2. The genes were constructed of tandem repeats of relatively long (more than 300 bp) DNA sequences assembled from synthetic oligonucleotides, and encoded proteins of high molecular mass (65-163 kDa). Both analogs were produced efficiently in Escherichia coli.

Experience with schistosomiasis in Northern Ireland.

Five cases of schistosomiasis have been recorded in the Belfast City Hospital Histopathology Laboratory over the last three years. The sites of infection have included the colon, bladder, uterus and seminal vesicles. All the infected individuals had visited Africa.

A prospective study of adult inguinal hernia repairs using absorbable sutures.

A prospective study was conducted over a 5-year period to determine whether inguinal hernia repair could be safely performed with absorbable suture material (polydioxanone) with reference to recurrence rates, wound pain, haematoma formation and wound infection. Analysis is available for 111 operations involving 111 patients. Mean follow-up was 36 (range 21-66) months, with 81 procedures monitored for more than 2 years.

Increased density of multiple-head dendritic spines on medium-sized spiny neurons of the striatum in rats reared in a complex environment.

It has generally been assumed that new synapses added to various brain regions in response to experience are equivalent to those already in existence. Theorists have recently posited that synaptic configurations involving multiple associated contacts may facilitate plastic change. The number of multiple-headed dendritic spines on medium-sized spiny neurons in the rat dorsolateral corpus striatum was determined following rearing in environments differing in complexity.

Age related distributive justice and claims on resources.

The ageing population structure, and claims on resources by non-working groups, are seen by many to be contributing to a growing welfare crisis. In their arguments, relations between age groups and generations will become increasingly fraught, and welfare arrangements will be undermined, as 'unacceptable' levels of taxation blight the experience of a contracting workforce, required to resource a growing welfare population. However, more seems to be known about researchers' views on distributive justice than is known about the perceptions of their subject populations.

Unnecessary delays in accident and emergency departments: do medical and surgical senior house officers need to vet admissions?

Work was carried out to determine whether patients requiring emergency medical or surgical admission to hospital via accident and emergency (A&E) departments benefit from initial assessment by the ward senior house officer (SHO) as well as the A&E SHO. Two comparable consultant-led A&E departments sharing the same catchment population and receiving similar numbers of new patients each year were studied. A panel of four consultants audited the A&E notes and in-patient records of consecutive emergency medical and surgical patients admitted to two hospitals over the same 6 month period.

Linear IgA disease (LAD): immunoglobulin deposition in oral and colonic lesions.

Two cases of adult linear IgA disease (LAD) with oral and colonic involvement are presented. Oral findings, for both patients, were of widespread painful ulceration present for two to three months and diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy and direct immunofluorescence. Colonic symptoms preceded oral symptoms in both cases and a number of investigations were undertaken, including routine histological examination, which suggested either lymphocytic colitis or Crohn's disease.

The life cycle stages of three Diplostomum species maintained in the laboratory.

The taxonomy of Diplostomum species is in a highly confused state due to synonomy and descriptions based on only one life cycle stage. The objective of this study was to establish and maintain life cycles of several Diplostomum species in the laboratory so that accurate and detailed descriptions could be made. Metacercariae taken from the eyes of fresh water fish were identified using the key of Shigin (1986).

Irradiated polyglactin 910: a new synthetic absorbable suture.

Two hundred and thirty-six patients had a variety of skin and mucosal wounds sutured with a new rapidly absorbed suture material (irradiated polyglactin 910). No wound complications could be attributed to the material. These included 62 patients with scalp wounds, taking part in a comparative trial with traditional interrupted, monofilament, non-absorbable suturing.

Life-cycle description and comparison of Diplostomum spathaceum (Rudolphi, 1819) and D. pseudobaeri (Razmaskin & Andrejak, 1978) from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) maintained in identical hosts.

Precise identification of members of the genus Diplostomum is difficult in that many larval stages have been described and named separately from their adult forms. In this study, the life cycles of two Diplostomum spp. were established using metacercariae obtained from the eyes of rainbow trout.

Herniography for occult hernia and groin pain.

In a prospective 3-year study herniography was used to assess patients with unexplained groin pain in whom clinical signs were inconclusive. Fifty-two patients were studied. No serious complications were observed.

Malignant obstruction of the left colon.

The management of malignant obstruction of the colon distal to the splenic flexure is controversial. The 'traditional' three-stage procedure is marred by frequent failure to complete the planned sequence of operations and a resulting high permanent stoma rate. At each stage the mortality rate (7 per cent) and morbidity rate (30 per cent) are significant.

Amplitude of accommodation for different head positions and different directions of eye gaze.

One of the theories of the mechanism of presbyopia is the Hess-Gullstrand theory. This theory predicts that amplitude of accommodation should increase in downgaze because of movement of the lens under the influence of gravity, and that this should be more marked for older than for younger subjects. We assessed this theory by measuring the effect of direction of eye gaze and head posture on amplitude of accommodation for two age groups.

The ecology of host-finding behaviour and parasite transmission: past and future perspectives.

Host location by parasites can be achieved by either active or passive mechanisms. In spite of their significance, the efficacy of these methods has been little researched. High fecundity in parasites is discussed in terms of the role it plays in dispersal and transmission.

Cloning and characterization of Neisseria meningitidis genes encoding the transferrin-binding proteins Tbp1 and Tbp2.

Genes tbp1 and tbp2, encoding the transferrin-binding proteins Tbp1 and Tbp2, have been isolated from two strains of Neisseria meningitidis. The tbp2 and tbp1 open reading frames are tandemly arranged in the genome with an 87-bp intergenic region, and the DNA region upstream from the tbp2-coding sequence contains domains homologous to Escherichia coli promoter consensus motives. Nucleotide sequence analysis suggests the existence of a Tbp1 precursor carrying an N-terminal signal peptide with a peptidase I cleavage site and of a Tbp2 precursor with N-terminal homology to lipoproteins, including a peptidase II cleavage site.

Computational prediction of the stability of lipid emulsions in total nutrient admixtures.

The relationships between the stability of lipid emulsions in a number of parenteral total nutrient admixtures (TNAs) and their electrokinetic properties were examined. Previous studies have attempted to measure or calculate zeta potentials of lipid emulsions in nutrient admixtures to rationalize their stability behavior, but there has been no demonstration that zeta potentials do actually determine emulsion stability or that such computational approaches can be successful. The present study demonstrates that emulsion stability in a range of TNAs is dependent on the emulsion zeta potential and also that van der Waals forces, influenced by the presence of glucose, are important.

Preparation and analysis of isogenic mutants in the transferrin receptor protein genes, tbpA and tbpB, from Neisseria meningitidis.

Isogenic mutants were constructed in the tbpA and tbpB genes from Neisseria meningitidis strain B16B6, which code for the transferrin receptor proteins, Tbp1 and Tbp2. Insertion mutants of the tbpA and tbpB genes were obtained by shuttle mutagenesis and by in vitro cassette mutagenesis, respectively. The isogenic mutants were verified by Southern blot and Western blot analysis.