Requirement of leucine-rich repeats of glycoprotein (GP) Ibalpha for shear-dependent and static binding of von Willebrand factor to the platelet membrane GP Ib-IX-V complex.

The platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V complex mediates adhesion to von Willebrand factor (vWf) in (patho)physiologic thrombus formation. The vWf-binding site on GP Ib-IX-V is within the N-terminal 282 residues of GP Ibalpha, which consist of an N-terminal flanking sequence (His-1-Ile-35), 7 leucine-rich repeats (Leu-36-Ala-200), a C-terminal flank (Phe-201-Gly-268), and a sulfated tyrosine sequence (Asp-269-Glu-282). We have used mammalian cell expression of canine-human chimeras of GP Ibalpha, corresponding to precise structural boundaries, to demonstrate the first specific requirement for individual leucine-rich repeats for binding of vWf either induced by a modulator, ristocetin, or under hydrodynamic flow.

Salmonella spp. survey of captive rhinoceroses in U.S. zoological institutions and private ranches.

A survey was mailed to 72 institutions in the USA requesting information on Salmonella spp. cultures in black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis), white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum), and Indian rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis). Sixty-one institutions responded (85% return rate), with seven reporting positive cultures (11% prevalence rate; 10% if survey nonresponders had negative cultures).

Communicating prognosis in early breast cancer: do women understand the language used?

Objectives: To determine the degree to which women with early breast cancer understand the prognostic information communicated by clinicians after breast cancer diagnosis, and their preferences for how this information is presented.

Design: Cross-sectional survey conducted within two months of breast cancer diagnosis, using a self-administered written questionnaire.

Participants And Setting: One hundred women attending five Sydney teaching hospitals and one country hospital, who were diagnosed with early stage breast cancer between January and December 1997.

Cloning and expression of canine glycoprotein Ibalpha.

The interaction of the glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V complex with von Willebrand factor (vWF) is critical in initiation of haemostasis and thrombosis through platelet adhesion to damaged endothelium. The binding site for vWF resides within the GPIbalpha subunit of the complex. To further define the physiological function of platelet GPIbalpha we cloned and expressed the canine GPIbalpha cDNA.

In vitro susceptibilities of Burkholderia mallei in comparison to those of other pathogenic Burkholderia spp.

The in vitro antimicrobial susceptibilities of isolates of Burkholderia mallei to 16 antibiotics were assessed and compared with the susceptibilities of Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia cepacia. The antibiotic susceptibility profile of B. mallei resembled that of B.

Recent activities of EC4 in the harmonization of clinical chemistry in the European Union.

This article describes the recent activities of the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry (EC4). Main goal of EC4 is harmonization of clinical chemistry in the European Union and Europe. EC4's actions connected to that are training and registration of professionals, and accreditation of laboratories.

Rickets in two hand-reared polar bear (Ursus maritimus) cubs.

Two polar bear (Ursus maritimus) cubs born at the Denver Zoological Gardens were abandoned by a primiparous mother. Lethargic and extremely chilled, the cubs were transported to the zoo hospital for intensive care and hand rearing. Both cubs developed rickets.

The PDZ domain of the LIM protein enigma binds to beta-tropomyosin.

PDZ and LIM domains are modular protein interaction motifs present in proteins with diverse functions. Enigma is representative of a family of proteins composed of a series of conserved PDZ and LIM domains. The LIM domains of Enigma and its most related family member, Enigma homology protein, bind to protein kinases, whereas the PDZ domains of Enigma and family member actin-associated LIM protein bind to actin filaments.

The critical interaction of glycoprotein (GP) IBbeta with GPIX-a genetic cause of Bernard-Soulier syndrome.

Bernard-Soulier syndrome is an uncommon bleeding disorder caused by a quantitative or qualitative defect in the platelet glycoprotein (GP)Ib/IX complex. The complex is composed of four subunits, GPIbalpha, GPIbbeta, GPIX, and GPV. Here we describe the molecular basis of a novel Bernard-Soulier syndrome variant in a patient in whom GPIbalpha and GPIX were undetectable on the platelet surface.

Skin collagen glycation, glycoxidation, and crosslinking are lower in subjects with long-term intensive versus conventional therapy of type 1 diabetes: relevance of glycated collagen products versus HbA1c as markers of diabetic complications. DCCT Skin Collagen Ancillary Study Group. Diabetes Control and Complications Trial.

The relationships between long-term intensive control of glycemia and indicators of skin collagen glycation (furosine), glycoxidation (pentosidine and N(epsilon)-[carboxymethyl]-lysine [CML]), and crosslinking (acid and pepsin solubility) were examined in 216 patients with type 1 diabetes from the primary prevention and secondary intervention cohorts of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. By comparison with conventional treatment, 5 years of intensive treatment was associated with 30-32% lower furosine, 9% lower pentosidine, 9-13% lower CML, 24% higher acid-soluble collagen, and 50% higher pepsin-soluble collagen. All of these differences were statistically significant in the subjects of the primary prevention cohort (P < 0.

The development of ISO 9002 quality management standards for Canadian dental practices.

The department of dentistry of the Hospital for Sick Children has actively maintained a quality assurance system since the early 1980s. In addition, members of the department have taught courses and published articles on risk management and quality assurance for over a decade. The decision to achieve ISO 9002 registration led to an intensive 10-month process to adapt ISO systems and standards to Canadian institutional dental practice.

Evaluation of a laser Doppler flowmeter to assess blood flow in human primary incisor teeth.

Purpose: This study determined whether the portable Advance Laser Flowmeter Model 21, a clinical instrument, would indicate significant values when pulpal blood flow was present or absent; whether the analog output of the flowmeter was time-linked to the heart rate; and whether labial and lingual crown surfaces produced different flow values.

Methods: Teeth were tested under two conditions: with the teeth in situ and extracted, or with the pulp present and removed.

Results: Values before and after the teeth were extracted, and those before and after pulpectomy with the tooth in situ were significantly different.

The influence of storage conditions on the clonogenic capacity of periodontal ligament cells: implications for tooth replantation.

Viable periodontal ligament (PL) cells are required for PL healing of avulsed teeth following replantation. If immediate replantation cannot be accomplished, the ability of PL progenitor cells to reproduce (clonogenic capacity) and recolonize the wound may be extended by prevention of desiccation and storage in physiological media. This investigation examined the effects of storage in saliva, milk, Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) and Eagle's medium (alpha MEM) on the clonogenic capacity of human PL progenitor cells at 30 and 60 min extra-alveolar time.

Causes of blindness in the adult population of the Republic of Ireland.

Background/aim: Blindness in the developed countries affects 3.5 million people. This study was conducted on the causes of blindness in the Republic of Ireland based on the register of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland.

Identification and characterization of LMO4, an LMO gene with a novel pattern of expression during embryogenesis.

LMO4 is a novel member of the LIM-only (LMO) subfamily of LIM domain-containing transcription factors. LMO1, LMO2, and LMO4 have distinct expression patterns in adult tissue, and we demonstrate that nuclear retention of LMO proteins is enhanced by the nuclear LIM interactor (NLI). In situ hybridization to early mouse embryos of 8-14.

Interim storage of avulsed permanent teeth.

This literature review examines the effects of extra-alveolar duration and storage conditions on the healing of the periodontal ligament (PL) of avulsed teeth following replantation. A critical assessment of the so-called "reconstitution theory" for PL cells is also presented. The ideal treatment for an avulsed tooth is immediate replantation (i.

Naturally occurring mutations in glycoprotein Ibalpha that result in defective ligand binding and synthesis of a truncated protein.

The platelet GPIb-V-IX complex is the receptor for the initial binding of von Willebrand factor (vWF) mediating platelet adhesion. The complex is composed of four membrane-spanning glycoproteins (GP): GPIbalpha, GPIbbeta, GPIX, and GPV. Bernard-Soulier syndrome results from a qualitative or quantitative defect in one or more components of the platelet membrane GPIb-V-IX complex.

Effect of water temperature on dermal exposure to chloroform.

We have developed and applied a new measurement methodology to investigate dermal absorption of chloroform while bathing. Ten subjects bathed in chlorinated water while breathing pure air through a face mask. Their exhaled breath was delivered to a glow discharge source/ion trap mass spectrometer for continuous real-time measurement of chloroform in the breath.

Survival of avulsed permanent maxillary incisors in children following delayed replantation.

The purpose of this study was to identify the variables that significantly influenced the survival of incisors replanted after extended extra-alveolar duration at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, between June 1988 and December 1993. Survival analysis was used to identify variables that significantly influence the retention of replanted incisor teeth. Survival was defined as the time that elapsed between the replantation of an avulsed incisor and the time it was finally lost.

Extraction of bituminous coal fly ash for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons: evaluation of modified and unmodified supercritical fluid extraction, enhanced fluidity solvents, and accelerated solvent extraction.

A comparison among supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), modified SFE, enhanced-fluidity extraction, and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) techniques was made for the extraction of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from an aged, spiked bituminous coal fly ash. Non-ASE extraction techniques used in this study could not recover PAHs with molecular weights greater than that of pyrene. ASE techniques using methylene chloride (with and without a static step) and toluene were able to recover most of the PAHs studied.

Extraction of lignite coal fly ash for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons: modified and unmodified supercritical fluid extraction, enhanced-fluidity solvents, and accelerated solvent extraction.

A comparison among modified and unmodified supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), enhanced-fluidity liquid extraction, and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) techniques was made for the extraction of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from an aged, spiked lignite coal fly ash. All of the attempted extraction conditions allowed the extraction of the PAHs to some degree, but no single extraction technique proved to be superior for all of the PAHs used. Three groups of PAHs with similar extraction efficiencies were identified.