Full-length genome sequencing of HIV type 1 group O viruses isolated from a heterosexual transmission cluster in Senegal.

In a polygamous marriage in Senegal, the husband and his two spouses were infected with HIV-1 group O. This study provides new full-length genome sequences for the two spouses (99SE-MP1299 and 99SE-MP1300) and the 3'-end LTR-tat fragment (6084 bp) for the husband (98SE-42HALD). Phylogenetic tree and diversity plot analysis revealed that the new viruses belong to HIV-1 group O and that they are closely related to each other in a cluster around ANT-70.

The modular nature of histone deacetylase HDAC4 confers phosphorylation-dependent intracellular trafficking.

In C2C12 myoblasts, endogenous histone deacetylase HDAC4 shuttles between cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments, supporting the hypothesis that its subcellular localization is dynamically regulated. However, upon differentiation, this dynamic equilibrium is disturbed and we find that HDAC4 accumulates in the nuclei of myotubes, suggesting a positive role of nuclear HDAC4 in muscle differentiation. Consistent with the notion of regulation of HDAC4 intracellular trafficking, we reveal that HDAC4 contains a modular structure consisting of a C-terminal autonomous nuclear export domain, which, in conjunction with an internal regulatory domain responsive to calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV), determines its subcellular localization.

Screening for subclinical stenosis in native vessel arteriovenous fistulae.

Guidelines recommend the use of ultrasound dilution techniques (UDT), including measurement of access recirculation (AR) and access blood flow (Q(a)), to screen for subclinical vascular access dysfunction. Although these techniques are efficacious in polytetrafluoroethylene grafts, data in native vessel arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are lacking. A prospective observational study was conducted to evaluate the utility of UDT screening in AVF.

Role of angiotensin II in altered baroreflex function of conscious rabbits during late pregnancy.

Objective: Pregnancy alters baroreflex control of heart rate in conscious rabbits, but the mechanism for this action is unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that endogenous angiotensin II is the mediator.

Study Design: To test this hypothesis the baroreflex relationship between arterial pressure and heart rate in conscious rabbits was determined before and after administration of the angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist losartan (n = 7) before pregnancy and at the end of gestation.

Drug-seeking behavior in urolithiasis in the noncontrast computed tomography era: 2 cases.

Symptomatic urolithiasis is usually treated with narcotic pain management. This leads to the potential for use of its symptoms for personal gain. Historically, the typical presentation of a narcotic-seeking "stone patient" was a history of radiolucent stones and an intravenous contrast allergy.

Treatment of dogs infected with Hepatozoon americanum: 53 cases (1989-1998).

Objective: To determine clinical and pathologic findings before and after short-term (group 1) and long-term (group 2) treatment in dogs with Hepatozoon americanum infection.

Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: 53 dogs with H.

A comparison of radical retropubic with perineal prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer within the Uniformed Services Urology Research Group.

Objective: To review and compare the outcome of patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) or radical perineal prostatectomy (RPP) for clinically localized prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: From 1988 to 1997, 1382 men who were treated by RRP and 316 by RPP were identified from databases of the Uniformed Services Urology Research Group. The following variables were assessed; age, race, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level before surgery, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason sum, estimated blood loss (EBL), margin-positive rate, pathological stage, biochemical recurrence rate, short and long-term complication rates, impotence and incontinence rates.

Expression of a renin/GFP transgene in mouse embryonic, extra-embryonic, and adult tissues.

A reporter construct was assembled with 4-kb of renin 5'-flanking sequence fused to humanized green fluorescent protein (GFP) cDNA. Transgenic mice carrying this construct were produced and assayed for GFP expression. In the adult, expression was detected in juxtaglomerular (JG) cells of the kidney and granular convoluted tubular cells of the submandibular gland.

Prostate cancer in men age 50 years or younger: a review of the Department of Defense Center for Prostate Disease Research multicenter prostate cancer database.

Purpose: Prostate cancer in men age 50 years or younger traditionally has accounted for approximately 1% of those diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prior studies of prostate cancer in men of this age led many clinicians to believe that they have a less favorable outcome than older men. Most of these studies were conducted before the advent of prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening programs.

High-field electrical transport in single-wall carbon nanotubes.

Using low-resistance electrical contacts, we have measured the intrinsic high-field transport properties of metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes. Individual nanotubes appear to be able to carry currents with a density exceeding 10(9) A/cm(2). As the bias voltage is increased, the conductance drops dramatically due to scattering of electrons.

Current management of severely encrusted ureteral stents with a large associated stone burden.

Purpose: We review our recent experience with encrusted retained ureteral stents associated with a large stone burden as well as current endoscopic options available for management.

Materials And Methods: One man and 3 women presented to our department between May 1998 and April 1999 for treatment of an encrusted retained ureteral stent. One patient had a history of 3 episodes of ureteral stent encrustation during the last 6 years.

Structural basis for the species-specific activity of TFIIS.

Many proteins involved in eukaryotic transcription are similar in function and in sequence between organisms. Despite the sequence similarities, there are many factors that do not function across species. For example, transcript elongation factor TFIIS is highly conserved among eukaryotes, and yet the TFIIS protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cannot function with mammalian RNA polymerase II and vice versa.

Genetic interactions between TFIIS and the Swi-Snf chromatin-remodeling complex.

The eukaryotic transcript elongation factor TFIIS enables RNA polymerase II to read through blocks to elongation in vitro and interacts genetically with a variety of components of the transcription machinery in vivo. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the gene encoding TFIIS (PPR2) is not essential, and disruption strains exhibit only mild phenotypes and an increased sensitivity to 6-azauracil. The nonessential nature of TFIIS encouraged the use of a synthetic lethal screen to elucidate the in vivo roles of TFIIS as well as provide more information on other factors involved in the regulation of transcript elongation.

HER-2/neu is a tumor rejection target in tolerized HER-2/neu transgenic mice.

HER-2/neu (neu-N) transgenic mice, which express the nontransforming rat proto-oncogene, develop spontaneous focal mammary adenocarcinomas beginning at 5-6 months of age. The development and histology of these tumors bears a striking resemblance to what is seen in patients with breast cancer. We have characterized the immunological responses to HER-2/neu (neu) in this animal model.

Sildenafil citrate-associated priapism.

We report the first case of priapism associated with the use of sildenafil citrate. The patient was a 28-year-old man with mild erectile dysfunction after penile trauma who self-treated with a 100-mg dose of sildenafil citrate, resulting in low-flow priapism. After aspiration and intracorporal injection of alpha-agonists, the priapism resolved.

Impact of body weight on urinary electrolytes in urinary stone formers.

Objectives: Obesity increases the risk of developing chronic medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. We performed a retrospective review of a large data base on urinary stones to determine if differences are found in urine and serum chemistries among obese and nonobese stone-forming patients. The effect of body weight on stone recurrence among urinary stone formers was also determined.

Placebo-controlled study of fluvoxamine in the treatment of patients with compulsive buying.

Compulsive buying is a syndrome characterized by the impulsive and/or compulsive buying of unneeded objects that results in personal distress, impairment in vocational or social functioning, and/or financial problems. Results from a two-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled 13-week trial of fluvoxamine are presented. Subjects had problematic buying behavior that they could not control for the previous 6 months or longer and met DSM-IV criteria for impulse control disorder-not otherwise specified (ICD-NOS) and the University of Cincinnati criteria for compulsive buying.

Interleukin-1beta induces complement component C3 and IL-6 production at the basolateral and apical membranes in a human intestinal epithelial cell line.

In previous studies, stimulation of cultured enterocytes with IL-1beta resulted in production of IL-6 and complement component C3. The cellular mechanisms of these responses in the enterocyte are not fully understood. We tested the hypothesis that IL-1beta-induced C3 and IL-6 production is differentially regulated at the apical and basolateral membranes of the enterocyte.

Unenhanced helical computed tomography in the evaluation of acute flank pain.

Noncontrast helical computed tomography has rapidly replaced other imaging modalities in the evaluation of patients with acute flank pain. New studies from multiple centers have compared helical computed tomography directly with intravenous urography in large numbers of patients, confirming the value of the former. It is highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of ureterolithiasis, including the visualization of ureteral calculi and secondary signs of obstruction.

Expression and localization of p53 and bcl-2 in healing wounds in diabetic and nondiabetic mice.

In a healing wound, inflammatory cells undergo apoptosis immediately beneath the leading edge of migrating epithelium. A potential mediator of this apoptosis pattern is p53, a protein with antiproliferative effects. Another protein, bcl-2, is antagonistic to p53 and prevents apoptosis.

Activation of orphan receptor-mediated transcription by Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV.

Retinoid-related receptor alpha (RORalpha) is an orphan nuclear receptor that constitutively activates transcription from its cognate response element. We show that RORalpha is Ca(2+ )responsive, and a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-independent form of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV) potentiates RORalpha-dependent transcription 20- to 30-fold. Other orphan receptors including RORalpha2, RORgamma and COUP-TFI are also potentiated by CaMKIV.

Impact of socioeconomic status and race on clinical parameters of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy in an equal access health care system.

Objectives: To analyze the relationships among socioeconomic status (SES), race, and the clinical parameters of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) in an equal access health care system.

Methods: The Department of Defense Center for Prostate Disease Research longitudinal prostate cancer database from multiple military institutions was used to analyze the clinical, pathologic, and outcome data of 1058 patients with localized (Stage T2c or lower) prostate cancer and a preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 20 ng/mL or less who underwent RP between January 1987 and December 1997. Military rank (officer versus enlisted) was used as a surrogate measure of SES.

Evaluation of phosphoramidon and three synthetic phosphonates for inhibition of botulinum neurotoxin B catalytic activity.

Three putative metalloprotease inhibitors were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit the catalytic activity of botulinum neurotoxin B light chain (BoNT/B LC). The compounds were designed to emulate the naturally occurring metalloprotease inhibitor phosphoramidon, which has been reported to be a weak antagonist of BoNT/B action. All three analogs contained the dipeptide Phe-Glu in place of Leu-Trp of phosphoramidon and possessed a phenyl, ethyl or methyl group in place of the rhamnose sugar of the parent compound.

Immediate and postoperative complications of transurethral prostatectomy in the 1990s.

Purpose: We compare the morbidity, mortality, hospitalization and urethral catheter time of contemporary transurethral prostatectomy to historical series, and evaluate recent trends in hospitalization and urethral catheter time during the last 8 years.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective chart review of 520 consecutive patients who underwent transurethral prostatectomy between 1991 and 1998 at a single institution for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia was performed. Inpatient and outpatient charts, clinic records, operative reports and discharge summaries were reviewed.