Establishing discriminative control of responding using functional and alternative reinforcers during functional communication training.

Functional communication training (FCT) is a popular treatment for problem behaviors, but its effectiveness may be compromised when the client emits the target communication response and reinforcement is either delayed or denied. In the current investigation, we trained 2 individuals to emit different communication responses to request (a) the reinforcer for destructive behavior in a given situation (e.g.

Dopamine inactivates tryptophan hydroxylase and forms a redox-cycling quinoprotein: possible endogenous toxin to serotonin neurons.

Exposure of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin, to dopamine under mild oxidizing conditions (iron + H2O2) or in the presence of tyrosinase results in a concentration-dependent inactivation of the enzyme. Dopamine, iron, H2O2, or tyrosinase alone does not alter TPH activity. Similarly, N-acetyldopamine oxidized with one equivalent of sodium periodate causes a concentration-dependent inactivation of TPH as well.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide induces both tyrosine hydroxylase activity and tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis in PC12 cells.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide plays an important role in the trans-synaptic activation of tyrosine hydroxylase in sympathoadrenal tissues in response to physiological stress. Since tyrosine hydroxylase is thought to be subsaturated with its cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin, we tested the hypothesis that up-regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression following vasoactive intestinal peptide treatment is accompanied by a concomitant elevation of intracellular tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis. We also investigated the second messenger systems involved in vasoactive intestinal peptide's effects on tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism.

The evaluation and treatment of aggression maintained by attention and automatic reinforcement.

In the current investigation, we used direct and indirect methods to assess and treat several topographies of aggression that were hypothesized to have separate operant functions in a young boy with severe mental ratardation and pervasive developmental disorder. First, a functional analysis of aggression, using the methods described by Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, and Richman (1982/1994), was conducted and produced inconclusive results. Next, indirect methods were used to develop a second functional analysis, which showed that chin grinding (firmly pressing and grinding his chin against the skin and bones of others) persisted independent of social contingencies and that the other topographies of aggression (e.

The tumorous-head-1 locus affects bristle number of the Drosophila melanogaster cuticle.

The tuh-1 maternal effect locus contains two naturally occurring isoalleles, tuh-1h and tuh-1g. Until recently there has been no possibility to distinguish between the tuh-lh and the tuh-1g maternal effects other than evaluating their effect on the Bithorax-Complex (BXC) Abdominal B (Abd-B) mutant tuh-3. However, in this report we identify a bristle phenotype associated with the tuh-1 locus that has very interesting evolutionary implications.

Long-term visual outcome of choroidal neovascularization in pathologic myopia: natural history and laser treatment.

Unlabelled: This retrospective study was designed to help clarify the visual prognosis during long-term follow-up (5-10 years) of myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) with and without laser treatment in a referral population.

Patients And Methods: A group of 50 consecutive non-treated eyes and a group of 50 consecutive treated eyes were selected retrospectively. Inclusion criteria were: fluorescein angiographic documentation of CNV not involving the center of the fovea, visual acuity (VA) > or = 20/200, age less than 60, onset of symptoms < or = 6 months and at least five years of follow-up.

Tetrahydrobiopterin as a mediator of PC12 cell proliferation induced by EGF and NGF.

Epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor increased the proliferation of rat phaeochromocytoma PC12 cells through obligatory elevation of intracellular (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor increased intracellular BH4 by inducing GTP-cyclohydrolase, the rate-limiting enzyme in BH4 biosynthesis. Specific inhibitors of BH4 biosynthesis prevented growth factor-induced increases in BH4 levels and proliferation.

Mobile element 297 in the Abd-B gene of Drosophila melanogaster, not Delta 88, is responsible for the tuh-3 mutation.

The tumorous-head-3 (tuh-3) mutation has been associated with the insertion of mobile element Delta 88 at +200 on the bithorax complex (BX-C) DNA map, 5' of all Abdominal-B (Abd-B) transcripts. Different phenotypes of tuh-3 are regulated by the tumorous-head-1 (tuh-1) maternal effect locus. In the presence of the recessive tuh-1h maternal effect, tuh-3 offspring produce homeotic abdominal and genital tissue in the head.

Molecular mechanism of the inactivation of tryptophan hydroxylase by nitric oxide: attack on critical sulfhydryls that spare the enzyme iron center.

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT), is irreversibly inactivated by nitric oxide (NO). We have expressed brain TPH as a recombinant glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein and delineated the catalytic domain of the enzyme as the region spanning amino acids 99-444. Highly purified TPH catalytic core, like the native enzyme from brain, is inactivated by NO in a concentration-dependent manner.

Application of RT-PCR for Indexing Avocado Sunblotch Viroid.

A method for the routine detection of avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) in nucleic acid extracts of infected avocado tissues by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was developed using ASBVd-specific primers. Amplified cDNA products were analyzed by electrophoresis on nondenaturing 6% polyacrylamide slab gels. The size of the major RT-PCR product from ASBVd-infected tissue was estimated to be 250 bp.

Calpain contributes to silica-induced I kappa B-alpha degradation and nuclear factor-kappa B activation.

Both silica and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induce a rapid degradation of I kappa B alpha, an intracellular inhibitor of the nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B transcription factor. In this report, we demonstrate that MG132, a relatively specific proteasome inhibitor, is capable of suppressing LPS-induced I kappa B alpha degradation and NF-kappa B activation in mouse macrophage line RAW 264.7 cells, but is unable to influence the same induction produced by silica.

Phosphorylation and activation of brain tryptophan hydroxylase: identification of serine-58 as a substrate site for protein kinase A.

Tryptophan hydroxylase, the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin, is activated by protein kinase A and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. One important aspect of the regulation of any enzyme by a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cascade, and one that is lacking for tryptophan hydroxylase, lies in the identification of its site of phosphorylation by protein kinases. Recombinant forms of brain tryptophan hydroxylase were expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins and exposed to protein kinase A.

A continuum of care in Alzheimer's disease.

This article describes the care and service needs of persons with Alzheimer's disease. In particular, it discusses the advanced nurse practitioner's clinical, educational, and research roles in maintaining the health of these individuals with cognitive impairments over the disease trajectory. Four stages of the disease are identified: early, middle, late, and terminal.

Involvement of NF-kappaB in silica-induced cyclooxygenase II gene expression in rat alveolar macrophages.

The role of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB transcription factor in silica-induced cyclooxygenase (COX) II gene expression was examined in the rat alveolar macrophage cell line NR8383. Our results indicate that NF-kappaB can be activated in this cell line by silica exposure. Suppression of NF-kappaB activation in these cells leads to an attenuation of COX II mRNA accumulation induced by silica.

Inactivation of tryptophan hydroxylase by nitric oxide: enhancement by tetrahydrobiopterin.

Tryptophan hydroxylase, the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin, is inactivated by the nitric oxide generators sodium nitroprusside, diethylamine/nitric oxide complex, and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine. Physiological concentrations of tetrahydrobiopterin, the natural and endogenous cofactor for the hydroxylase, significantly enhance the inactivation of the enzyme caused by each of these nitric oxide generators. The substrate tryptophan does not have this effect.

[Clinical significance of S-(+)-ketamine].

Among anaesthetic drugs, ketamine occupies a special position. biochemically, ketamine is a racemate consisting of equal shares of two optical enantiomers. Pharmacological investigations show differences between those enantiomers in both qualitative and quantitative properties.

Tetrandrine inhibits signal-induced NF-kappa B activation in rat alveolar macrophages.

Tetrandrine is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from a natural Chinese herbal medicine. While this alkaloid has been shown to exhibit antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory activities, its mechanism of action is unknown. The present study was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of tetrandrine on NF-kappa B activation in the alveolar macrophage.

Tryptophan hydroxylase: purification by affinity chromatography on calmodulin-sepharose.

Tryptophan hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.

Indocyanine green angiographic features of pathologic myopia.

Purpose: To analyze indocyanine green angiographic findings of pathologic myopia and compare them with those of fluorescein angiography, with particular reference to the usefulness of indocyanine green angiography in the management of neovascular complications.

Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients (52 eyes) with pathologic myopia underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography.

Results: Retrobulbar arteries and veins were visualized solely on indocyanine green angiography in 33 (63%) of 52 eyes.

[Is the elimination of osteosarcoma cells with intraoperative "mesh autotransfusion" and leukocyte depletion filters possible?].

Unlabelled: Intraoperative autotransfusion is contraindicated in cancer surgery because of the possible risk of systemic tumor spread. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a cell saver in combination with a white blood cell depletion filter can remove osteosarcoma cells.

Methods: A defined number of osteosarcoma cells from an established cell line were added to red cell concentrates and Ringer solution.

Inactivation of brain tryptophan hydroxylase by nitric oxide.

Tryptophan hydroxylase, the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin, is inactivated by nitric oxide (NO) and by the NO generators sodium nitroprusside, diethylamine/NO, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, and S-nitrosocysteine. The inactivation occurs in an oxygen-free environment and is enhanced by dithiothreitol and ascorbic acid. Protection against the effect of NO on tryptophan hydroxylase is afforded by oxyhemoglobin, reduced glutathione, and exogenous Fe(II).

Expression and deletion mutagenesis of tryptophan hydroxylase fusion proteins: delineation of the enzyme catalytic core.

cDNAs encoding the full-length sequence for tryptophan hydroxylase, and deletion mutants consisting of the regulatory (amino acids 1-98) or catalytic (amino acids 99-444) domains of the enzyme, were cloned and expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins in E. coli. The recombinant fusion proteins could be purified to near homogeneity within minutes by affinity chromatography on glutathione-agarose.

Tryptophan hydroxylase: cloning and expression of the rat brain enzyme in mammalian cells.

A cDNA encoding full-length tryptophan hydroxylase was produced by reverse transcriptase-PCR from rat brain mRNA and expressed transiently in a human fibroblast cell line. Catalytic activity was low unless transfected cells were grown in the presence of FeSO4. Recombinant tryptophan hydroxylase was found almost exclusively within the soluble compartment of the cell and was dependent on tryptophan and tetrahydrobiopterin for activity.