Parents of 5-year-old in vitro fertilization children: psychological adjustment, parenting stress, and the influence of subsequent in vitro fertilization treatment.

Sixty-six parents who had conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) were compared with 46 matched naturally conceiving control parents regarding psychosocial adjustment and parenting stress 5 years after the birth of their first child. IVF mothers reported a more external locus of control than did control mothers but did not differ on other measures. Within the IVF group, higher levels of treatment predicted lower parenting stress and more defensive responding on the Parenting Stress Index (R.

Children conceived using ICSI do not have an increased risk of delayed mental development at 5 years of age.

Background: Concerns about possible adverse outcomes for children conceived using ICSI were highlighted in 1998 when 1-year-old ICSI children were found to be at increased risk (relative risk = 9.2) of delayed mental development compared with children conceived naturally or using IVF. As the findings were biologically plausible, it was considered important to reassess child development when a more accurate measure of long-term cognitive ability could be obtained.

Leishmania mexicana: promastigotes migrate through osmotic gradients.

During the insect phase of the parasite lifecycle, Leishmania promastigotes move from the midgut to the anterior regions of the alimentary tract of their sandfly vector. Chemotaxis of Leishmania promastigotes towards sugars has been reported, and the putative presence of sugar gradient in the insect foregut has been suggested to play a role in promastigote development in the insect. We have further investigated the potential of Leishmania mexicana promastigotes to respond to chemical stimulii.

Embryo donation for medical research: attitudes and concerns of potential donors.

Background: The recent derivation of embryonic stem cell lines from human blastocysts and related implications for regenerative medicine has intensified a longstanding debate about the use of human embryos for research purposes. However, studies have shown that few couples with stored embryos opt to donate them for research. Herein, the attitudes and concerns of potential embryo donors to donation of surplus embryos for medical research were examined.

Hepatitis C virus glycoproteins interact with DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR.

DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR are two closely related membrane-associated C-type lectins that bind human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope glycoprotein with high affinity. Binding of HIV to cells expressing DC-SIGN or DC-SIGNR can enhance the efficiency of infection of cells coexpressing the specific HIV receptors. DC-SIGN is expressed on some dendritic cells, while DC-SIGNR is localized to certain endothelial cell populations, including hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Differential N-linked glycosylation of human immunodeficiency virus and Ebola virus envelope glycoproteins modulates interactions with DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR.

The C-type lectins DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR [collectively referred to as DC-SIGN(R)] bind and transmit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus to T cells via the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env). Other viruses containing heavily glycosylated glycoproteins (GPs) fail to interact with DC-SIGN(R), suggesting some degree of specificity in this interaction. We show here that DC-SIGN(R) selectively interact with HIV Env and Ebola virus GPs containing more high-mannose than complex carbohydrate structures.

Quantitative expression and virus transmission analysis of DC-SIGN on monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

The C-type lectins DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR efficiently bind human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strains and can transmit bound virus to adjacent CD4-positive cells. DC-SIGN also binds efficiently to the Ebola virus glycoprotein, enhancing Ebola virus infection. DC-SIGN is thought to be responsible for the ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to capture HIV and transmit it to T cells, thus promoting HIV dissemination in vitro and perhaps in vivo as well.

ACCCN national nursing workforce survey of intensive care units.

A descriptive study was designed and implemented by the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (ACCCN) Workforce Planning Advisory Committee to capture data pertaining to workforce issues of intensive care nurses. All intensive care units (ICUs) within Australia were mailed a self reporting survey. Despite a low response rate (52 per cent) and difficulty reported by respondents in gaining the appropriate data requested, the results revealed an interesting snapshot of the intensive care nursing workforce.

Constitutive and induced expression of DC-SIGN on dendritic cell and macrophage subpopulations in situ and in vitro.

DC-SIGN is a C-type lectin, highly expressed on the surface of immature dendritic cells (DCs), that mediates efficient infection of T cells in trans by its ability to bind HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV. In addition, the ability of DC-SIGN to bind adhesion molecules on surfaces of naïve T cells and endothelium also suggests its involvement in T-cell activation and DC trafficking. To gain further insights into the range of expression and potential functions of DC-SIGN, we performed a detailed analysis of DC-SIGN expression in adult and fetal tissues and also analyzed its regulated expression on cultured DCs and macrophages.

cis Expression of DC-SIGN allows for more efficient entry of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses via CD4 and a coreceptor.

DC-SIGN is a C-type lectin expressed on dendritic cells and restricted macrophage populations in vivo that binds gp120 and acts in trans to enable efficient infection of T cells by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We report here that DC-SIGN, when expressed in cis with CD4 and coreceptors, allowed more efficient infection by both HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strains, although the extent varied from 2- to 40-fold, depending on the virus strain. Expression of DC-SIGN on target cells did not alleviate the requirement for CD4 or coreceptor for viral entry.

DC-SIGN interactions with human immunodeficiency virus: virus binding and transfer are dissociable functions.

The C-type lectins DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR capture and transfer human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to susceptible cells, although the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here we show that DC-SIGN/DC-SIGNR-mediated HIV transmission involves dissociable binding and transfer steps, indicating that efficient virus transmission is not simply due to tethering of virus to the cell surface.

Functional and antigenic characterization of human, rhesus macaque, pigtailed macaque, and murine DC-SIGN.

DC-SIGN, a type II membrane protein with a C-type lectin binding domain that is highly expressed on mucosal dendritic cells (DCs) and certain macrophages in vivo, binds to ICAM-3, ICAM-2, and human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV). Virus captured by DC-SIGN can be presented to T cells, resulting in efficient virus infection, perhaps representing a mechanism by which virus can be ferried via normal DC trafficking from mucosal tissues to lymphoid organs in vivo. To develop reagents needed to characterize the expression and in vivo functions of DC-SIGN, we cloned, expressed, and analyzed rhesus macaque, pigtailed macaque, and murine DC-SIGN and made a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to human DC-SIGN.

DC-SIGN interactions with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 and simian immunodeficiency virus.

Dendritic cells (DCs) efficiently bind and transmit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to cocultured T cells and so may play an important role in HIV transmission. DC-SIGN, a novel C-type lectin that is expressed in DCs, has recently been shown to bind R5 HIV type 1 (HIV-1) strains and a laboratory-adapted X4 strain. To characterize the interaction of DC-SIGN with primate lentiviruses, we investigated the structural determinants of DC-SIGN required for virus binding and transmission to permissive cells.

The effect of swallowing or rinsing alcohol solution on the mouth alcohol effect and slope detection of the intoxilyzer 5000.

Nine female and 21 male alcohol-free subjects introduced 10 mL of diluted gin (20% v/v alcohol) into their mouths under two conditions. The subjects either rinsed the alcohol for 10 s and then expectorated or immediately swallowed. They then provided breath samples into an Intoxilyzer 5000 at 5 and 10 min postadministration for both conditions.

DC-SIGNR, a DC-SIGN homologue expressed in endothelial cells, binds to human and simian immunodeficiency viruses and activates infection in trans.

DC-SIGN, a C-type lectin expressed on the surface of dendritic cells (DCs), efficiently binds and transmits HIVs and simian immunodeficiency viruses to susceptible cells in trans. A DC-SIGN homologue, termed DC-SIGNR, has recently been described. Herein we show that DC-SIGNR, like DC-SIGN, can bind to multiple strains of HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus and transmit these viruses to both T cell lines and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The mother-child relationship following in vitro fertilisation (IVF): infant attachment, responsivity, and maternal sensitivity.

Infant attachment and mother-child interaction were evaluated for 65 primiparous women and their singleton infants conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and a control group of 61 women and their infants conceived naturally. The sample was enrolled during pregnancy as part of a longitudinal study. At 12 months postpartum, security of infant attachment was assessed using the Strange Situation procedure, and mother-child interaction was assessed in a free play context using the Emotional Availability Scales.