Cellular uptake of gold nanoparticles passivated with BSA-SV40 large T antigen conjugates.

Internalization and subcellular localization in HeLa cells of gold nanoparticles modified with the SV40 large T antigen were quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Internalization was monitored as a function of incubation time, temperature, nanoparticle diameter, and large T surface coverage. Increasing the amount of large T peptides per gold nanoparticle complex, by either increasing the coverage at constant nanoparticle diameter or by increasing the nanoparticle diameter at constant large T coverage, resulted in more cellular internalization.

Encapsidation of nanoparticles by red clover necrotic mosaic virus.

Icosahedral virus capsids demonstrate a high degree of selectivity in packaging cognate nucleic acid genome components during virion assembly. The 36 nm icosahedral plant virus Red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) packages its two genomic ssRNAs via a specific capsid protein (CP) genomic RNA interaction. A 20-nucleotide hairpin structure within the genomic RNA-2 hybridizes with RNA-1 to form a bimolecular complex, which is the origin of assembly (OAS) in RCNMV that selectively recruits and orients CP subunits initiating virion assembly.

New criteria for selecting differentially expressed genes.

One of the major concerns in detecting changes in higher moments is these changes may be due to outliers or process errors that are not biologically significant. For example, a larger variance observed in the expression levels may simply due to the larger variation in the data collecting process. Several outliers, which exhibit some extreme expression levels than the rest of the samples, may also increase the variance or skewness of the expression levels significantly.

Image-based multivariate profiling of drug responses from single cells.

Quantitative analytical approaches for discovering new compound mechanisms are required for summarizing high-throughput, image-based drug screening data. Here we present a multivariate method for classifying untreated and treated human cancer cells based on approximately 300 single-cell phenotypic measurements. This classification provides a score, measuring the magnitude of the drug effect, and a vector, indicating the simultaneous phenotypic changes induced by the drug.

Impaired volume regulation is the mechanism of excitotoxic sensitization to complement.

Previous work demonstrated that a brief, sublethal excitotoxic insult strikingly increased the sensitivity of cortical neurons to the cytotoxic effects of the terminal pathway of complement, a process termed "excitotoxic sensitization." Here, we sought to elucidate the cellular mechanism of excitotoxic sensitization in embryonic rat cortical neurons in vitro. Excitotoxic sensitization did not increase membrane attack complex deposition on cortical neurons and produced only a small reduction of membrane attack complex removal, because of a selective decrease of endocytic elimination.

Controlled encapsidation of gold nanoparticles by a viral protein shell.

Icosahedral virus capsids demonstrate a high degree of selectivity in packaging cognate nucleic acid components during assembly. This packaging specificity, when integrated as part of a nanotechnological protocol, has the potential to encapsidate a wide array of foreign materials for delivery of therapeutics or biosensors into target cells. Red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) exclusively packages two genomic ssRNAs initiated by a specific protein:RNA interaction between the RCNMV coat protein (CP) and the viral RNA origin of assembly (OAS) element.

The transcriptional repressor dMnt is a regulator of growth in Drosophila melanogaster.

The Myc-Max-Mad/Mnt network of transcription factors has been implicated in oncogenesis and the regulation of proliferation in vertebrate cells. The identification of Myc and Max homologs in Drosophila melanogaster has demonstrated a critical role for dMyc in cell growth control. In this report, we identify and characterize the third member of this network, dMnt, the sole fly homolog of the mammalian Mnt and Mad family of transcriptional repressors.

Nanomechanical properties of self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate) as a function of processing temperature.

Understanding the wear characteristics of bone cement and its alternatives is critical to improving the quality and longevity of hip replacements. A novel composite material, self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate), has been previously developed for potential use as a pre-coat material for hip implants. The goal of this work was to examine the properties of self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate) as a function of processing temperature.

Improving marine water quality by mussel farming: a profitable solution for Swedish society.

Eutrophication of coastal waters is a serious environmental problem with high costs for society globally. In eastern Skagerrak, reductions in eutrophication are planned through reduction of nitrogen inputs, but it is unclear how this can be achieved. One possible method is the cultivation of filter-feeding organisms, such as blue mussels, which remove nitrogen while generating seafood, fodder and agricultural fertilizer, thus recycling nutrients from sea to land.

Denoising array-based comparative genomic hybridization data using wavelets.

Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) provides a high-throughput, high-resolution method to measure relative changes in DNA copy number simultaneously at thousands of genomic loci. Typically, these measurements are reported and displayed linearly on chromosome maps, and gains and losses are detected as deviations from normal diploid cells. We propose that one may consider denoising the data to uncover the true copy number changes before drawing inferences on the patterns of aberrations in the samples.

Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of genomic alterations in breast cancer subtypes.

In this study, we performed high-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization with an array of 4153 bacterial artificial chromosome clones to assess copy number changes in 44 archival breast cancers. The tumors were flow sorted to exclude non-tumor DNA and increase our ability to detect gene copy number changes. In these tumors, losses were more frequent than gains, and gains in 1q and loss in 16q were the most frequent alterations.

Quality of life in cadaver and living-related renal transplant recipients in Kuala Lumpur hospital.

Objective: To examine the quality of life in cadaver (CAD) and living-related (LRRT) renal transplant recipients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on patients followed in renal transplant clinic from 1/4/03 to 1/7/03 using the SF-36 questionnaire. Inclusion criteria were age >16 years,minimum of 3 months' posttransplant, and informed consent.

Acute respiratory symptoms in adults in general practice.

Background: Community studies have shown that approximately 30% of patients with acute respiratory tract symptoms have no identifiable infective aetiology. This may not be applicable in general practice.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the infective aetiology in patients who presented to primary care doctors with acute respiratory symptoms.

dMyc is required for larval growth and endoreplication in Drosophila.

Members of the Myc family of proto-oncogenes have long been implicated in regulating proliferation, apoptosis and oncogenesis. Recently, transcriptional and biological studies have suggested a direct role for Myc in regulating growth. We have used dm(4), a new null allele of the Drosophila diminutive (dm) gene, which encodes dMyc on the X chromosome, to investigate a role for dMyc in larval endoreplicating tissues, where cellular growth and DNA replication occur in the absence of cell division.

Quality assurance for computed-tomography simulators and the computed-tomography-simulation process: report of the AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group No. 66.

This document presents recommendations of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) for quality assurance of computed-tomography- (CT) simulators and CT-simulation process. This report was prepared by Task Group No. 66 of the AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee.

Genomic binding by the Drosophila Myc, Max, Mad/Mnt transcription factor network.

The Myc/Max/Mad transcription factor network is critically involved in cell behavior; however, there is relatively little information on its genomic binding sites. We have employed the DamID method to carry out global genomic mapping of the Drosophila Myc, Max, and Mad/Mnt proteins. Each protein was tethered to Escherichia coli DNA adenine-methyltransferase (Dam) permitting methylation proximal to in vivo binding sites in Kc cells.

Staphylococcus lugdunensis carrying the mecA gene causes catheter-associated bloodstream infection in premature neonate.

A premature neonate had a catheter-associated bloodstream infection due to Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The MIC of oxacillin for the strain was >256 microg/ml, and the mecA gene of S. lugdunensis was detected by PCR.

Stroke disease management--a framework for comprehensive stroke care.

Disease management is an approach to patient care that coordinates medical resources for the patient across the entire healthcare delivery system throughout the lifetime of the patient with the disease. Stroke is suitable for disease management as it is a well-known disease with a high prevalence, high cost, variable practice pattern, poor clinical outcome, and managed by a non-integrated healthcare system. It has measurable and actionable outcomes, with available local expertise and support of the Ministry of Health.

Cortical expression of endothelin receptor subtypes A and B following middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

This work aimed to define the spatial expression of endothelin A (ET(A)) and B (ET(B)) receptors in the cerebral cortex after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and to identify the phenotype of cells expressing ET(A) and ET(B) receptors. Cortical expression of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors was determined at the mRNA level by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and at the protein level by immunofluorescence staining, 12, 24 and 72 h after MCAO. Cells expressing endothelin receptors were phenotyped by double labelling with antibodies, anti-protein gene product (PGP9.

Infection of central nervous system by motile Enterococcus: first case report.

A 66-year-old man with four indwelling ventriculoperitoneal shunts for multiloculated hydrocephalus from a complicated case of meningitis a year before developed shunt infection based on a syndrome of fever, drowsiness, and cerebrospinal fluid neutrophil pleocytosis in the background of repeated surgical manipulation to relieve successive shunt blockages. The cerebrospinal fluid culture, which yielded a motile Enterococcus species, was believed to originate from the gut. This isolate was lost in storage and could not be characterized further.

Chain mobility in the amorphous region of nylon 6 observed under active uniaxial deformation.

A specially designed solid-state deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance probe was used to examine the effect of uniaxial elongation on the chain mobility in the amorphous region of semicrystalline nylon 6. In measurements conducted near the glass transition temperature, there was measurable deformation-induced enhancement of the mobility of the amorphous chains up to the yield point. This enhanced mobility decayed once deformation was stopped.

Predicting non-elective hospital readmissions: a multi-site study. Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group on Primary Care and Readmissions.

Objective: To determine clinical and patient-centered factors predicting non-elective hospital readmissions.

Design: Secondary analysis from a randomized clinical trial.

Clinical Setting: Nine VA medical centers.

Solution structure of the interacting domains of the Mad-Sin3 complex: implications for recruitment of a chromatin-modifying complex.

Gene-specific targeting of the Sin3 corepressor complex by DNA-bound repressors is an important mechanism of gene silencing in eukaryotes. The Sin3 corepressor specifically associates with a diverse group of transcriptional repressors, including members of the Mad family, that play crucial roles in development. The NMR structure of the complex formed by the PAH2 domain of mammalian Sin3A with the transrepression domain (SID) of human Mad1 reveals that both domains undergo mutual folding transitions upon complex formation generating an unusual left-handed four-helix bundle structure and an amphipathic alpha helix, respectively.