Anecortave acetate as monotherapy for treatment of subfoveal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration: twelve-month clinical outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate safety and efficacy of the angiostatic agent anecortave acetate, compared with a placebo, for treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Design: Ongoing masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel evaluation of anecortave acetate (30 mg, 15 mg, and 3 mg) versus a placebo.

Participants: There were 128 eyes of 128 patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to age-related macular degeneration who were enrolled and treated, with 80% (102/128) of eyes presenting with predominantly classic lesions at baseline.

Phosphorylation of calcipressin 1 increases its ability to inhibit calcineurin and decreases calcipressin half-life.

Calcipressin 1 is an endogenous inhibitor of calcineurin, which is a serine/threonine phosphatase under the control of Ca(2+) and calmodulin. Calcipressin 1 is encoded by DSCR1, a gene on human chromosome 21 with seven exons, exons 1-4 are alternative first exons (isoforms 1-4). We show that calcipressin 1 isoform 1 has an N-terminal coding region longer than that previously described, and this generates a new polypeptide of 252 amino acids.

DYRK1A accumulates in splicing speckles through a novel targeting signal and induces speckle disassembly.

The protein kinase DYRK1A is distributed throughout the nucleoplasm, accumulating in speckle-like regions. We have found that this punctuated nuclear distribution is determined by the contribution of several elements. Although the nuclear import is mediated by two distinct nuclear localization signals, one at the N-terminus and the other located in the linker region, between subdomains X and XI of the catalytic domain, the accumulation in speckles that are SC35 positive depends on a sequence motif that is located C-terminal to the kinase domain and comprises a histidine tail.

Anecortave acetate as monotherapy for the treatment of subfoveal lesions in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD): interim (month 6) analysis of clinical safety and efficacy.

Purpose: To evaluate clinical safety and efficacy of the angiostatic agent anecortave acetate for treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD.

Methods: 128 patients were randomized to placebo treatment or one of three anecortave acetate doses. Study medication was administered as a posterior juxtascleral injection onto the posterior scleral surface.

Dyrk1A expression pattern supports specific roles of this kinase in the adult central nervous system.

Dyrk1A and its Drosophila orthologue, the protein minibrain (mnb), belong to a family of serine/threonine kinases involved in the development of the central nervous system (CNS). However, additional roles for Dyrk1A have to be proposed, as its expression is still prominent in the adult brain. To gain insight into Dyrk1A physiological roles we have studied the distribution of this kinase in the CNS of mice in adulthood.

Comparison of a sidestream capnograph and a mainstream capnograph in mechanically ventilated dogs.

Objective: To compare the ability of a sidestream capnograph and a mainstream capnograph to measure end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) and provide accurate estimates of PaCO2 in mechanically ventilated dogs.

Design: Randomized, double Latin square.

Animals: 6 healthy adult dogs.

Changes in sympathetic nerve activity of the mammalian ovary during a normal estrous cycle and in polycystic ovary syndrome: Studies on norepinephrine release.

Although it has been known for many years that the ovary is innervated by catecholaminergic nerve fibers and much experimental evidence has strengthened the notion that catecholamines are physiologically involved in the control of ovarian function, scarce evidence has been presented as to the role of sympathetic activity in ovarian pathologies that affect reproductive function. The purpose of this article is to provide a succinct overview of the findings in this area and discuss them relative to the pathology of polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common ovarian pathology in women during their reproductive years.

Does caring for displaced specialty unit patients affect the critical care nurse's perceptions of ability and job satisfaction?

Trauma centers are challenged to share beds with a larger hospital population of critical care patients. Often, this means that patients may be shifted between units when beds are not immediately available in the specialty unit that fits their diagnosis. They are admitted to the first intensive care unit bed that becomes available.

Risk factors in miscarriage: a review.

Miscarriage is one of the most frequent problems in human pregnancy. The most widely accepted definition is that proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1977. The incidence among clinical pregnancies is about 12-15% but including early pregnancy losses it is 17-22%.

The human intersectin genes and their spliced variants are differentially expressed.

Human intersectins (ITSN1 and ITSN2) are members of a conserved family of proteins involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. A short and a long isoform with different protein domain compositions have been described for both human intersectins. Here, we have resolved the exon/intron structure of the ITSN2 gene to explain the genomic origin of its alternatively spliced transcripts.

Continuous infusion of propofol in dogs premedicated with methotrimeprazine.

Objective: To evaluate the cardiopulmonary and clinical effects of three different infusion rates of propofol in dogs premedicated with methotrimeprazine.

Study Design: Randomized experimental trial.

Animals: Ten healthy adult mixed-breed male and female dogs, weighing from 14 to 20 kg.

Intravenous anaesthesia using detomidine, ketamine and guaiphenesin for laparotomy in pregnant pony mares.

Objective To characterize intravenous anaesthesia with detomidine, ketamine and guaiphenesin in pregnant ponies. Animals Twelve pony mares, at 260-320 days gestation undergoing abdominal surgery to implant fetal and maternal vascular catheters. Materials and methods Pre-anaesthetic medication with intravenous (IV) acepromazine (30 µg kg), butorphanol (20 µg kg) and detomidine (10 µg kg) preceded induction of anaesthesia with detomidine (10 µg kg) and ketamine (2 mg kg) IV Maternal arterial blood pressure was measured directly throughout anaesthesia and arterial blood samples were taken at 20-minute intervals for measurement of blood gases and plasma concentrations of cortisol, glucose and lactate.

Cardiorespiratory and endocrine effects of endogenous opioid antagonism by naloxone in ponies anaesthetised with halothane.

Halothane depresses cardiorespiratory function and activates the pituitary-adrenal axis, increasing beta endorphin. In horses, beta endorphin may enhance the anaesthetic-associated cardiorespiratory depression and mortality risk. The authors studied endogenous opioid effects on cardiorespiratory function and pituitary-adrenal activity in halothane-anaesthetised ponies by investigating opioid antagonism by naloxone.

The effects of atropine and methotrimeprazine on the epinephrine-induced arrhythmias in halothane-anesthetized dogs.

The effects of atropine and methotrimeprazine on epinephrine-induced ventricular arrhythmias were evaluated in halothane-anesthetized dogs. Ten mixed-breed dogs were assigned to 3 treatments (saline, atropine, and methotrimeprazine) in a randomized complete block design. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with halothane (1.

Comparison of detomidine and romifidine as premedicants before ketamine and halothane anesthesia in horses undergoing elective surgery.

Objective: To compare detomidine hydrochloride and romifidine as premedicants in horses undergoing elective surgery.

Animals: 100 client-owned horses.

Procedure: After administration of acepromazine (0.

Structural determinants of KvLQT1 control by the KCNE family of proteins.

KvLQT1 is a Shaker-like voltage-gated potassium channel that when complexed with minK (KCNE1) produces the slowly activating delayed rectifier I(ks). The emerging family of KCNE1-related peptides includes KCNE1 and KCNE3, both of which complex with KvLQT1 to produce functionally distinct currents. Namely I(ks), the slowly activating delayed rectifier current, is produced by KvLQT1/KCNE1, whereas KvLQT1/KCNE3 yields a more rapidly activating current with a distinct constitutively active component.

A new aspartyl protease on 21q22.3, BACE2, is highly similar to Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein beta-secretase.

Down syndrome individuals develop abnormalities of most organs, including all the pathological and neurochemical features of Alzheimer's disease, by the early age of 30 yr. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of BACE2, a gene mapping on human chromosome 21q22.3, which is highly similar to a transmembrane aspartyl protease, BACE (for beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme), which is able to catalyze the beta-secretase cleavage of Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein (APP).

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4GI is a cellular target for NS1 protein, a translational activator of influenza virus.

Influenza virus NS1 protein is an RNA-binding protein whose expression alters several posttranscriptional regulatory processes, like polyadenylation, splicing, and nucleocytoplasmic transport of cellular mRNAs. In addition, NS1 protein enhances the translational rate of viral, but not cellular, mRNAs. To characterize this effect, we looked for targets of NS1 influenza virus protein among cellular translation factors.

Intersectin 2, a new multimodular protein involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Intersectin 1 (ITSN1) is a binding partner of dynamin that has been shown to participate in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Here we report the characterization of a new human gene, ITSN2, highly similar to ITSN1. Alternative splicing of ITSN2 generates a short isoform with two EH domains, a coiled-coil region and five SH3 domains, and a longer isoform containing extra carboxy domains (DH, PH and C2 domains), suggesting that it could act as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho-like GTPases.

DSCR1, overexpressed in Down syndrome, is an inhibitor of calcineurin-mediated signaling pathways.

Down syndrome is one of the major causes of mental retardation and congenital heart malformations. Other common clinical features of Down syndrome include gastrointestinal anomalies, immune system defects and Alzheimer's disease pathological and neurochemical changes. The most likely consequence of the presence of three copies of chromosome 21 is the overexpression of its resident genes, a fact which must underlie the pathogenesis of the abnormalities that occur in Down syndrome.

A preliminary trial comparison of several anesthetic techniques in cats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of several drug combinations (atropine, xylazine, romifidine, methotrimeprazine, midazolam, or fentanyl) with ketamine for short term anesthesia in cats. Twelve cats were anesthetized 6 times by using a cross-over Latin square protocol: methotrimeprazine was combined with midazolam, ketamine, and fentanyl; midazolam and ketamine; romifidine and ketamine; and xylazine and ketamine. Atropine was combined with romifidine and ketamine, and xylazine and ketamine.

Vaccination against Taenia solium cysticercosis in underfed rustic pigs of México: roles of age, genetic background and antibody response.

Vaccination of pigs of mixed genetic make-up, raised as rustically as done in rural Mexico, resulted in effective protection to experimental challenge against Taenia solium cysticercosis. Maximum protection was achieved if pigs were immunized at 70 days of age. There was large variation of viable parasite load within vaccinated pigs and controls, which is suggestive of significant genetic factors influencing susceptibility, besides immunization.