Cost effectiveness of laparoscopic versus open mesh hernia operation: results of a Department of Veterans Affairs randomized clinical trial.

Background: Evidence comparing laparoscopic versus open hernia repair has varied with time and with changes in techniques used. Cost effectiveness is an important consideration when evidence for predominance of one surgical technique is lacking. Current cost estimates of hernia repair are not available.

Abnormal X: autosome ratio, but normal X chromosome inactivation in human triploid cultures.

Background: X chromosome inactivation (XCI) is that aspect of mammalian dosage compensation that brings about equivalence of X-linked gene expression between females and males by inactivating one of the two X chromosomes (Xi) in normal female cells, leaving them with a single active X (Xa) as in male cells. In cells with more than two X's, but a diploid autosomal complement, all X's but one, Xa, are inactivated. This phenomenon is commonly thought to suggest 1) that normal development requires a ratio of one Xa per diploid autosomal set, and 2) that an early event in XCI is the marking of one X to be active, with remaining X's becoming inactivated by default.

The antimalarial artemisinin synergizes with antibiotics to protect against lethal live Escherichia coli challenge by decreasing proinflammatory cytokine release.

In the present study artemisinin (ART) was found to have potent anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of sepsis induced by CpG-containing oligodeoxy-nucleotides (CpG ODN), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), heat-killed Escherichia coli 35218 or live E. coli. Furthermore, we found that ART protected mice from a lethal challenge by CpG ODN, LPS, or heat-killed E.

[Correlation of multislice spiral CT findings with vascular endothelial growth factor expressions and microvessel density in renal cell carcinoma].

Objective: To study the correlation of multislice spiral CT features and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions and microvessel density (MVD) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: Fourth-seven patients with pathologically confirmed RCC were examined by multislice spiral CT, and VEGF expressions and MVD of the RCC and the adjacent normal tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry with specific monoclonal antibodies.

Results: VEGF expression and MVD in the RCC and adjacent normal tissues increased with the pathological grades of RCC (P<0.

[Construction of human growth hormone lentiviral vector and its expression in murine skeletal myoblasts].

The aim of this study is to construct a lentiviral vector encoding human growth hormone, and to achieve the long, efficient and stable expression in murine skeletal myoblasts. Primary skeletal myoblasts were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured by enzymatic digestion. We tested them by Desmin immunohistochemistry stains and found their viability was up to 94% by Trypan blue.

Lbx1 and Tlx3 are opposing switches in determining GABAergic versus glutamatergic transmitter phenotypes.

Most neurons in vertebrates make a developmental choice between two principal neurotransmitter phenotypes (glutamatergic versus GABAergic). Here we show that the homeobox gene Lbx1 determines a GABAergic cell fate in the dorsal spinal cord at early embryonic stages. In Lbx1-/- mice, the presumptive GABAergic neurons are transformed into glutamatergic cells.

Randomized controlled trial of an energy conservation course for persons with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To assess the short-term efficacy and effectiveness of a six-week energy conservation course on fatigue impact, quality of life and self-efficacy for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned 169 persons with MS to an immediate intervention group or a delayed control group using a crossover design. The outcome measures: Fatigue Impact Scale, SF-36 Health Survey and Self-Efficacy for Performing Energy Conservation Strategies were measured before and after courses and no intervention control periods.

CAD-aided mammogram training.

Rationale And Objectives: Although computer-aided detection (CAD) improves the diagnosis rate of early breast cancer, it has not been well integrated into radiology residency and technician training program. Moreover, CAD performance studies ignore the reader's training and experience with CAD. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether CAD training via a cognitive-perceptual based hypermedia program has effects on the performance studies of mammogram reading.

[Expression of heat-labile enterotoxin and the strategy of purification and storage].

Heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) from Escherichia coli is a bacterial protein toxin with an AB5 hexamer structure. LT is a powerful mucosal adjuvant when co-administered with soluble antigens. However, its use in mucosal immunity is inconvenient because of its low yield and depolymerization during long-term storage under normal condition.

[CTL epitopes modified by KDEL and recognized by CD8+ T lymphocytes to herpes simplex virus type 2 improve CTL effect].

Objective: To study the improvement of CTL effect by CTL epitopes which are modified by KDEL and recognized by CD8+ T lymphocytes to herpes simplex virus type 2.

Methods: Observations were made on the specific immune response induced by the CD8+ CTL epitopes(SSIEFARL, S1), the CD8+ CTL epitopes modified by KDEL(SSIEFARL-KDEL, S1-KDEL), the tandem four copies CD8+ CTL epitopes[(SSIEFARL)4, S4] and the tandem four copies CD8+ CTL epitopes modified by KDEL[(SSIEFARL)4-KDEL, S4-KDEL], 25 male C57BL/6 mouse were randomly divided into 5 group, 5 mice per group, respectively immunized with istonic Na chloride, S1, S1-KDEL, S4 and S4-KDEL. Lymphocyte proliferation was detected by 3H-TdR and the CTL effect induced by CTL epitopes in vivo was detected by 51Cr.

LT(K63/R72), a new mutant of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin, exhibits characteristics more similar to LT(K63) than LT(R72).

LT(K63), a non-toxic mutant and LT(R72), a low toxic mutant of E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin are frequently used mucosal adjuvants. In many cases, the adjuvanticity of LT(K63) is lower than that of LT(R72), but LT(K63), which induces a mixed Th1/Th2 response, exhibits a higher level of protection than LT(R72) which induces a polarized Th2-type response.

Mouse brain organization revealed through direct genome-scale TF expression analysis.

In the developing brain, transcription factors (TFs) direct the formation of a diverse array of neurons and glia. We identifed 1445 putative TFs in the mouse genome. We used in situ hybridization to map the expression of over 1000 of these TFs and TF-coregulator genes in the brains of developing mice.

Identification of ComW as a new component in the regulation of genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Regulation of competence for genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae depends on a quorum-sensing system, genes involved in DNA uptake and recombination and a link between these two gene sets. The alternative sigma factor ComX provides this link. ComE, the response regulator of the quorum-sensing system, is required for expression of ComX and other early genes.

Normal histone modifications on the inactive X chromosome in ICF and Rett syndrome cells: implications for methyl-CpG binding proteins.

Background: In mammals, there is evidence suggesting that methyl-CpG binding proteins may play a significant role in histone modification through their association with modification complexes that can deacetylate and/or methylate nucleosomes in the proximity of methylated DNA. We examined this idea for the X chromosome by studying histone modifications on the X chromosome in normal cells and in cells from patients with ICF syndrome (Immune deficiency, Centromeric region instability, and Facial anomalies syndrome). In normal cells the inactive X has characteristic silencing type histone modification patterns and the CpG islands of genes subject to X inactivation are hypermethylated.

Performance and characterization of a nanophased porous hydroxyapatite for protein chromatography.

Nanophased porous hydroxyapatite beads with particle diameters of 25 microm and 30 microm intended for use in protein and biomolecule separation are characterized with respect to chromatographic characteristics. These particles were produced from a hydroxyapatite gel by a controlled spray process yielding microspheres containing hydroxyapatite nanocrystals. By calcification of the microspheres, nanophased porous hydroxyapatite beads were obtained.

[Fusion expression of Neisseria gonorrhoeae outmembrane protein with a mucosal adjuvant].

Objective: To express a fusion protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with a mucosal adjuvant.

Methods: The gene coding Loop VI-VIII(PL678) of porin, an out-membrane protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, was obtained by PCR. It was inserted into a plasmid fused with subunit B of heat labile enterotoxin.

Tlx3 and Tlx1 are post-mitotic selector genes determining glutamatergic over GABAergic cell fates.

Glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons mediate much of the excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, respectively, in the vertebrate nervous system. The process by which developing neurons select between these two cell fates is poorly understood. Here we show that the homeobox genes Tlx3 and Tlx1 determine excitatory over inhibitory cell fates in the mouse dorsal spinal cord.

A mimic of tumor rejection antigen-associated carbohydrates mediates an antitumor cellular response.

Tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens are typically perceived as inadequate targets for generating tumor-specific cellular responses. Lectin profile reactivity and crystallographic studies demonstrate that MHC class I molecules can present to the immune system posttranslationally modified cytosolic peptides carrying O-beta-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). Here we report that a peptide surrogate of GlcNAc can facilitate an in vivo tumor-specific cellular response to established Meth A tumors that display native O-GlcNAc glycoproteins on the tumor cell surface.

Chloroquine protects mice from challenge with CpG ODN and LPS by decreasing proinflammatory cytokine release.

Bacterial DNA (bDNA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are potent activators of immune cells such as monocytes and macrophages, which contribute to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis. To date, no effective anti-sepsis drugs have been developed for clinical use. Chloroquine (CQ), a diprotic weak base traditionally used for treating malaria, was recently shown to decrease cytokine release from macrophages induced by LPS and CpG oligonucleotide (CpG ODN).

Identification of competence pheromone responsive genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae by use of DNA microarrays.

Natural genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae is controlled in part by a quorum-sensing system mediated by a peptide pheromone called competence-stimulating peptide (CSP), which acts to coordinate transient activation of genes required for competence. To characterize the transcriptional response and regulatory events occurring when cells are exposed to competence pheromone, we constructed DNA microarrays and analysed the temporal expression profiles of 1817 among the 2129 unique predicted open reading frames present in the S. pneumoniae TIGR4 genome (84%).

ComX is a unique link between multiple quorum sensing outputs and competence in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Natural competence for genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae is achieved directly by specific proteins that are involved in DNA uptake and chromosomal recombination, and is regulated indirectly by a quorum-sensing system encoded by two loci, comAB and comCDE. The alternative sigma factor, ComX, is thought to be the unique link between quorum sensing and competence-specific genes. To test this hypothesis, we replaced the quorum-sensing inducible promoter (PQ) of the comX gene with either a constitutive promoter (PC) or a raffinose-inducible promoter (PR), so that comX transcription would be independent of quorum sensing.

Lmx1b, Pet-1, and Nkx2.2 coordinately specify serotonergic neurotransmitter phenotype.

Serotonergic (5-HT) neurons in the brainstem modulate a wide range of physiological processes and behaviors. Two transcription factor genes, Pet-1 and Nkx2.2, are necessary but not sufficient to specify the 5-HT transmitter phenotype.

Synthesis and characterization of hydroxyapatite-ciprofloxacin delivery systems by precipitation and spray drying technique.

This investigation synthesized and characterized hydroxyapatite (HAP) microspheres, agglomerated microspheres, and implants containing ciprofloxacin. This delivery system is to be used as an implantable drug delivery system for the treatment of bone infections. The HAP microspheres were made by chemical precipitation followed by a spray-drying technique.