DNA relaxation dynamics as a probe for the intracellular environment.

Investigations into the biophysical properties of single molecules traditionally involve well defined in vitro systems where parameters such as solvent viscosity and applied forces are known a priori. These systems provide means to develop models describing the polymers response to a variety of conditions, including the entropically driven relaxation of a stretched biopolymer upon release of the tension inducing force. While these techniques have proven instrumental for recent advancements in the fields of polymer physics and biophysics, how applicable they are to life inside the cell remains poorly understood.

Simplified method of left ventricular thrombectomy.

Postinfarction left ventricular thrombi are at risk for embolization with resultant injury. Surgical removal is recommended especially if they are pedunculated or mobile. We describe an easily applied transatrial method that can allow avoidance of a ventriculotomy.

Contamination of an Unpreserved Semisoft Baked Cookie with a Xerophilic Aspergillus species.

An Aspergillus mold was isolated that had contaminated an unpreserved semisoft baked cookie with visible mycelial growth. Due to the xerophilic nature of the contaminating mold, the Aspergillus isolate went undetected using conventional plating media and incubation times. Spread plating onto rose bengal osmophilic potato dextrose (rose-osmo) agar, a reduced water activity (a) medium, was used for isolation and enumeration of the isolate from contaminated cookies and in microbiological assessments of the production facility.

Increased heart rate response to laboratory-induced mental stress predicts frequency and duration of daily life ambulatory myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease.

This study assessed the relation between hemodynamic data during a standardized mental stressor and ambulatory ischemia to determine if laboratory-induced responses could predict the magnitude of daily life ischemia. Forty-two men and 11 women, aged 46 to 79 years (mean 61), with coronary artery disease and exercise-induced ischemia were studied. All patients underwent 24- to 48-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring (mean 43 +/- 0.

Psychophysical responses to a speech stressor: correlation of plasma beta-endorphin levels at rest and after psychological stress with thermally measured pain threshold in patients with coronary artery disease.

Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that psychological stress alters plasma levels of opioid peptides and that these plasma levels are related to pain perception in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Public speaking psychological stress has previously been shown to be associated with silent ischemia.

Methods: After instrumentation and a 30-min rest period, venous blood samples for beta-endorphin were obtained before and immediately after psychological stress in 20 patients with coronary artery disease.