Plasma and macular responses to lutein supplement in subjects with and without age-related maculopathy: a pilot study.

There is a growing body of evidence which suggests that macular pigment (MP), which is entirely of dietary origin, protects against age-related maculopathy. We evaluated the effect of a daily 20 mg lutein ester (equivalent of 10 mg/day free lutein) supplement in patients with early age-related maculopathy (ARM), in terms of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and plasma concentrations of lutein. MPOD was measured using a flicker photometric technique in seven ARM sufferers and six age-matched controls over a period of supplementation which lasted 18-20 weeks.

The periplasmic serine protease inhibitor ecotin protects bacteria against neutrophil elastase.

Ecotin is a dimeric periplasmic protein from Escherichia coli that has been shown to inhibit potently many trypsin-fold serine proteases of widely varying substrate specificity. To help elucidate the physiological function of ecotin, we examined the family of ecotin orthologues, which are present in a subset of Gram-negative bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that ecotin has an exogenous target, possibly neutrophil elastase.

Age-dependent synuclein pathology following traumatic brain injury in mice.

Synucleins (Syn), a family of synaptic proteins, includes alpha-Syn, which plays a pivotal role in Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative diseases (synucleinopathies) by forming distinct brain pathologies (Lewy bodies and neurites). Since traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a poorly understood risk factor for Parkinson's disease, we examined the effects of TBI in the young and aged mouse brain on alpha-, beta-, and gamma-Syn. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that brains from sham-injured young and aged mice had normal alpha- and beta-Syn immunoreactivity (IR) in neuropil of cortex, striatum, and hippocampus with little or no gamma-Syn IR.

Spectral sensitivity in eyes with macular holes and their fellow eyes.

Background: This prospective study was undertaken to investigate whether spectral sensitivity can be useful in determining the prognosis of fellow eyes of eyes with macular holes.

Methods: Spectral sensitivity measurements using a one degree test spot presented at a rate of 1 Hz and 25 Hz on a bright (1000 td) white background were carried out on 10 patients aged between 67 and 74 years (mean age 70.3 +/- 2.

Contrast coding and magno/parvo segregation revealed in reaction time studies.

Reaction times (RTs) are obtained for a wide range of contrasts of vertical sinusoidal gratings. The data are plotted as a function of the reciprocal of contrast. In some conditions, a single linear function accounts for the data.

Fasting plasma nitric oxide products in coeliac disease.

Objectives: In coeliac disease, inducible nitric oxide synthase activity in the duodenal mucosa is greatly increased, resulting in increased production of nitric oxide. We investigated whether this resulted in increased plasma concentrations of its stable end products (nitrate/nitrite: NOx).

Methods: Fasting plasma NOx was determined in 66 patients attending for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Retrospective audit of the value of the pancreolauryl test in a district general hospital.

Objectives: To audit the specificity and value of the pancreolauryl test (PLT) for the diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency.

Design: A retrospective case note review of 47 patients who had a PLT during three consecutive years.

Setting: A 650 bedded district general hospital.

High-resolution crystal structure of the Fab-fragments of a family of mouse catalytic antibodies with esterase activity.

The crystal structures of four related Fab fragments of a family of catalytic antibodies displaying differential levels of esterase activity have been solved in the presence and in the absence of the transition-state analogue (TSA) that was used to elicit the immune response. The electron density maps show that the TSA conformation is essentially identical, with limited changes on hapten binding. Interactions with the TSA explain the specificity for the D rather than the L-isomer of the substrate.

Role of alpha-synuclein carboxy-terminus on fibril formation in vitro.

Alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) is the major component of intracellular inclusions in several neurodegenerative diseases, and the conversion of soluble alpha-syn into filamentous aggregates may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Since mechanisms leading to the formation of alpha-syn inclusions are unclear, in vitro models of alpha-syn aggregation may yield insights into this process. To that end, we examined the consequences on the progressive deletion of the carboxy-terminus of alpha-syn in regulating fibril formation, and we show here that carboxy-terminal truncated alpha-syn proteins aggregate faster than the full-length molecule.

Early synergy between Abeta42 and oxidatively damaged membranes in promoting amyloid fibril formation by Abeta40.

Oxidative lipid membrane damage is known to promote the misfolding of Abeta42 into pathological beta structure. In fully developed senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease, however, it is the shorter and more soluble amyloid beta protein, Abeta40, that predominates. To investigate the role of oxidative membrane damage in the misfolding of Abeta40, we have examined its interaction with supported lipid monolayer membranes using internal reflection infrared spectroscopy.

An overview of tests for animal tissues in feeds applied in response to public health concerns regarding bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Enforcing the ban on meat-and-bone meal in feed for farmed animals, and especially ruminants, is considered an important measure to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The authors describe current analytical methods for the detection and identification of animal tissues in feed. In addition, recently approved requirements, such as the ban of intra-species recycling (practice of feeding an animal species with proteins derived from the bodies, or parts of bodies, of the same species) are described.

Structural basis of Synercid (quinupristin-dalfopristin) resistance in Gram-positive bacterial pathogens.

Synercid, a new semisynthetic streptogramin-derived antibiotic containing dalfopristin and quinupristin, is used in treatment of life-threatening infections caused by glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium and other bacterial pathogens. However, dissemination of genes encoding virginiamycin acetyltransferases, enzymes that confer resistance to streptogramins, threatens to limit the medical utility of the quinupristin-dalfopristin combination. Here we present structures of virginiamycin acetyltransferase D (VatD) determined at 1.

Simple reaction times in color space: the influence of chromaticity, contrast, and cone opponency.

Purpose: This study examined the influence of stimulus chromaticity on simple reaction times (RTs) to determine the stage of chromatic processing that is most influential in their generation.

Methods: Simple RTs were measured in response to the cosinusoidally ramped onset of small, equiluminant, colored Gaussian spots. The chromaticity of these stimuli was varied, to modulate along a series of vectors in color space that included red-green (L-M) and blue-yellow (S-[L+M]) opponent axes.

Synphilin in normal human brains and in synucleinopathies: studies with new antibodies.

Mutations in the gene encoding alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) have recently been linked to rare hereditary forms of Parkinson's disease. A yeast two-hybrid screen with alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) identified synphilin as an alpha-syn-interacting protein, potentially implicating synphilin in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies. Co-transfection of synphilin and the central (NAC) region of alpha-syn in HEH293 cells resulted in synuclein inclusions.

Scalp VEPs and intra-cortical responses to chromatic and achromatic stimuli in primates.

We propose asimple method of monitoring separate visual pathways inlightly sedated monkeys using chromatic and achromatic gratings of low contrast, which are known to activate predominantly either parvo- or magno-systems. The scalp Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) are compared with simultaneously recorded intra-cortical VEPs which in turn are compared with multi-unit and single-unit responses. At isoluminance, the onset of low contrast, coarse chromatic square wave spatial profile gratings generates negative scalp VEPs which exhibit properties consistent with the activation of sustained, parvocellular-chromatic mechanisms (e.

The role of magnesium ions and 2'-hydroxyl groups in the VS ribozyme-substrate interaction.

The minimal substrate of the trans-cleaving Neurospora VS ribozyme has a stem-loop structure and interacts with the ribozyme by RNA tertiary interactions that remain only partially defined. The magnesium ion dependence of the catalytic parameters of a trans-cleaving VS-derived ribozyme were studied. The turnover number of the catalytic RNA was found to depend on the binding of at least three magnesium ions, with an apparent magnesium ion dissociation constant of 16mM, but K(M) was observed to be metal ion independent in the millimolar range.

Reaction times as an index of visual conspicuity when driving at night.

Conspicuity refers to the visibility of objects that are either close to threshold or viewed in a cluttered environment. Conventional, threshold-based tests of vision are unlikely to be related to target visibility, because visual systems behave differently under supra-threshold and close-to-threshold conditions, or when low luminance levels are used. In these experiments, Reaction Times (RTs) are tested under a wide range of contrasts, luminances and spatial frequencies commonly encountered in the real world.

The androgen receptor interacts with multiple regions of the large subunit of general transcription factor TFIIF.

The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates genes important for male development and reproductive function. The main determinants for the transactivation function lie within the structurally distinct amino-terminal domain. Previously we identified an interaction between the AR-transactivation domain (amino acids 142-485) and the general transcription factor TFIIF (McEwan, I.

Koilands from thiophiles: mercury(II) clusters from thiacalixarenes.

Tetra- and hexa-nuclear mercury(II) complexes have been obtained from tetrathiacalix[4]arene and tetramercaptotetrathiacalix[4]arene, respectively, and structurally characterised in the solid state; the complexes provide new digonal and trigonal receptors of the koiland type.

Increased activity and expression of iNOS in human duodenal enterocytes from patients with celiac disease.

The activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was assayed in enterocytes isolated from human duodenal biopsies to determine its role in celiac disease. Patients were categorized into groups with irritable bowel syndrome, iron-deficiency anemia, B(12)/folate deficiency, and treated and untreated celiac disease. Enterocytes isolated from all groups showed 1400W-inhibitable Ca2+-independent NOS activity with a pH level and temperature optimum of 9.

Nurse endoscopists in United Kingdom health care: a survey of prevalence, skills and attitudes.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and potential benefits of attitudes towards nurse endoscopy in the United Kingdom (UK).

Design: Postal questionnaire.

Subjects: All hospitals in the UK with accident and emergency, general medical and general surgical services in October 2000.

Raised visual detection thresholds depend on the level of complexity of cognitive foveal loading.

The objective of the study was to measure the interactions between visual thresholds for a simple light (the secondary task) presented peripherally and a simultaneously performed cognitive task (the primary task) presented foveally The primary task was highly visible but varied according to its cognitive complexity. Interactions between the tasks were determined by measuring detection thresholds for the peripheral task and accuracy of performance of the foveal task. Effects were measured for 5, 10, 20, and 30 deg eccentricity of the peripherally presented light and for three levels of cognitive complexity.

Exploring 'person-centredness': user perspectives on a model of social psychiatry.

This paper explores service users' experiences of a 'person-centred' mental health service. We describe the development of a model of social psychiatry that places the emphasis on the experiences of the person within social and political contexts. This establishes the foundations of a 'person-centred' approach, the values of which are described briefly.