Process evaluation of the Community Support Connections merger.

Community Support Connections (CSC) is the result of the merger of four private not-for-profit community health care agencies. The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the progress of CSC toward its stated goal: improvement of coordination and accessibility of health services. As of this writing, more than one year into the merger, managers, staff and volunteers believe that the goals of serving more clients more completely through case management are being achieved.

Stable subclones of the chondrogenic murine cell line MC615 mimic distinct stages of chondrocyte differentiation.

Fourteen stable subclones derived from the murine chondrogenic cell line MC615 were established and characterised regarding their differentiation stages and responsivity to BMP2. Based on their gene expression profiles which revealed remarkable variances in Col2a1 and Col10a1 expression, subclones could be grouped into at least three distinct categories. Three representative subclones (4C3, 4C6 and 4H4) were further characterised with respect to gene expression pattern and differentiation capacity.

Narrow window in nanoscale dependent activation of endothelial cell growth and differentiation on TiO2 nanotube surfaces.

Critical features of biomimetic materials used for vascular grafts and stents are surface structure and chemical features of the implant material supporting adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, the major cell types of blood vessels. Recently, experimental evidence from several laboratories have indicated a strong stimulation of cellular activities on vertically aligned TiO(2) nanotube surfaces in comparison to amorphous TiO(2) surfaces. Conflicting reports exist, however, concerning the nanoscale dimension, and the role of the chemistry and crystallinity of the nanotubes in eliciting cell responses.

Real-time visualization of cytoplasmic calpain activation and calcium deregulation in acute glutamate excitotoxicity.

Although calpain (EC 3.4.22) protease activation was suggested to contribute to excitotoxic delayed calcium deregulation (DCD) via proteolysis of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 3 (NCX3), cytoplasmic calpain activation in relation to DCD has never been visualized in real-time.

Rapidly cleared episodes of herpes simplex virus reactivation in immunocompetent adults.

Background: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) remains latent in nerve root ganglia of infected persons and is thought to reactivate several times yearly. Recent in situ data show the localization of HSV-specific CD8(+) T cells at the dermal epidermal junction next to peripheral sensory nerve endings, suggesting that viral reactivation may occur more frequently than previously appreciated.

Methods: Twenty-five HSV-2-seropositive and 18 HSV-1-seropositive healthy adults collected anogenital and oral swabs, respectively, 4 times per day for 60 days.

Increasing hippocampal acetylcholine levels enhance behavioral performance in an animal model of diencephalic amnesia.

Pyrithiamine-induced thiamine deficiency (PTD) was used to produce a rodent model of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome that results in acute neurological disturbances, thalamic lesions, and learning and memory impairments. There is also cholinergic septohippocampal dysfunction in the PTD model. Systemic (Experiment 1) and intrahippocampal (Experiment 2) injections of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine were administered to determine if increasing acetylcholine levels would eliminate the behavioral impairment produced by PTD.

Specific expression of Cre recombinase in hypertrophic cartilage under the control of a BAC-Col10a1 promoter.

Previously we have shown that insertion of a LacZ reporter gene into the Col10a1 gene in the context of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) drives strong and specific expression of LacZ in hypertrophic cartilage of transgenic mice [Gebhard S., Hattori T., Bauer E.

Internet and email use among STD clinic patients.

Background: Little data exist on Internet and email use among STD clinic patients for research and clinical care communication.

Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional survey of STD clinic patients aged >/=18 years in Seattle, WA, March 13 to 22, 2006.

Results: Of 489 study period patients, 251 (51%) completed the questionnaire.

Improved attachment of mesenchymal stem cells on super-hydrophobic TiO2 nanotubes.

Self-organized layers of vertically orientated TiO(2) nanotubes providing defined diameters ranging from 15 up to 100nm were grown on titanium by anodic oxidation. These TiO(2) nanotube layers show super-hydrophilic behavior. After coating TiO(2) nanotube layers with a self-assembled monolayer (octadecylphosphonic acid) they showed a diameter-dependent wetting behavior ranging from hydrophobic (108+/-2 degrees ) up to super-hydrophobic (167+/-2 degrees ).

Cell-based resurfacing of large cartilage defects: long-term evaluation of grafts from autologous transgene-activated periosteal cells in a porcine model of osteoarthritis.

Objective: To investigate the potential of transgene-activated periosteal cells for permanently resurfacing large partial-thickness cartilage defects.

Methods: In miniature pigs, autologous periosteal cells stimulated ex vivo by bone morphogenetic protein 2 gene transfer, using liposomes or a combination of adeno-associated virus (AAV) and adenovirus (Ad) vectors, were applied on a bioresorbable scaffold to chondral lesions comprising the entire medial half of the patella. The resulting repair tissue was assessed, 6 and 26 weeks after transplantation, by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods.

Ucma, a novel secreted cartilage-specific protein with implications in osteogenesis.

Here we report on the structure, expression, and function of a novel cartilage-specific gene coding for a 17-kDa small, highly charged, and secreted protein that we termed Ucma (unique cartilage matrix-associated protein). The protein is processed by a furin-like protease into an N-terminal peptide of 37 amino acids and a C-terminal fragment (Ucma-C) of 74 amino acids. Ucma is highly conserved between mouse, rat, human, dog, clawed frog, and zebrafish, but has no homology to other known proteins.

Mutations in the EGFR kinase domain mediate STAT3 activation via IL-6 production in human lung adenocarcinomas.

Persistently activated or tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) is found in 50% of lung adenocarcinomas. pSTAT3 is found in primary adenocarcinomas and cell lines harboring somatic-activating mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR. Treatment of cell lines with either an EGFR inhibitor or an src kinase inhibitor had no effect on pSTAT3 levels, whereas a pan-JAK inhibitor (P6) blocked activation of STAT3 and inhibited tumorigenesis.

Contraception among HIV concordant and discordant couples in Zambia: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study examines the impact of an intervention to promote dual-method contraceptive use among HIV concordant and discordant couples already using condoms for HIV prevention.

Methods: A three-armed randomized, controlled trial was conducted at a voluntary HIV testing and counseling clinic in Lusaka, Zambia; 251 couples were randomized. Control couples received family planning education and referral to an outside clinic for nonbarrier contraceptives, intervention 1 couples received education and offer of contraceptives at the research clinic, and intervention 2 couples received intervention 1 plus a presentation designed to reduce outside pressures to conceive.

Reoxygenation stress on blood-brain barrier paracellular permeability and edema in the rat.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) serves as a critical regulator of brain homeostasis. Following hypoxia (i.e.

Distinct acidic clusters and hydrophobic residues in the alternative splice domains X1 and X2 of alpha7 integrins define specificity for laminin isoforms.

The binding specificity of alpha7beta1 integrins for different laminin isoforms is defined by the X1 and X2 splice domains located in the beta-propeller domain of the alpha7 subunit. In order to gain insight into the mechanism of specific laminin-integrin interactions, we defined laminin-binding epitopes of the alpha7X1 and -X2 domains by single amino acid substitutions and domain swapping between X1 and X2. The interaction of mutated, recombinantly prepared alpha7X1beta1 and alpha7X2beta1 heterodimers with various laminin isoforms was studied by surface plasmon resonance and solid phase binding assays.

Dynamic changes in vesicular glutamate transporter 1 function and expression related to methamphetamine-induced glutamate release.

The vesicular glutamate (GLU) transporter (VGLUT1) is a critical component of glutamatergic neurons that regulates GLU release. Despite the likely role of GLU release in drug abuse pathology, there is no information that links VGLUT1 with drugs of abuse. This study provides the first evidence that methamphetamine (METH) alters the dynamic regulation of striatal VGLUT1 function and expression through a polysynaptic pathway.

Isolated Anxa5+/Sca-1+ perivascular cells from mouse meningeal vasculature retain their perivascular phenotype in vitro and in vivo.

Pericytes are closely associated with endothelial cells, contribute to vascular stability and represent a potential source of mesenchymal progenitor cells. Using the specifically expressed annexin A5-LacZ fusion gene (Anxa5-LacZ), it became possible to isolate perivascular cells (PVC) from mouse tissues. These cells proliferate and can be cultured without undergoing senescence for multiple passages.

Modulation of the immune system by dying cells and the phosphatidylserine-ligand annexin A5.

Apoptotic cell death and the efficient clearance of dying cells are essential mechanisms to control tissue homeostasis and to eliminate potential autoantigens. Numerous alterations on the surfaces of dying cells define a highly characteristic membrane signature and enable an unequivocal distinction from vital cells. This way, phagocytosis is initiated and signalling events induced which minimize inflammatory reactions.

Nanosize and vitality: TiO2 nanotube diameter directs cell fate.

We generated, on titanium surfaces, self-assembled layers of vertically oriented TiO2 nanotubes with defined diameters between 15 and 100 nm and show that adhesion, spreading, growth, and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells are critically dependent on the tube diameter. A spacing less than 30 nm with a maximum at 15 nm provided an effective length scale for accelerated integrin clustering/focal contact formation and strongly enhances cellular activities compared to smooth TiO2 surfaces. Cell adhesion and spreading were severely impaired on nanotube layers with a tube diameter larger than 50 nm, resulting in dramatically reduced cellular activity and a high extent of programmed cell death.

Def-6, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac1, interacts with the skeletal muscle integrin chain alpha7A and influences myoblast differentiation.

Integrin alpha7beta1 is the major laminin binding integrin receptor of muscle cells. The alpha7 chain occurs in several splice isoforms, of which alpha7A and alpha7B differ in their intracellular domains only. The fact that the expression of alpha7A and alpha7B is tightly regulated during skeletal muscle development suggests different and distinct roles for both isoforms.

Topical resiquimod 0.01% gel decreases herpes simplex virus type 2 genital shedding: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Resiquimod, an investigational immune response modifier and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and 8 agonist, stimulates production of cytokines that promote an antigen-specific T helper type 1 (Th1)--acquired immune response. In animal models, induction of Th1-specific responses modifies experimental herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of resiquimod 0.

Tolerization of an established alphaB-crystallin-reactive T-cell response by intravenous antigen.

Tolerance induction to prevent activation of a naïve T-cell repertoire has been well documented in rodents and can be readily achieved by intravenous, oral or intranasal administration of antigen in the absence of adjuvants. In autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) the presence of an established memory/effector T-cell repertoire against self-antigens is likely to be more relevant than the potential reactivity of naive T cells. Methods to eliminate such an established T-cell response are less well understood.

The role of annexin A5 in the modulation of the immune response against dying and dead cells.

Annexins are characterized by the ability to bind phospholipids of membranes in the presence of Ca2+. Annexin A5 represents a typical member of this protein family and is a natural occurring highly specific ligand for phosphatidylserine (PS). The exposure of PS is one major "eat me" signal for phagocytes of apoptotic and necrotic cells.