60 kD Ro and nRNP A frequently initiate human lupus autoimmunity.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a clinically heterogeneous, humoral autoimmune disorder. The unifying feature among SLE patients is the production of large quantities of autoantibodies. Serum samples from 129 patients collected before the onset of SLE and while in the United States military were evaluated for early pre-clinical serologic events.

Analysis of a beta-helical region in the p55 domain of Helicobacter pylori vacuolating toxin.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human stomach and contributes to the development of gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease. VacA, a toxin secreted by H. pylori, is comprised of two domains, designated p33 and p55.

Dominant-negative inhibitors of the Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin.

The Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin is responsible for a severe, often lethal intoxication. In this study, we characterized dominant-negative inhibitors of the epsilon-toxin. Site-specific mutations were introduced into the gene encoding epsilon-toxin, and recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli.

Genome sequence analysis of Helicobacter pylori strains associated with gastric ulceration and gastric cancer.

Background: Persistent colonization of the human stomach by Helicobacter pylori is associated with asymptomatic gastric inflammation (gastritis) and an increased risk of duodenal ulceration, gastric ulceration, and non-cardia gastric cancer. In previous studies, the genome sequences of H. pylori strains from patients with gastritis or duodenal ulcer disease have been analyzed.

Helicobacter pylori HopQ outer membrane protein attenuates bacterial adherence to gastric epithelial cells.

Helicobacter pylori genomes contain about 30 hop genes that encode outer membrane proteins. Helicobacter pylori hopQ alleles exhibit a high level of genetic diversity, and two families of hopQ alleles have been described. Type I hopQ alleles are found more commonly in cag-positive H.

Origin of negative differential resistance in a strongly coupled single molecule-metal junction device.

A new mechanism is proposed to explain the origin of negative differential resistance (NDR) in a strongly coupled single molecule-metal junction. A first-principles quantum transport calculation in a Fe-terpyridine linker molecule sandwiched between a pair of gold electrodes is presented. Upon increasing the applied bias, it is found that a new phase in the broken symmetry wave function of the molecule emerges from the mixing of occupied and unoccupied molecular orbitals.

First- and second-trimester thyroid hormone reference data in pregnant women: a FaSTER (First- and Second-Trimester Evaluation of Risk for aneuploidy) Research Consortium study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to calculate first and second trimester reference ranges and within-woman correlations for TSH, free T4, and thyroid antibodies.

Study Design: TSH, free T4, and thyroid antibodies were measured in paired sera from 9562 women in the FaSTER trial of Down syndrome screening.

Results: The median first trimester TSH (1.

Variability in thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression by human chorionic [corrected] gonadotropin during early pregnancy.

Objective: The objective of the study was to further explore relationships between human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), TSH, and free T4 in pregnant women at 11 through 18 wk gestation.

Study Design: The design of the study was to analyze hCG in comparison with TSH and free T4, in paired first- and second-trimester sera from 9562 women in the First and Second Trimester Evaluation of Risk for Fetal Aneuploidy trial study.

Results: hCG is strongly correlated with body mass index, smoking, and gravidity.

Sequential first- and second-trimester TSH, free thyroxine, and thyroid antibody measurements in women with known hypothyroidism: a FaSTER trial study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine how closely hypothyroidism management in the general pregnancy population satisfies recently issued guidelines and to determine whether improvements are indicated.

Study Design: This was an observational study in which women at 5 recruitment centers in the first- and second-trimester evaluation of risk for aneuploidy trial allowed the use of sequentially obtained first- and second-trimester sera for additional research. Three hundred eighty-nine women had hypothyroidism by self-report.

Helicobacter pylori VacA subdomain required for intracellular toxin activity and assembly of functional oligomeric complexes.

Helicobacter pylori VacA is a secreted pore-forming toxin that is comprised of two domains, designated p33 and p55. The p55 domain has an important role in the binding of VacA to eukaryotic cell surfaces. A total of 111 residues at the amino terminus of p55 (residues 312 to 422) are essential for the intracellular activity of VacA, which suggests that this region may constitute a subdomain with an activity distinct from cell binding.

Screen positive rates among six family history screening protocols for breast/ovarian cancer in four cohorts of women.

It has been estimated that approximately 2% of the general population has a family history that is indicative of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer. We aim to further document the proportions of women identified by several protocols as having a positive family history of breast/ovarian cancer, as a prelude to offering genetic counseling and BRCA1/2 mutation testing. This is a critical component of the evidence base needed when considering implementation of family history screening in primary care.

A rapid-ACCE review of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 alleles testing to inform warfarin dosing in adults at elevated risk for thrombotic events to avoid serious bleeding.

Purpose: Summarize evidence regarding genetic testing in adults to inform warfarin dosing to reduce adverse drug events such as serious bleeding.

Methods: Review published (and selected gray) literature using the Rapid-ACCE structure that addresses analytic validity, clinical validity, clinical utility, and ethical, legal, and social implications.

Results: Preliminary data suggest overall analytic sensitivity and specificity will be 98% or higher for CYP2C9 genotyping, but strength of evidence for analytic validity is low, especially for VKORC1 testing.

Information-theoretic matching of two point sets.

This paper describes the theoretic roadmap of least relative entropy matching of two point sets. The novel feature is to align two point sets without needing to establish explicit point correspondences. The recovery of transformational geometry is achieved using a mixture of principal axes registrations, whose parameters are estimated by minimizing the relative entropy between the two point distributions and using the expectation-maximization algorithm.

Crystal structure of the Helicobacter pylori vacuolating toxin p55 domain.

Helicobacter pylori VacA, a pore-forming toxin secreted by an autotransporter pathway, causes multiple alterations in human cells, contributes to the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer, and is a candidate antigen for inclusion in an H. pylori vaccine. Here, we present a 2.

Wetland Restoration Response Analysis using MODIS and Groundwater Data.

Vegetation cover and groundwater level changes over the period of restorationare the two most important indicators of the level of success in wetland ecohydrologicalrestoration. As a result of the regular presence of water and dense vegetation, the highestevapotranspiration (latent heat) rates usually occur within wetlands. Vegetation cover andevapotranspiration of large areas of restoration like that of Kissimmee River basin, SouthFlorida will be best estimated using remote sensing technique than point measurements.

Rapid ACCE: experience with a rapid and structured approach for evaluating gene-based testing.

Purpose: To present the rapid-ACCE model and report our early experience of using the ACCE structure to guide systematic reviews for the rapid evaluation of emerging genetic tests.

Methods: A rapid-ACCE review uses the same 44 questions that were developed for the full-ACCE model to guide the conduct of systematic review. We combined published literature with unpublished data to estimate test performance and input from experts to help clarify qualitative issues.

Hydroxychloroquine sulfate treatment is associated with later onset of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a clinically diverse, complex autoimmune disease which may present with coincident onset of many criteria or slow, gradual symptom accrual. Early intervention has been postulated to delay or prevent the development of more serious sequelae. One option for treatment in this setting is hydroxychloroquine.

Mutation detection in the ABCC6 gene and genotype-phenotype analysis in a large international case series affected by pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

Background: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), an autosomal recessive disorder with considerable phenotypic variability, mainly affects the eyes, skin and cardiovascular system, characterised by dystrophic mineralization of connective tissues. It is caused by mutations in the ABCC6 (ATP binding cassette family C member 6) gene, which encodes MRP6 (multidrug resistance-associated protein 6).

Objective: To investigate the mutation spectrum of ABCC6 and possible genotype-phenotype correlations.

Clinical criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus precede diagnosis, and associated autoantibodies are present before clinical symptoms.

Objective: Specific events that occur during the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be quite variable among individual patients. The aim of this study was to identify patterns that distinguish early clinical events in SLE and to assess whether the presence of associated autoantibodies precedes the fulfillment of clinical criteria.

Methods: Through a retrospective chart review of military medical records, 130 patients who met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the classification of SLE were identified.

Spatiotemporal localization of injury potentials in DRG neurons during vincristine-induced axonal degeneration.

The distal to proximal degeneration of axons, or "dying back" is a common pattern of neuropathology in many diseases of the PNS and CNS. A long-standing debate has centered on whether this pattern of neurodegeneration is due to an insult to the cell body or to the axon itself, although it is likely that mechanisms are different for specific disease entities. We have addressed this question in a model system of vincristine-induced axonal degeneration.

Functional analysis of neutralizing antibodies against Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin.

The Clostridium perfringens epsilon-toxin causes a severe, often fatal illness (enterotoxemia) characterized by cardiac, pulmonary, kidney, and brain edema. In this study, we examined the activities of two neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against the C. perfringens epsilon-toxin.