Organisation of the lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) embryonic brain: insights from LIM-homeodomain, Pax and hedgehog genes.

To investigate the embryonic development of the central nervous system of the lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis, we have isolated and analysed the expression patterns of members of the LIM-homeodomain, Pax, Hedgehog and Nkx2.1 families. Using degenerate RT-PCR, single representatives of Lhx1/Lhx5, Lhx2/Lhx9, Pax3/Pax7 and Hedgehog families could be isolated in L.

Plant and animal homeodomains use convergent mechanisms for intercellular transfer.

Homeoproteins are defined by the structure of their DNA-binding domain, the homeodomain. Intercellular transfer of homeoprotein was observed ex vivo between animal cells and in vivo in higher plants. In the latter case, transfer is through intercytoplasmic channels that connect plant cells, but these do not exist in animals.

Polyhydroxylated spirostanol saponins from the tubers of Dioscorea polygonoides.

Three new polyhydroxylated spirostanol saponins (1-3) were isolated from the tubers of Dioscorea polygonoides. The structures of these new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and the results of acid or enzymatic hydrolysis as (23S,24R,25S)-23,24-dihydroxyspirost-5-en-3beta-yl O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), (23S,25R)-12alpha,17alpha,23-trihydroxyspirost-5-en-3beta-yl O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), and (23S,25R)-14alpha,17alpha,23-trihydroxyspirost-5-en-3beta-yl O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), respectively.

Better maintained adherence on switching from twice-daily to once-daily therapy for HIV: a 24-week randomized trial of treatment simplification using stavudine prolonged-release capsules.

Background: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is critical to treatment outcomes. Adherence studies in other therapeutic areas of medicine suggest that once-daily regimens support improved adherence when compared to twice-daily therapy. An expansion in the range of once-daily antiretrovirals is making once-daily therapy possible for persons with HIV infection.

Cannabis use in HIV for pain and other medical symptoms.

Despite the major benefits of antiretroviral therapy on survival during HIV infection, there is an increasing need to manage symptoms and side effects during long-term drug therapy. Cannabis has been reported anecdotally as being beneficial for a number of common symptoms and complications in HIV infections, for example, poor appetite and neuropathy. This study aimed to investigate symptom management with cannabis.

[Inhibition of invasion and multiplication of Toxoplasma gondii in human colonic epithelial cells by a monoclonal antibody against protein SAG2].

By an bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay, it was proved hat an IgG 1 subclass, murine monoclonal antibody to surface protein SAG2 of Toxoplasma gondii is capable of reducing the invasion and multiplication of the parasites in highly differentiated mucine secretory HT29-18N2 line cells from a human colon adenocarcinoma. This result shows the importance of surface protein SAG2 of T.gondii in invasion and further multiplication of parasites in the host cell.

New classification of HLA-DRB1 alleles supports the shared epitope hypothesis of rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility.

Objective: The shared epitope hypothesis was formulated to explain the involvement of HLA-DRB1 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, several studies, which considered only the HLA-DRB1 alleles shown to be associated with RA risk, rejected this hypothesis. In this report, we propose that a different classification of HLA-DRB1 alleles be considered, based on the amino acid sequence at position 70-74.

Prevalence, incidence, and etiology of epilepsies in rural Honduras: the Salamá Study.

Purpose: Determination of epilepsy etiology in population-based studies is difficult because of the high cost of diagnostic tests. However, cost-effectiveness may be proven if preventive public-health strategies can be established from the test results. We report an epilepsy population-based study using clinical and laboratory techniques.

A family based study shows no association between rheumatoid arthritis and the PADI4 gene in a white French population.

Background: Autoantibodies to citrullinated proteins (ACPA) are considered a specific marker for rheumatoid arthritis. Peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) is the enzyme that converts arginyl into citrullyl residues; different isoforms of the enzyme are expressed in mammals. It has been suggested that the PADI4 gene may contribute to genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis, but conflicting results have been obtained in different populations.

Protection of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) against plague after voluntary consumption of baits containing recombinant raccoon poxvirus vaccine.

Prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) are highly susceptible to Yersinia pestis and significant reservoirs of plague for humans in the western United States. A recombinant raccoon poxvirus, expressing the F1 antigen of Y.

Limited infection upon human exposure to a recombinant raccoon pox vaccine vector.

A laboratory accident resulted in human exposure to a recombinant raccoon poxvirus (RCN) developed as a vaccine vector for antigens of Yersinia pestis for protection of wild rodents (and other animals) against plague. Within 9 days, the patient developed a small blister that healed within 4 weeks. Raccoon poxvirus was cultured from the lesion, and the patient developed antibody to plague antigen (F1) and RCN.

Effects of soil drying and subsequent re-watering on the activity of nitrate reductase in roots and leaves of Helianthus annuus.

The effects of drought on the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) were studied in Helianthus annuus L. plants subjected to soil drying and subsequent re-watering. Drought did not negatively affect the activation state of NR, but resulted in linearly-correlated decreases in the activity of the unphosphorylated active form and the total activity of NR, in both roots and leaves.

Raccoon poxvirus as a mucosal vaccine vector for domestic cats.

In the present study, we evaluated both the immunogenicity and safety of recombinant raccoon poxvirus (RCN) as a mucosal vaccine vector for domestic cats. RCN is an orthopoxvirus that was isolated from healthy raccoons and has been used experimentally as a vaccine vector for rabies and other antigens in a variety of species, including raccoons, skunks, foxes, bobcats, rabbits, domestic cats, piglets, sheep and non-human primates. We evaluated the antibody response induced by a recombinant RCN vaccine expressing the rabies-G glycoprotein (RCN/rabies-G) administered to cats by the oral (PO), intranasal (IN), conjunctival (CO) or intranasal/conjunctival (IN/CO) route (dose: 10 plaque forming units or PFU).

Enabling the nation's schools to help prevent heart disease, stroke, cancer, COPD, diabetes, and other serious health problems.

In the United States, more than 53 million young people attend nearly 120,000 schools, usually for 13 of their most formative years. Modern school health programs--if appropriately designed and implemented--could become one of the most efficient means the nation might employ to reduce the establishment of four main chronic disease risks: tobacco use, unhealthy eating patterns, inadequate physical activity, and obesity. The U.

Simvastatin preserves cardiac function in genetically determined cardiomyopathy.

Endothelial dysfunction characterizes heart failure (HF). Simvastatin (Sim) increases endothelial nitric oxide (NO) independent of lipid-lowering. We evaluated the effect of Sim on cardiac function, apoptosis, and NO availability in HF.

A TNFR1 genotype with a protective role in familial rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Results of genome scans in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have suggested that the tumor necrosis factor receptor I (TNFRI) and TNFRII loci (TNFR1 and TNFR2) are susceptibility loci. A TNFR2 polymorphism was found to be associated with familial RA. TNFR1 is mutated in TNFR-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS).

Analysis of organic acids after incubation with (16-2H3)palmitic acid in fibroblasts from patients with mitochondrial beta-oxidation defects.

The analysis of acylcarnitines as products of incubation of intact fibroblasts with isotope-labelled precursors, usually (16-(2)H(3))hexadecanoic acid, is an advanced in vitro method for the study of mitochondrial beta-oxidation defects. We propose a technique for the measurement of the organic acid intermediates after hydrolysis of the acylcarnitines using electron-impact gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For some mitochondrial beta-oxidation deficiencies, the characteristic profile enables us to approach the diagnosis with clear differentiation.

[Early diagnosis of neurometabolic diseases by tandem mass spectrometry. Acylcarnitine profile from cord blood].

Introduction: Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) provides a multi-analyte technology for the detection of disorders characterised by the presence of abnormal concentrations of metabolites related to neurological deterioration. It has been recently recommended the use of this technique for early diagnosis of inherited metabolic diseases using cord blood.

Aims: To draw the attention to the inherited metabolic diseases detected by tandem mass spectrometry and to establish reference values for acylcarnitines in cord blood.

Quantifying energy dissipation by grazing animals in harsh environments.

Grazing systems in harsh environments are common throughout the world, and animal production is the mainstay of the livelihoods of many resource-poor farmers. The energy cost of the various activities involved in the process of harvesting the pasture to transform it into animal product can be estimated through an energy balance. This cost would be the difference between the metabolizable energy intake (MEI) and the energy expenditures for maintenance (MEm), temperature regulation (MEtr), and the energy for production (MEp).

Optimization of an alum-adsorbed vaccine powder formulation for epidermal powder immunization.

Purpose: To develop stable and effective aluminum salt (alum)-adsorbed vaccine powder formulations for epidermal powder immunization (EPI) via a spray freeze-drying (SFD) process.

Methods: Powder properties were determined using particle size analysis, tap density, and scanning electron microscopy. Alum coagulation was monitored via optical microscopy and particle sedimentation.

Powder and particle-mediated approaches for delivery of DNA and protein vaccines into the epidermis.

The epidermis of the skin is both a sensitive immune organ and a practical target site for vaccine administration. However, administration of vaccines into the epidermis is difficult to achieve using conventional vaccine delivery methods employing a needle and syringe. A needle-free vaccine delivery system has been developed that efficiently delivers powdered or particulate DNA and protein vaccines into the epidermal tissue.

Late-onset form of beta-electron transfer flavoprotein deficiency.

Multiple acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) or glutaric aciduria type II (GAII) are a group of metabolic disorders due to deficiency of either electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) or electron transfer flavoprotein ubiquinone oxidoreductase (ETF-QO). We report the clinical features and biochemical and molecular genetic analyses of a patient with a mild late-onset form of GAII due to beta-ETF deficiency. Biochemical data showed an abnormal urine organic acid profile, low levels of free carnitine, increased levels of C(10:1n-6), and C(14:1n-9) in plasma, and decreased oxidation of [9,10-3H]palmitate and [9,10-3H]myristate in fibroblasts, suggesting MAD deficiency.

Water deficits are more important in delaying growth than in changing patterns of carbon allocation in Eucalyptus globulus.

Potted cuttings of three Eucalyptus globulus Labill. clones (AR3, CN44, MP11) were either well watered or subjected to one of two soil water deficit regimes for six months in a greenhouse. Reductions in lateral branching, leaf production and leaf expansion were the leading contributors to the large differences observed in biomass production between well-watered and water-stressed plants.