Comprehensive and cost-effective NMR spectroscopy of methyl groups in large proteins.

An NMR approach is described which yields the methyl resonance assignments of alanine, threonine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine residues in proteins with high sensitivity and excellent resolution. The method relies on protein samples produced by bacterial expression using [(1)H,(13)C]-D-glucose and approximately 100% D(2)O, which is cost-effective and ensures the isotopic enrichment of all possible methyl groups. Magnetization transfer throughout the methyl-containing side chains is possible with this labeling scheme due to the high level of deuteration along the amino acid side chain, coupled with the selection of the favorable CHD(2) methyl isotopomer for detection.

Efficacy of smoking prevention program 'Smoke-free Kids': study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: A strong increase in smoking is noted especially among adolescents. In the Netherlands, about 5% of all 10-year olds, 25% of all 13-year olds and 62% of all 17-year olds report ever smoking. In the U.

Comprehensive determination of (3)J (HNHalpha) for unfolded proteins using (13)C'-resolved spin-echo difference spectroscopy.

An experiment is presented to determine (3)J(HNHalpha) coupling constants, with significant advantages for applications to unfolded proteins. The determination of coupling constants for the peptide chain using 1D (1)H, or 2D and 3D (1)H-(15)N correlation spectroscopy is often hampered by extensive resonance overlap when dealing with flexible, disordered proteins. In the experiment detailed here, the overlap problem is largely circumvented by recording (1)H-(13)C' correlation spectra, which demonstrate superior resolution for unfolded proteins.

Personality and parenting style in parents of adolescents.

Since parental personality traits are assumed to play a role in parenting behaviors, the current study examined the relation between parental personality and parenting style among 688 Dutch parents of adolescents in the SMILE study. The study assessed Big Five personality traits and derived parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, and uninvolved) from scores on the underlying dimensions of support and strict control. Regression analyses were used to determine which personality traits were associated with parenting dimensions and styles.

Repeated rectal SHIVSF162P3 exposures do not consistently induce sustained T cell responses prior to systemic infection in the repeat-low dose preclinical macaque model.

The macaque model of repeated SHIV exposures is increasingly used as a preclinical tool to evaluate biomedical HIV intervention strategies. It is unclear whether multiple virus exposures induce immune responses in macaques, as documented in uninfected individuals repeatedly exposed to HIV. We here address whether repeated, rectal SHIV(SF162P3) exposures lead to systemic T cell activation in 12 rhesus macaques, and whether this is associated with increased infection resistance.

Shape and director field deformation of tactoids of plate-like colloids in a magnetic field.

We investigated by means of polarization microscopy the influence of a magnetic field on the shape and director field of nematic droplets in dispersions of plate-like colloidal particles. To interpret the experimental observations, we put forward a simple theory in which we presume strong anchoring and a sphero-cylindrical droplet shape. This model allows us to extract values for the interfacial tension and the splay elastic constant from the experimental data.

Complete protection from repeated vaginal simian-human immunodeficiency virus exposures in macaques by a topical gel containing tenofovir alone or with emtricitabine.

New-generation gels that deliver potent antiretroviral drugs against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 have renewed hopes for topical prophylaxis as a prevention strategy. Previous preclinical research with monkey models suggested that high concentrations and drug combinations are needed for high efficacy. We evaluated two long-acting reverse transcriptase inhibitors, tenofovir (TFV) and emtricitabine (FTC), by using a twice-weekly repeat challenge macaque model and showed that a preexposure vaginal application of gel with 1% TFV alone or in combination with 5% FTC fully protected macaques from a total of 20 exposures to simian-human immunodeficiency virus SF162p3.

Development and evaluation of a vaginal ring device for sustained delivery of HIV microbicides to non-human primates.

Background: There is considerable interest in developing coitally independent, sustained release formulations for long-term administration of HIV microbicides. Vaginal ring devices are at the forefront of this formulation strategy.

Methods: Non-medicated silicone elastomer vaginal rings were prepared having a range of appropriate dimensions for testing vaginal fit in pig-tailed and Chinese rhesus macaques.

Development of E-info gene(ca): a website providing computer-tailored information and question prompt prior to breast cancer genetic counseling.

This article describes the stepwise development of the website 'E-info gene(ca)'. The website provides counselees in breast cancer genetic counseling with computer-tailored information and a question prompt prior to their first consultation. Counselees generally do not know what to expect from genetic counseling and they tend to have a passive role, receiving large amounts of relatively standard information.

Parents who quit smoking and their adult children's smoking cessation: a 20-year follow-up study.

Aims: Extending our earlier findings from a longitudinal cohort study, this study examines parents' early and late smoking cessation as predictors of their young adult children's smoking cessation.

Design: Parents' early smoking cessation status was assessed when their children were aged 8 years; parents' late smoking cessation was assessed when their children were aged 17 years. Young adult children's smoking cessation, of at least 6 months duration, was assessed at age 28 years.

A prospective study of perception in adolescent smoking.

Purpose: This prospective study examined how environmental smoking affects the perception of lifetime smoking prevalence and thereby the likelihood of subsequent regular smoking.

Methods: A longitudinal design (N = 6769) with three waves was used to test our research questions. Exposure to smoking by peers, best friends, and parents were assessed at T1.

Adolescent depressive symptoms and smoking behavior: the gender-specific role of weight concern and dieting.

Objective: Increased weight concern and dieting are associated with both depression and smoking among adolescents, particularly girls. This cross-sectional study examined the gender-specific role of weight concerns and dieting on the adolescent depression-smoking association.

Methods: Participants were 2051 adolescents (1056 boys and 995 girls) from seven high schools in the Netherlands who filled out questionnaires on smoking, depression, and weight constructs and of whom weight and height were measured.

Online focus groups as a tool to collect data in hard-to-include populations: examples from paediatric oncology.

Background: The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate the methodology of online focus group discussions within the setting of paediatric oncology.

Methods: Qualitative study consisting of separate moderated asynchronous online discussion groups with 7 paediatric cancer patients (aged 8-17), 11 parents, and 18 survivors of childhood cancer (aged 8-17 at diagnosis).

Results: All three participant groups could be actively engaged over a one-week period.

Evaluation of the lymphocyte trafficking drug FTY720 in SHIVSF162P3-infected rhesus macaques.

Objectives: FTY720 causes retention of lymphocytes in lymphatic tissues. Previous studies revealed that FTY720 can decrease or eliminate chronic viral infections of mice. We address here whether therapeutic use of FTY720 in simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)-infected rhesus macaques could also decrease viraemia.

Disruptiveness, peer experiences and adolescent smoking: a long-term longitudinal approach.

Aims: This study examined links of peer experiences (i.e. social status and affiliation with disruptive peers) throughout childhood with respect to adolescent smoking trajectories, after controlling for childhood disruptiveness.

Capillary rise of an isotropic-nematic fluid interface: surface tension and anchoring versus elasticity.

A theoretical study is presented on the shape of the interface between coexisting isotropic and nematic phases in contact with a solid vertical wall. The interface profile is determined by a competition between three surface tensions, two anchoring strengths, gravity, and the Frank elastic constants of the director field. In the weak-anchoring limit, the director field is rigid and uniform, and we find the capillary rise height to depend nontrivially on the orientation of the director field relative to the solid-fluid interface.

Early statin therapy in elderly patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome causing less heart failure.

Objectives: Elderly patients are less likely to receive statin therapy because of concerns about their side-effects. However, 80% of deaths related to coronary heart disease occur in patients above the age of 65 years. This study evaluated the potential benefit of early administration of statins in elderly patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome.

Own and friends' smoking attitudes and social preference as early predictors of adolescent smoking.

This study examined the role of friends' attitudes in adolescent smoking (N = 203). Growth mixture modeling was used to identify three trajectories of smoking behavior from ages 12 to 14 years: a low-rate group, an increasing-rate group, and a high-rate group. Adolescents' own and their friends' attitudes at age 11 years were not significantly related to smoking.

Smoking cessation in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND, In patients with acute coronary syndrome, smoking cessation rates, demographics, and management strategies havenot been well described. We hypothesized that hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome would have higher smoking cessation rates than other currently available therapies. In-hospital counseling and referral to cardiac rehabilitation may further improve cessation rates.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities and sudden death in myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Background: Sudden death can occur as a consequence of cardiac-conduction abnormalities in the neuromuscular disease myotonic dystrophy type 1. The determinants of the risk of sudden death remain imprecise.

Methods: We assessed whether the electrocardiogram (ECG) was useful in predicting sudden death in 406 adult patients with genetically confirmed myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Short communication: no evidence of occult SHIV infection as demonstrated by CD8+ cell depletion after chemoprophylaxis-induced protection from mucosal infection in rhesus macaques.

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretroviral drugs constitutes a promising strategy for HIV prevention. Potent PrEP regimens with reverse transcriptase inhibitors can prevent detectable SHIV infection in a repeated low-dose macaque model that resembles human transmission, supporting plans to quickly move this approach into human trials. However, the possibility remains that extremely low levels of virus replication could nonetheless occur during PrEP and seed viral reservoirs in tissues.

Smoking behavior in asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescents: the role of smoking models and personality.

Despite the particular health risks for asthmatics, recent international studies have reported that tobacco use among asthmatics is similar to, or even higher than, non-asthmatics. This study examined the role of personality and environment in smoking among asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescents. In 2003 a random sample of 33 schools (first and second class of secondary education) was obtained in The Netherlands (N = 4,951).

Systemic and mucosal immunological responses during repeated mucosal SHIV(162P3) challenges prior to and following infection in pigtailed macaques.

Local and systemic immunological changes following vaginal HIV-1 exposures are poorly characterized and may influence susceptibility to infection. Therefore, we examined longitudinal mucosal, plasma cytokine profiles and viral-specific T-cell responses (vSTRs) before and during weekly repeated low-dose SHIV(SF162P3) viral challenges in six female pigtailed macaques, even in the absence of overt systemic infection. Following a single viral challenge, induction of several cytokines was detected consistently in cervico-vaginal lavages (CVL).

Partner effects and bidirectional parent-child effects in family alcohol use.

Introduction: The current study investigated partner effects and bidirectional parent-child effects in family alcohol use.

Methods: A full family, longitudinal design was used to test the hypotheses. Participants were 428 families, including mothers, fathers, and 2 children.