Sister chromatid junctions in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus.

Although the Archaea exhibit an intriguing combination of bacterial- and eukaryotic-like features, it is not known how these prokaryotic cells segregate their chromosomes before the process of cell division. In the course of our analysis of the third replication origin in the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, we identify and characterise sister chromatid junctions in this prokaryote. This pairing appears to be mediated by hemicatenane-like structures, and we provide evidence that these junctions persist in both replicating and postreplicative cells.

Activation of vascular endothelial growth factor through reactive oxygen species mediates 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid-induced endothelial cell proliferation.

20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) is formed by the omega-hydroxylation of arachidonic acid by cytochrome P450 4A and 4F enzymes, and it induces angiogenic responses in vivo. To test the hypothesis that 20-HETE increases endothelial cell (EC) proliferation via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), we studied the effects of WIT003 [20-hydroxyeicosa-5(Z),14(Z)-dienoic acid], a 20-HETE analog on human macrovascular or microvascular EC. WIT003, as well as pure 20-HETE, stimulated EC proliferation by approximately 40%.

Clinically aggressive central giant cell granulomas in two patients with neurofibromatosis 1.

Background: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder caused by a spectrum of mutations affecting the Nf1 gene. Affected patients develop benign and malignant tumors at an increased frequency. Clinical findings include multiple cutaneous café-au-lait pigmentations, neurofibromas, axillary freckling, optic gliomas, benign iris hamartomas (Lisch nodules), scoliosis, and poorly defined soft tissue lesions of the skeleton.

Unilateral tongue atrophy.

A 64-year-old woman who sought routine dental treatment was noted to have unilateral atrophy of the tongue. The medical and dental significance of this manifestation is reviewed.

Low-voltage cross-sectional EBIC for characterisation of GaN-based light emitting devices.

Electron beam induced current (EBIC) characterisation can provide detailed information on the influence of crystalline defects on the diffusion and recombination of minority carriers in semiconductors. New developments are required for GaN light emitting devices, which need a cross-sectional approach to provide access to their complex multi-layered structures. A sample preparation approach based on low-voltage Ar ion milling is proposed here and shown to produce a flat cross-section with very limited surface recombination, which enables low-voltage high resolution EBIC characterisation.

Genomic analysis of the 8p11-12 amplicon in familial breast cancer.

Amplification of 8p11-12 has been recurrently reported in sporadic breast cancer. These studies define a complex molecular structure with a set of minimal amplified regions, and different putative oncogenes that show a strong correlation between amplification and over-expression such as ZNF703/FLJ14299, SPFH2/C8orf2, BRF2 and RAB11FIP. However, none of these studies were carried out on familial breast malignancies.

Expediting drug discovery: recent advances in fast medicinal chemistry--optimization of hits and leads.

This article reviews the literature from January 2004 to January 2006 relating to the use of parallel chemistry compound libraries in drug discovery. Examples of libraries that have yielded active compounds across a range of biological targets are presented, together with synthetic details where relevant. The background of the biological target, and any structure-activity relationship that can be discerned from members of a library series, are also commented upon.

Role of angiotensin II in retinal leukostasis in the diabetic rat.

To study if the endogenous renin-angiotensin system affects diabetic retinal leukostasis, rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were treated with an ACE inhibitor (ramipril), an angiotensin II AT(1) receptor antagonist (losartan) and the Ca channel blocker, (nifedipine). In the diabetic rats, these drug treatments reduced systolic blood pressure by approximately 16 mmHg but did not change blood glucose. After 2 weeks, the rats were examined for retinal leukostasis in vivo with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO).

Gene-enhanced tissue engineering for dental hard tissue regeneration: (2) dentin-pulp and periodontal regeneration.

Potential applications for gene-based tissue engineering therapies in the oral and maxillofacial complex include the delivery of growth factors for periodontal regeneration, pulp capping/dentin regeneration, and bone grafting of large osseous defects in dental and craniofacial reconstruction. Part 1 reviewed the principals of gene-enhanced tissue engineering and the techniques of introducing DNA into cells. This manuscript will review recent advances in gene-based therapies for dental hard tissue regeneration, specifically as it pertains to dentin regeneration/pulp capping and periodontal regeneration.

Gene-enhanced tissue engineering for dental hard tissue regeneration: (1) overview and practical considerations.

Gene-based therapies for tissue regeneration involve delivering a specific gene to a target tissue with the goal of changing the phenotype or protein expression profile of the recipient cell; the ultimate goal being to form specific tissues required for regeneration. One of the principal advantages of this approach is that it provides for a sustained delivery of physiologic levels of the growth factor of interest.This manuscript will review the principals of gene-enhanced tissue engineering and the techniques of introducing DNA into cells.

The impact of parallel chemistry in drug discovery.

With the application of parallel synthesis of single compounds to drug-discovery efforts, improvements in the efficiency of synthesis are possible. However, for improvements to occur in effective drug design - a critical requirement to increase productivity in the modern pharmaceutical industry - the implementation of in silico design hypotheses that incorporate comprehensive information on a target, including considerations of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, is also necessary. Concomitantly, the use of automated methods of synthesis and purification is also required to improve drug design.

Effects of oxandrolone on outcome measures in the severely burned: a multicenter prospective randomized double-blind trial.

Severe burns induce pathophysiologic problems, among them catabolism of lean mass, leading to protracted hospitalization and prolonged recovery. Oxandrolone is an anabolic agent shown to decrease lean mass catabolism and improve wound healing in the severely burned patients. We enrolled 81 adult subjects with burns 20% to 60% TBSA in a multicenter trial testing the effects of oxandrolone on length of hospital stay.

Early supernormal retinal oxygenation response in patients with diabetes.

Purpose: To determine whether the human retinal oxygenation response (deltaPO2) to a hyperoxic provocation is abnormal in patients with type I diabetes.

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure deltaPO2 during 100% oxygen breathing in patients with type I diabetes who had either no clinically detectable retinopathy (n = 5) or mild to moderate background diabetic retinopathy (BDR; n = 5) and in age-matched healthy control subjects (n = 7).

Results: Both the patients with diabetes and the control subjects exhibited a significant (P < 0.

Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma of the maxillary sinus.

We describe the case of a 43-year-old man who was referred to our dental school"s acute care clinic with pain and swelling of presumed dental origin in the left maxillary quadrant. Radiographic examination revealed extensive dental decay and periodontal disease. On questioning, the patient admitted to paresthesia of recent onset.

Distribution of breakpoints on chromosome 18 in breast, colorectal, and pancreatic carcinoma cell lines.

Chromosome 18 is frequently rearranged in carcinomas. We explored the distribution of breakpoints affecting chromosome 18 by mapping 56 breakpoints in 26 carcinoma cell lines by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) and band paints. The distribution of breaks among 18 intervals of chromosome 18 was significantly nonrandom.

Assertiveness in nursing practice: an action research and reflection project.

This article describes an action research project that highlighted reflective processes, so hospital nurses could work systematically through problem solving processes to uncover constraints against effective nursing care; and to improve the quality of their care in light of the identified constraints and possibilities. Four Registered Nurses (RNs) co-researched their practice with the facilitator and over the research period identified the thematic concern of the need for assertiveness in their work. The RNs planned, implemented and evaluated an action plan and, as a direct result of their reflections and collaborative action, they improved their nursing practice in relation to becoming more effective in assertiveness in work situations.

The reversed binding of beta-phenethylamine inhibitors of DPP-IV: X-ray structures and properties of novel fragment and elaborated inhibitors.

The co-crystal structure of beta-phenethylamine fragment inhibitor 5 bound to DPP-IV revealed that the phenyl ring occupied the proline pocket of the enzyme. This finding provided the basis for a general hypothesis of a reverse binding mode for beta-phenethylamine-based DPP-IV inhibitors. Novel inhibitor design concepts that obviate substrate-like structure-activity relationships (SAR) were thereby enabled, and novel, potent inhibitors were discovered.

Etiology of xerostomia and dental caries among methamphetamine abusers.

This study reviews the peripheral effects of methamphetamine on the salivary acini, the pathogenesis of methamphetamine-induced xerostomia, and its anecdotal relationship to dental caries. Methamphetamine is a sympathomimetic central stimulant which is abused for its euphoric effects. Its pharmacological action is exerted indirectly by sustaining high levels of catecholamines in the synaptic cleft and directly by binding to the postsynaptic adrenergic receptors.

9L gliosarcoma cell proliferation and tumor growth in rats are suppressed by N-hydroxy-N'-(4-butyl-2-methylphenol) formamidine (HET0016), a selective inhibitor of CYP4A.

The present study examined the effects of N-hydroxy-N'-(4-butyl-2 methylphenyl) formamidine (HET0016), a selective inhibitor of the formation of 20-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (20-HETE) on the growth of 9L rat gliosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. After 48 h of incubation, HET0016 reduced the proliferation of 9L in vitro by 55%, and this was associated with a fall in p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase and stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase phosphorylation and increased apoptosis. HET0016 inhibited epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced proliferation and diminished phosphorylation of PDGF receptors.

Influence of socio-economic deprivation on outcomes for patients diagnosed with gastric cancer.

Objective: Socio-economic deprivation has an influence on the outcome for patients diagnosed with breast, colorectal and bronchial cancer, but there are few data on its association with gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of socio-economic deprivation on outcomes for patients with gastric cancer.

Material And Methods: Three hundred and thirty consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma presenting to a single hospital between 1 October 1995 and 30 June 2004 were studied prospectively and deprivation scores calculated using the National Assembly for Wales Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

Evaluation of cystic salivary gland lesions by fine needle aspiration: an analysis of 21 cases.

Objective: To analyze the potential sources of diagnostic errors and overall accuracy rate of the fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) diagnosis of cystic salivary gland neoplasms.

Study Design: A 10-year (1993-2002) retrospective review of the cytopathology slides from the Division of Cytopathology, Department of Pathology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York, identified a total of 97 consecutive salivary gland FNAB cases that microscopically were interpreted as representing cystic lesions. Of these, 21 cases had histologic follow-up at our institution.

External cervical root resorption involving multiple maxillary teeth in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an inherited syndrome characterized by mucocutaneous telangiectases that commonly involve the tongue, lips, fingers, and conjunctiva. While root resorption has been reported in association with central hemangiomas of bone, the association of HHT with external cervical root resorption has not been described to date. We report a case of a 57-year-old female with HTT who presented with advanced cervical root resorption involving multiple maxillary anterior teeth.