Hyperthermia mediated liposomal drug delivery.

Drug delivery systems have been developed for cancer therapy in an attempt to increase the tumour drug concentration while limiting systemic exposure. Liposomes have achieved passive targeting of solid tumours through enhanced vascular permeability, which is greatly augmented by hyperthermia. However, anti-tumour efficacy has often been limited by slow release of bioavailable drug within the tumour.

Decreased association of aged alpha crystallins with gamma crystallins.

Previous studies have demonstrated non-covalent interactions of alpha crystallins with gamma crystallins, under true equilibrium conditions. These interactions could affect short-range interactions of lens crystallins that are necessary for the transparent properties of the lens. Since the transparent properties of the lens decrease during aging, it is possible that there are corresponding changes in the ability of aged alpha crystallins to interact with gamma crystallins.

Low-temperature metallic alloying of copper and silver nanoparticles with gold nanoparticles through digestive ripening.

We describe a remarkable and simple alloying procedure in which noble metal intermetallic nanoparticles are produced in gram quantities via digestive ripening. This process involves mixing of separately prepared colloids of pure Au and pure Ag or Cu particles and then heating in the presence of an alkanethiol under reflux. The result after 1 h is alloy nanoparticles.

Screening of crystallin-crystallin interactions using microequilibrium dialysis.

Purpose: It has been hypothesized that short-range, protein-protein interactions of crystallin are necessary for the maintenance of lens transparency. Because of their probable weak nature, it has been difficult to both detect and quantitate the nature of these interactions. To determine if interactions exist between alpha-crystallin and gamma-crystallin under true equilibrium conditions, we have used microequilibrium dialysis.

A role for transferrin receptor in triggering apoptosis when targeted with gambogic acid.

Transferrin receptor (TfR) has been shown to be significantly overexpressed in different types of cancers. We discovered TfR as a target for gambogic acid (GA), used in traditional Chinese medicine and a previously undiscovered link between TfR and the rapid activation of apoptosis. The binding site of GA on TfR is independent of the transferrin binding site, and it appears that GA potentially inhibits TfR internalization.

Neuroendocrine profiling of humans receiving cardiac allografts.

Background: Several studies have investigated changes in circulating hormones and markers of cardiac status after heart transplantation in humans. As a result, plasma levels of various hormones and autocoids have been associated with cardiac allograft rejection status. However, no clear associations can be defined given the highly contradictory nature of the available literature.

Toward promoting generative cultures of intentional mentoring within academic settings.

Mentoring promotes ongoing learning of clinical psychologists, regardless of their expertise and experience. Most academic programs, however, do not possess vigorous mentoring cultures in which mentors simultaneously are learners. Academic programs are largely based on "mastery" philosophies that tacitly aim mentoring at less-experienced peers.

Recurrent carotid artery stenosis following endarterectomy: natural history and risk factors.

Objectives: To establish the incidence of restenosis (RES) following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and evaluate clinical and technical factors related to its development.

Design: Prospective non-randomised cohort study.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred and twenty-four patients with 243 CEA between May 1998 and December 2002, were subjected to clinical and haemodynamic follow-up, median follow-up 23 months (1-56).

Participation of G proteins in natriuretic peptide hormone secretion from heart atria.

The involvement of G proteins in the mechanism underlying the increased atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) secretion observed after atrial muscle stretch (stretch-secretion coupling) was assessed using a combined pharmacological, immunocytochemical, and tissue fractionation approach. It was found that G(i/o) inhibition by pertussis toxin (PTX) abolished stretch-secretion coupling without affecting baseline secretion through a mechanism that is independent of G(q) signaling agonists. Mastoparan-7, a G(i/o) agonist, significantly increased ANF secretion even in the absence of muscle stretch through a PTX-sensitive mechanism.

Immunohistochemical identification of an extracellular matrix scaffold that microguides capillary sprouting in vivo.

To gain insight into how a naturally occurring scaffold composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins provides directional guidance for capillary sprouting, we examined angiogenesis in whole-mount specimens of rat mesentery. Angiogenesis was studied in response to normal maturation, the injection of a mast cell degranulating substance (compound 48/80), and mild wounding. Confocal microscopy of specimens immunolabeled for elastin revealed a network of crosslinked elastic fibers with a density of 140.

Induced aniseikonia diminishes binocular contrast sensitivity and binocular summation.

Purpose: To study the effect on binocular contrast sensitivity and binocular summation of aniseikonia induced by size (afocal) lenses.

Methods: In 18 young emmetropic observers, the monocular and binocular contrast sensitivity function was measured under normal conditions and after inducing different degrees of aniseikonia (2%, 3%, and 5% and for 6 observers, 8%) in the right eye. The spatial frequencies tested were 2.

Characterization of the tight junction protein ZO-2 localized at the nucleus of epithelial cells.

ZO-2 is a MAGUK protein that in confluent epithelial sheets localizes at tight junctions (TJ) whereas in sparse cultures accumulates in clusters at the nucleus. Here, we have characterized several nuclear properties of ZO-2. We observe that ZO-2 is present in the nuclear matrix and co-immunoprecipitates with lamin B(1) and actin from the nuclei of sparse cultures.

Experience of maltreatment as a child and acceptance of violence in adult intimate relationships: mediating effects of distortions in cognitive schemas.

Links exist between being subjected to maltreatment as a child and tendencies to accept violence as normative in adult relationships. Constructivist Self Development Theory suggests that such relationships may be affected by "cognitive disruptions" in "self" and "other" schemas. Mediating effects of distorted cognitive schemas on the association between history of child maltreatment and the acceptance of violence in intimate interpersonal relationships were investigated among 433 men and women.

Effects of PDC-109 on bovine sperm functional activity in presence or absence of heparin.

PDC-109, a heparin-binding protein (from the seminal vesicles) that binds to sperm surface phospholipids at ejaculation, may modulate several aspects of sperm activity. The objectives of the present study were to determine: (1) in the presence or absence of heparin, the effects of exogenous PDC-109 on sperm motility (Makler chamber), viability (Hoechst 33258) and membrane functional integrity (hypoosmotic swelling test) of bovine spermatozoa; (2) the role of PDC-109 as a capacitation-inducing factor; and (3) its ability to induce the acrosome reaction (fluorescein staining). After 4-h capacitation in the presence of heparin, the addition of PDC-109 (0.

[Percutaneous embolization of non-functioning renal graft as therapeutic alternative to surgical transplantectomy].

Objective: To analyze the indications, results and complications of embolisation of a non-tolerated, non-functioning renal graft with regards to surgical transplantectomy.

Material And Methods: Between 1990 and 1998, 55 patients with failed renal graft were studied. Patients had undergone either subcapsular transplantectomy (23 patients) or percutaneous embolisation of allograft (32 patients).

Absence of OX-43 antigen expression in invasive capillary sprouts: identification of a capillary sprout-specific endothelial phenotype.

Endothelial cells exhibit a number of unique phenotypes, some of which are angiogenesis dependent. To identify a capillary sprout-specific endothelial phenotype, we labeled angiogenic rat mesentery tissue using a microvessel and capillary sprout marker (laminin), selected endothelial cell markers (CD31, tie-2, and BS-I lectin), and the OX-43 monoclonal antibody, which recognizes a 90-kDa membrane glycoprotein of unknown function. In tissues that were stimulated through wound healing and compound 48/80 application, double-immunolabeling experiments with an anti-laminin antibody revealed that the OX-43 antigen was expressed strongly in all microvessels.

Origin and evolution of a new gene expressed in the Drosophila sperm axoneme.

Sdic is a new gene that evolved recently in the lineage of Drosophila melanogaster. It was formed from a duplication and fusion of the gene AnnX, which encodes annexin X, and Cdic, which encodes the intermediate polypeptide chain of the cytoplasmic dynein. The fusion joins AnnX exon 4 with Cdic intron 3, which brings together three putative promoter elements for testes-specific expression of Sdic: the distal conserved element (DCE) and testes-specific element (TSE) are derived from AnnX, and the proximal conserved element (PCE) from Cdic intron 3.

The Entamoeba histolytica EhPgp5 (MDR-like) protein induces swelling of the trophozoites and alters chloride-dependent currents in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Entamoeba histolytica, the protozoan responsible for human amoebiasis, presents the multidrug resistant phenotype due to the expression of the E. histolytica P-glycoproteins EhPgpl and EhPgp5. Here, we studied the protein EhPgp5 encoded by the EhPgp5 gene in emetine-sensitive trophozoites transfected with the pEhNEOPgp5 plasmid carrying the EhPgp5 gene.

Impact of induced aniseikonia on stereopsis with random-dot stereogram.

In this work, we evaluate the impact of induced aniseikonia on stereopsis. For this, we determined the disparity range (maximum disparity), a parameter related to the size of the physical region that can be perceived stereoscopically. A significant decline in the disparity range was detected with aniseikonia induced by size lenses of 3% for five of the seven observers tested; 5% was necessary for the other two observers.

Storage of Chinchilla lanigera semen at 4 degrees C for 24 or 72 h with two different cryoprotectants.

The objectives of this study were to: (a) test the functional activity of Chinchilla lanigera spermatozoa suspended in either glycerol or ethylene glycol, cooled to 4 degrees C, and stored for 24 or 72 h and (b) investigate, after these cooling periods, the effects of incubating sperm at 37 degrees C (for 4 h) upon sperm functional activity. The ejaculate was mixed with the cryoprotectant medium (at 1 M final concentration) and cooled to 4 degrees C. After warming, sperm motility, sperm viability, hypoosmotic swelling test results, and acrosomal integrity were significantly higher for samples containing ethylene glycol than for those in glycerol, stored for 24 or 72 h, and then assayed after 0 or 4 h incubation at 37 degrees C.

pH-Dependent Excited-State Dynamics of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+)-Modified Amino Acids: Effects of an Amide Linkage and Remote Functional Groups.

The pH-dependent photophysical properties of a series of polypyridyl ruthenium-substituted amino acids were investigated by steady-state and time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy. [H(3)N-DAPA(Rub(2)m)-OH](PF(6))(3) (1), [H(3)N-DABA(Rub(2)m)-OH](PF(6))(3) (2), [H(3)N-Orn(Rub(2)m)-OH](PF(6))(3) (3), and [H(3)N-Lys(Rub(2)m)-OH](PF(6))(3) (4) were obtained by formation of an amide link between the omega-NH(2) group of the respective commercially available amino acid and [Rub(2)(m-OH)](2+) (b = bipyridine, m-OH = 4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4-carboxylic acid). Due to the absence of significant electronic interactions between the ruthenium chromophore and the amino acid moieties, the energetics and extinction coefficients of the absorption spectra of 1-4 do not change as a function of pH.