Alpha-cardiac actin mutations produce atrial septal defects.

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most frequent congenital heart defects (CHDs) with a variable phenotypic effect depending on the size of the septal shunt. We identified two pedigrees comprising 20 members segregating isolated autosomal dominant secundum ASD. By genetic mapping, we identified the gene-encoding alpha-cardiac actin (ACTC1), which is essential for cardiac contraction, as the likely candidate.

A randomized, controlled trial of emotional disclosure in rheumatoid arthritis: can clinician assistance enhance the effects?

Emotional disclosure by writing or talking about stressful life experiences improves health status in non-clinical populations, but its success in clinical populations, particularly rheumatoid arthritis (RA), has been mixed. In this randomized, controlled trial, we attempted to increase the efficacy of emotional disclosure by having a trained clinician help patients emotionally disclose and process stressful experiences. We randomized 98 adults with RA to one of four conditions: (a) private verbal emotional disclosure; (b) clinician-assisted verbal emotional disclosure; (c) arthritis information control (all of which engaged in four, 30-min laboratory sessions); or (d) no-treatment, standard care only control group.

A microtiter assay for quantifying protein-protein interactions associated with cell-cell adhesion.

Cell-cell adhesions are a hallmark of epithelial tissues, and the disruption of these contacts plays a critical role in both the early and late stages of oncogenesis. The interaction between the transmembrane protein E-cadherin and the intracellular protein beta-catenin plays a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of epithelial cell-cell contacts and is known to be downregulated in many cancers. The authors have developed a protein complex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that can quantify the amount of beta-catenin bound to E-cadherin in unpurified whole-cell lysates with a Z' factor of 0.

Determinants of social functioning in bipolar disorder.

Background: Evidence indicates that social outcomes in bipolar disorders (BP) are poorer than previously assumed. This study explores determinants of the quality and quantity of social activity.

Methods: Seventy-seven subjects with BP completed self-report and observer-rated questionnaires assessing demographic and clinical factors, personality and social functioning.

Postural changes of the dural sac in the lumbar spines of asymptomatic individuals using positional stand-up magnetic resonance imaging.

Study Design: Positional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of control subjects.

Objectives: To determine dimensional changes in the lumbar dural sac as a function of posture, and to establish changes between the supine, erect and seated positions.

Summary Of Background Data: Studies using computerized tomography and MRI were done to determine the mechanical effects on the lumbar spinal canal in the different positions.

New lanthanide-containing polytungstates derived from the cyclic P8W48 Anion: {Ln4(H2O)28[K subset P8W48O184(H4W4O12)2Ln2(H2O)10]13-}x, Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd.

The reaction of K28Li5H7[P8W48O184].92H2O with early lanthanides under hydrothermal and conventional conditions yields novel structures of the molecular formula Ln4(H2O)28K6Li7[K subsetP8W48O184(H4W4O12)2Ln2(H2O)10] congruent with 57H2O, Ln = La (1), Ce (2, 2a), Pr (3), Nd (4), in which the central cavity of the precursor anion is occupied by lanthanide cations and H4W4O12 moieties. The new heteropolyanions were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, 31P NMR, and X-ray crystallography.

The accuracy of surface measurement for motion analysis of osteoporotic thoracolumbar spine.

The surface method of measuring the movements of lower thoracic and lumbar spine with osteoporosis using Fastrak® was examined for validity. There is an increasing awareness of the health risks of exposure to radiation associated with repeated radiographic assessment of spinal curvature and spinal movements. As a skin-surface measurement device, Fastrak® was employed to study the effect of low bone mineral density on spine motion.

NO-cGMP mediated galanin expression in NGF-deprived or axotomized sensory neurons.

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) are well characterized regulators of galanin expression. However, LIF knockout mice containing the rat galanin 5' proximal promoter fragment (- 2546 to + 15 bp) driving luciferase responded to axotomy in the same way as control mice. Also, LIF had no effect on reporter gene expression in vitro, neither in the presence or absence of NGF, suggesting that other factors mediate an axotomy response from the galanin promoter.

City bus driving and low back pain: a study of the exposures to posture demands, manual materials handling and whole-body vibration.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate worker exposure to posture demands, manual materials handling (MMH) and whole body vibration as risks for low back pain (LBP). Using validated questionnaire, information about driving experience, driving (sitting) posture MMH, and health history was obtained from 80 city bus drivers. Twelve drivers were observed during their service route driving (at least one complete round trip) and vibration measurements were obtained at the seat and according to the recommendations of ISO 2631 (1997), for three models of bus (a mini-bus, a single-decker bus, a double-decker bus).

Interactions of two monoclonal antibodies with BNP: high resolution epitope mapping using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.

Structure-function studies of antibody-antigen systems include the identification of amino acid residues in the antigen that interact with an antibody and elucidation of their individual contributions to binding affinity. We used fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and alanine-scanning mutagenesis to characterize the interactions of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) with two monoclonal antibodies. Human BNP is a 32 amino acid residue long cyclic polypeptide with the ring structure confined between cysteines in positions 10 and 26.

Adipose atrophy in cancer cachexia: morphologic and molecular analysis of adipose tissue in tumour-bearing mice.

Extensive loss of adipose tissue is a hallmark of cancer cachexia but the cellular and molecular basis remains unclear. This study has examined morphologic and molecular characteristics of white adipose tissue in mice bearing a cachexia-inducing tumour, MAC16. Adipose tissue from tumour-bearing mice contained shrunken adipocytes that were heterogeneous in size.

The length of the cervical cord: effects of postural changes in healthy volunteers using positional magnetic resonance imaging.

Study Design: The length of the cervical cord in healthy volunteers was measured in the supine and erect position using positional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Objective: To assess the relationship between the length of the cervical cord and cervical posture in healthy volunteers.

Summary Of Background Data: A number of detailed descriptions of the normal morphologic features of the cervical cord have been published.

Biomechanical aspects of the cervical cord: effects of postural changes in healthy volunteers using positional magnetic resonance imaging.

Study Design: The area in cross-sectional view of the cervical cord (ACSCC) at each disc levels was measured in supine and erect positions using positional magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI).

Objectives: To assess the relationship between ACSCC and cervical posture in healthy volunteers using pMRI.

Summary Of Background Data: There have been few detailed descriptions of the normal morphologic features of the cervical cord.

Plasmid-based expression technology using growth hormone releasing hormone: a novel method for physiologically stimulating long-term growth hormone secretion.

Novel DNA-based technologies were recently introduced for various purposes, such as screening of targets identified from genomic projects, shuffled molecules for vaccination, or to direct the in vivo production of hormones and other peptides for therapeutic or preventative applications. We have used a plasmid-based technology to deliver growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) to various animal species for screening, toxicology and therapy. A single intramuscular injection of a low dose of plasmid followed by electroporation can ensure that the target species will produce physiological levels of GHRH for extended periods of time, which would replace costly, frequent injections of the recombinant hormone and improve the quality of life and compliance of patients.

CpG-C ISS-ODN activation of blood-derived B cells from healthy and chronic immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques.

Cytosine-phosphate-guanine class C (CpG-C) immunostimulatory sequence oligodeoxynucleotides (ISS-ODNs) activate human B cells and dendritic cells (DCs), properties that suggest potential use as a novel adjuvant to enhance vaccine efficacy. After demonstrating that the CpG-C ISS-ODN C274 activates macaque DCs, we examined in vitro activation of macaque B cells by C274 as a prelude to evaluation of this molecule as an adjuvant in the testing of candidate human immunodeficiency virus vaccines in the rhesus macaque-simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) model. C274 induced macaque CD20(+) B cells to proliferate more strongly than CD40 ligand or CpG-B ISS-ODN.

Tetrakis(dimethyltin)-containing tungstophosphate [{Sn(CH3)2}4(H2P4W24O92)2]28-: first evidence for a lacunary Preyssler ion.

We demonstrate for the first time that the superlacunary polyanion [H(2)P(4)W(24)O(94)](22)(-) reacts with electrophiles. One-pot reaction of this precursor polyanion with dimethyltin dichloride in aqueous acidic medium results in the hybrid organic-inorganic [{Sn(CH(3))(2)}(4)(H(2)P(4)W(24)O(92))(2)](28)(-) (1). Single-crystal X-ray analysis was carried out on K(17)Li(11)[{Sn(CH(3))(2)}(4)(H(2)P(4)W(24)O(92))(2)].

Lymphocyte-dendritic cell interactions and mucosal acquisition of SIV/HIV infection.

Purpose Of Review: Several previous models of HIV dissemination implicated dendritic cells as viral conduits to the lymphatics. However, recent macaque transmission and microbicide studies have highlighted a more complex situation.

Recent Findings: Resting CD4 lymphocytes are observed to be the major infected population in mucosal tissue after vaginal challenge with SIV.

Highly efficient constant-current electroporation increases in vivo plasmid expression.

Electroporation has been demonstrated as an effective technique for enhancing the delivery of plasmids coding for DNA vaccines and therapeutic proteins into skeletal muscle. Nevertheless, constant-voltage techniques do not take into account the resistance of the tissue and result in tissue damage, inflammation, and loss of plasmid expression. In the present study, we have used a software-driven constant-current electroporator to deliver plasmids to mice and small and large pigs.

Chelated heteroatoms in polyoxometalates and the topological equivalence of [CoIII(en)] to type II cis-dioxometal centers. Synthesis and structure of [[Co(en)(mu-OH)2Co(en)}[PW10O37Co(en)]2]8- and [K subset[Co(en)WO4][WO(H2O)](PW9O34)2]12-.

The first examples of polyoxometalate structures that incorporate embedded chelated heteroatoms point to new possibilities for stereochemical control of applications.

Giovanni Alfonso Borelli--the father of biomechanics.

Giovanni Alfonso Borelli is often described as the father of biomechanics. He was born in Naples in 1608. His De Motu Animalium, published in 1680, extended to biology the rigorous analytical methods developed by Galileo in the field of mechanics.

Mass spectrometry identification of NASP binding partners in HeLa cells.

Nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (NASP) is a linker histone binding protein that is cell-cycle regulated. Synchronized HeLa cells are delayed in progression through the G1/S border when transiently transfected to overexpress full-length NASP, but not the histone-binding site (HBS) deletion mutant (NASP-DeltaHBS). The purpose of the current study was to identify possible NASP-associated proteins in HeLa cell nuclei that could elucidate NASP's influence on the cell cycle and chromatin remodeling.

A small cavity with reactive internal shell atoms spanned by four {As(W/V)9}-type building blocks allows host-guest chemistry under confined conditions.

The reaction of [H2As(III)W18O60]7- with VO2+ and SO4(2-) ions in aqueous solution leads to a V(IV)/V(V) mixed-valence cluster anion containing the {As4M40O140}-type cryptand which has a high formation tendency. An important result is that it exhibits a new type of reactive internal cavity shell. The correspondingly obtained compound Na(NH4)20[{(V(IV)O(H2O))(V(IV)O)2(SO4)2}{(As(III)W9O33)2(As(III)W7.

Culture and comparison of feline myeloid dendritic cells vs macrophages.

To gain insight into the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection and immunity, methods were developed to culture feline myeloid DCs from CD14(+) monocytes with a combination of human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hrGM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (hrIL-4). These cells were compared with feline macrophages cultured in the presence of hrGM-CSF. As with DCs in other species, feline DCs showed uniformly high MHC class II expression, moderate B7.

Immunomodulatory effects of HSV-2 infection on immature macaque dendritic cells modify innate and adaptive responses.

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) infect human and murine dendritic cells (DCs) and interfere with their immunostimulatory functions in culture. HSV-2 infection increases human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) spread in patients, and DCs also promote HIV infection. We have studied these topics in rhesus macaque monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) to set the stage for future studies of these issues in animals.