Assessing average somatic CAG repeat instability at the protein level.

Sandwich ELISA-based methods use Abs that target the expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract to quantify mutant huntingtin (mHTT). Using Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) assay, the mHTT signal detected with MW1 Ab correlated with polyQ length and doubled with a difference of only 7 glutamine residues between equivalent amounts of purified mHTTexon1 proteins. Similar polyQ length-dependent effects on MSD signals were confirmed using endogenous full length mHTT from brains of Huntington's disease (HD) knock-in (KI) mice.

A kinetic study of reactions of Et3ZnLi and di-tert-butyl ketone.

An organozincate of composition Et3ZnLi and di-tert-butyl ketone react in toluene to form (after hydrolysis) ethyl-di-tert-butylmethanol. The rate is proportional to approximately [Et3ZnLi](-0.5)[ketone](1) when the initial concentration of Et3ZnLi is greater than that of the ketone but proportional to [Et3ZnLi](1)[ketone](-1) when the initial concentration of ketone is greater than that of Et3ZnLi.

Hammett rho of reactions of MeLi with benzophenones.

Relative rates of reactions of MeLi with benzophenones in diethyl ether at 0 degrees C that furnish methyldiarylmethanols were determined using slow addition of a MeLi solution to solutions containing an excess of two benzophenones. The additions exhibit a Hammett rho of 0.94.

Verification of improved patient outcomes with a partially implantable hearing aid, The SOUNDTEC direct hearing system.

Introduction: Partially implantable hearing devices have been developed to address some of the user-perceived shortcomings of standard amplification systems. Partially implantable devices are purported to provide improved sound quality as a result of decreased occlusion, decreased feedback, and enhanced clarity resulting from increased high-frequency gain. Such improvements may result in greater user satisfaction.

Reactions of Et(3)ZnLi with ketones: electronic and steric effects(1).

Toluene solutions of composition Et(3)ZnLi react rapidly with aldehydes and ketones to form addition products. Et(3)ZnNa and Et(3)ZnK solutions react readily with the same substrates although metalation, as well as addition, is significant with substrates having alpha-hydrogens. The Et(3)ZnM solutions react with 2-cyclohexenone to give mainly the 1,4-addition product.

A comparison between a conventional and a fiberoptic flow-directed thermal dilution pulmonary artery catheter in critically ill patients.

Invasive hemodynamic monitoring is frequently required in the management of patients in intensive care units. A fiberoptic flow-directed thermal dilution pulmonary artery catheter capable of continuously monitoring the mixed venous saturation, while more expensive than a conventional pulmonary artery catheter, theoretically could result in better patient care, and might be cost-effective if it resulted either in fewer blood tests being ordered or in less time in the intensive care unit. To test this hypothesis, we designed a randomized trial in our Medical Intensive Care Unit to compare a standard pulmonary artery catheter with a fiberoptic catheter.

Aging-related skin changes: development and clinical meaning.

The medical literature is replete with articles that discuss the spectrum of sun-induced changes in human skin. These extrinsic, actinically induced changes, more prevalent in the elderly, include wrinkling and loss of elasticity; dyspigmentation; vascular ectasias and hemorrhage; atrophy; and benign and malignant neoplasms. This article, however, focuses on the intrinsic changes behind geriatric skin problems, providing a non-specialist's illustrated guide to recognizing structural and functional changes due to normal, chronological aging and how they manifest clinically in elderly patients.

Thoracic computed tomography in the preoperative evaluation of primary bronchogenic carcinoma.

One hundred seventy-four patients with bronchogenic carcinoma underwent computed tomography (CT) as part of their preoperative evaluation. Overall, CT had a sensitivity of 86%, a specificity of 78%, and an accuracy of 81% in identifying mediastinal lymph node metastases. In patients with a central tumor, the sensitivity was 93%, the specificity 74%, and the accuracy 83%.

Nifedipine does not alter methacholine-induced bronchial reactivity.

Calcium ions have been shown to be involved in smooth muscle contraction and various secretory processes. Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocking drug, does not have any intrinsic bronchodilatory effect, but it has been suggested to possibly inhibit bronchial reactivity. Eight patients, with normal baseline pulmonary function studies and methacholine-induced bronchial reactivity, had a repeat metacholine challenge after nifedipine.

Thoracic CT scanning in the staging of bronchogenic carcinoma.

The use of thoracic CT scans in the staging of bronchogenic carcinoma has been controversial. Previous studies have resulted in conflicting conclusions concerning the incidence of false positive and false negative scans. We attempted to determine if thoracic CT scans were of value in staging bronchogenic carcinoma using objective criteria and in a clinical situation applicable to most modern medical centers.