Out-of-hospital decision making and factors influencing the regional distribution of injured patients in a trauma system.

Background: The decision-making processes used for out-of-hospital trauma triage and hospital selection in regionalized trauma systems remain poorly understood. The objective of this study was to assess the process of field triage decision making in an established trauma system.

Methods: We used a mixed methods approach, including emergency medical services (EMS) records to quantify triage decisions and reasons for hospital selection in a population-based, injury cohort (2006-2008), plus a focused ethnography to understand EMS cognitive reasoning in making triage decisions.

Emergency medical service providers' attitudes and experiences regarding enrolling patients in clinical research trials.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers' attitudes and experiences about enrolling patients in clinical research trials utilizing the federal rules for exception from informed consent. We hypothesized that Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) would have varied attitudes about research using an exception from informed consent which could have an impact on the research.

Methods And Setting: Since January 2007, the EMS system has been participating in a randomized, multi-center interventional trial in which out-of-hospital providers enroll critically injured trauma patients using exception from informed consent.

Genome of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae strain R6.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is among the most significant causes of bacterial disease in humans. Here we report the 2,038,615-bp genomic sequence of the gram-positive bacterium S. pneumoniae R6.

Cloning and analysis of the spinosad biosynthetic gene cluster of Saccharopolyspora spinosa.

Background: Spinosad is a mixture of novel macrolide secondary metabolites produced by Saccharopolyspora spinosa. It is used in agriculture as a potent insect control agent with exceptional safety to non-target organisms. The cloning of the spinosyn biosynthetic gene cluster provides the starting materials for the molecular genetic manipulation of spinosad yields, and for the production of novel derivatives containing alterations in the polyketide core or in the attached sugars.

Group III human metabotropic glutamate receptors 4, 7 and 8: molecular cloning, functional expression, and comparison of pharmacological properties in RGT cells.

Cloning and expression in a stable mammalian cell line co-transfected with a glutamate transporter (RGT cells) were used as tools for studying the functions and pharmacological properties of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding the human mGluR4, human mGluR7, and human mGluR8 were isolated from human cerebellum, fetal brain or retinal cDNA libraries. The human mGluR4, mGluR7 and mGluR8 receptors were 912, 915 and 908 amino acid residues long and share 67-70% amino acid similarity with each other and 42-45% similarity with the members of mGluR subgroups I and II.

DNA sequence sampling of the Streptococcus pneumoniae genome to identify novel targets for antibiotic development.

We initiated a survey of the Streptococcus pneumoniae genome by DNA sequence sampling. More than 9,500 random DNA sequences of approximately 500 bases average length were determined. Partial sequences sufficient to identify approximately 95% of the aminoacyl tRNA synthetase genes and ribosomal protein (rps) genes were found by comparing the database of partial sequences to known sequences from other organisms.

Analysis of differential gene expression in rat tibia after an osteogenic stimulus in vivo: mechanical loading regulates osteopontin and myeloperoxidase.

The skeleton has the ability to alter its mass, geometry, and strength in response to mechanical stress. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, differential display reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) was used to analyze gene expression in endocortical bone of mature female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats, approximately 8 months old, received either a sham or bending load using a four-point loading apparatus on the right tibia.

Molecular cloning and physical mapping of the daptomycin gene cluster from Streptomyces roseosporus.

The daptomycin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces roseosporus was analyzed by Tn5099 mutagenesis, molecular cloning, partial DNA sequencing, and insertional mutagenesis with cloned segments of DNA. The daptomycin biosynthetic gene cluster spans at least 50 kb and is located about 400 to 500 kb from one end of the approximately 7,100-kb linear chromosome. We identified two peptide synthetase coding regions interrupted by a 10- to 20-kb region that may encode other functions in lipopeptide biosynthesis.

Cloning and expression of a rat brain interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-related protease (IRP) and its possible role in apoptosis of cultured cerebellar granule neurons.

Several members of the IL-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE) family of proteases recently have been implicated in the intracellular cascade mediating the apoptotic death of various cell types. It is unclear, however, whether ICE-related proteases are involved in apoptosis of mammalian neurons and, if so, how they are activated. Here we report the cloning of an ICE-related protease (IRP) from rat brain, which displays strong sequence identity to human CPP32.

Molecular cloning, expression, and chromosomal localization of a human brain-specific Na(+)-dependent inorganic phosphate cotransporter.

We describe the molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding a human brain Na(+)-dependent inorganic phosphate (P(i)) cotransporter (hBNPI). The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of hBNPI reveal a protein of 560 amino acids with six to eight putative transmembrane segments. hBNPI shares a high degree of homology with other Na(+)-dependent inorganic P(i) cotransporters, including those found in rat brain and human and rabbit kidney.

Sequence, genetic analysis, and expression of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae transferrin receptor genes.

The tbpA and tbpB genes encoding the transferrin receptor proteins Tbp1 and Tbp2 from a serotype 7 strain of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae were cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The tbpB gene was preceded by putative promoter and regulatory sequences and was separated from the downstream tbpA gene by a 13 bp intercistronic sequence suggesting that the two genes may be coordinately transcribed. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of this region facilitated PCR amplification of the tbp region from a serotype 1 strain for comparative purposes.

Software trapping: a strategy for finding genes in large genomic regions.

We present an approach to the gene identification phase of positional cloning that combines sparse sampling of DNA sequences from large genomic regions with computational analysis. We call the method "software trapping." The goal is to find coding exons while avoiding massive DNA sequence determination and contig assembly.

A physical map encompassing GP2B, EPB3, D17S183, D17S78, D17S1183, and D17S1184.

The q21 region of chromosome 17 contains the gene BRCA1, which is involved in familial early-onset breast and ovarian cancers. A physical map of a region that extends from a distal boundary of the BRCA1 region, D17S78, to GP2B has been constructed. The map consists of 30 STSs, including 2 new short tandem repeat polymorphic markers.

The Bacillus subtilis pnbA gene encoding p-nitrobenzyl esterase: cloning, sequence and high-level expression in Escherichia coli.

p-Nitrobenzyl esters serve as protecting groups on intermediates in the manufacture of clinically important oral beta-lactam antibiotics; de-esterification of the intermediates is required for synthesis of the final product. A Bacillus subtilis PNB carboxy-esterase (PNBCE) catalyzes hydrolysis of several beta-lactam antibiotic PNB esters to the corresponding free acid and PNB alcohol. This communication (i) describes cloning the pnbA gene, which encodes PNBCE, (ii) provides the nucleotide sequence of the pnbA open reading frame (ORF) and (iii) describes a method for efficiently expressing the ORF in Escherichia coli.

The human genome project: genetic and physical mapping.

The modern tools of molecular biology, recombinant DNA techniques, have given scientists the ability to isolate and study individual genes from even complex eukaryotic genomes. The availability of genes enables the study o f their structure and biologic function, and their role in normal and abnormal physiologic processes. A worldwide effort to study and understand the entire human genome is under way, which will result in information on the location of all genes, their sequences, and their complex regulation and interactions.

The human genome project Genetic and physical mapping.

The modern tools of molecular biology, recombinant DNA techniques, have given scientists the ability to isolate and study individual genes from even complex eukaryotic genomes. The availability of genes enables the study of their structure and biologic function, and their role in normal and abnormal physiologic processes. A worldwide effort to study and understand the entire human genome is under way, which will result in information on the location of all genes, their sequences, and their complex regulation and interactions.

Cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding a brain-specific Na(+)-dependent inorganic phosphate cotransporter.

We have isolated a brain-specific cDNA that encodes a Na(+)-dependent inorganic phosphate (Pi) cotransporter (BNPI). The nucleotide sequence of BNPI predicts a protein of 560 amino acids with 6-8 putative transmembrane-spanning segments that is approximately 32% identical to the rabbit kidney Na(+)-dependent Pi cotransporter. Expression of BNPI mRNA in Xenopus oocytes results in Na(+)-dependent Pi transport similar to that reported for the recombinantly expressed or native kidney Na(+)-dependent cotransporter.

Improved expression of a hybrid Streptomyces clavuligerus cefE gene in Penicillium chrysogenum.

A hybrid cefE gene, encoding penicillin N expandase, was constructed by fusing the promoter sequences, Pcp, and terminator sequences, Pct from the Penicillium chrysogenum pcbC gene to the open reading frame (orf), cefEorf, from the Streptomyces clavuligerus cefE gene. The resulting hybrid gene, Pcp/cefE'orf/Pct, differed from a previously reported hybrid cefE gene contained on plasmid pPS65. The latter gene, Pcp/cefE'orf/Sct, contained the Pcp sequences fused to the S.

Association of intestinal peptide transport with a protein related to the cadherin superfamily.

The first step in oral absorption of many medically important peptide-based drugs is mediated by an intestinal proton-dependent peptide transporter. This transporter facilitates the oral absorption of beta-lactam antibiotics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors from the intestine into enterocytes lining the luminal wall. A monoclonal antibody that blocked uptake of cephalexin was used to identify and clone a gene that encodes an approximately 92-kilodalton membrane protein that was associated with the acquisition of peptide transport activity by transport-deficient cells.

Structure and functional expression of a complementary DNA for porcine growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor.

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) belongs to the family of gut-neuropeptide hormones which also includes glucagon, secretin and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). All receptors for this peptide hormone family seem to involve similar signal transduction pathways. Upon hormone binding, these receptors interact with guanine nucleotide binding protein 'Gs' and cause the stimulation of adenylate cyclase.

Sequence similarity between macrolide-resistance determinants and ATP-binding transport proteins.

The three macrolide-resistance-encoding genes, tlrC from Streptomyces fradiae, srmB from Streptomyces ambofaciens, and carA from Streptomyces thermotolerans, encode proteins that possess significant sequence similarity to ATP-dependent transport proteins. The N-terminal and C-terminal halves of these proteins are very similar to each other and contain highly conserved regions that resemble ATP-binding domains typically present within the superfamily of ATP-dependent transport proteins. These observations suggest that the mechanism by which these genes confer resistance to macrolides is due to export of the antibiotics, a process that is driven by energy derived from ATP hydrolysis.

Homology between proteins controlling Streptomyces fradiae tylosin resistance and ATP-binding transport.

A tylosin(Ty)-producing strain of Streptomyces fradiae contains at least three genes, tlrA, tlrB, tlrC, specifying resistance to Ty (TyR). The complete nucleotide sequence of the TyR-encoding gene, tlrC, and the transcription start point of the gene were determined. The sequence contains an open reading frame coding for a protein of 548 amino acids (aa) with an Mr of 59129.