The assessment of vigilance: normative data on the Siesta sustained attention test.

Objective: In several modern society duties individuals have to maintain their attention or vigilance over prolonged periods of time, even if the monitoring task is monotonous. The aim of our study was to obtain reference data on the 60-minute monotonous Siesta sustained attention test.

Methods: Normative data were gathered in an age-stratified sample of 234 healthy participants (118 men; 116 women) between the ages of 20 and 79 years.

Haploidentical hematopoietic SCT increases graft-versus-tumor effect against renal cell carcinoma.

Allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) has been shown to be an effective treatment option for advanced renal cell cancer (RCC). However, tumor resistance/relapse remains as the main post transplant issue. Therefore, enhancing graft-versus-tumor (GVT) activity without increasing GVHD is critical for improving the outcome of HSCT.

A novel reduced-intensity conditioning regimen induces a high incidence of sustained donor-derived neutrophil and platelet engraftment after double-unit cord blood transplantation.

A preparative regimen of reduced intensity that can reliably engraft cord blood (CB) and can be used as an alternative to either high-dose myeloablative or nonmyeloablative conditioning is needed. We evaluated double-unit CB transplantation in 30 patients (median age, 56 years; range, 18 to 69) with acute leukemia or myelodysplasia using a regimen of cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg, fludarabine 150 mg/m(2), thiotepa 10 mg/kg, and 400 cGy total body irradiation with cyclosporine-A/mycophenolate mofetil immunosuppression. Ninety-seven percent of patients engrafted at a median of 26 days (range, 13 to 43), and 93% of patients had recovered platelets by day 180.

Structural insights into protein-only RNase P complexed with tRNA.

RNase P is the essential activity removing 5'-leader sequences from transfer RNA precursors. RNase P was always associated with ribonucleoprotein complexes before the discovery of protein-only RNase P enzymes called PRORPs (PROteinaceous RNase P) in eukaryotes. Here we provide biophysical and functional data to understand the mode of action of PRORP enzymes.

Implementing a global integrative rehabilitation medicine rotation: a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency program's experience.

An innovative international rotation in integrative rehabilitation medicine was implemented as part of the physical medicine and rehabilitation residency program at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Rotation objectives were to introduce medical knowledge of integrative medicine treatments into physical medicine and rehabilitation practice and to initiate collaboration with international academic partners. Residents were approved based on their academic record, completion of prerequisites, and personal statement.

Functional outcomes of persons who underwent dysvascular lower extremity amputations: effect of postacute rehabilitation setting.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of postacute rehabilitation setting on functional outcomes among patients who underwent major dysvascular lower extremity amputations.

Design: This is a population-based prospective cohort study conducted in Maryland and Wisconsin. Data collected from medical records and patient interviews conducted during acute hospitalization after amputation and at 6 mos after the acute care discharge were analyzed using multivariate models and instrumental variable techniques.

Thermodynamic properties distinguish human mitochondrial aspartyl-tRNA synthetase from bacterial homolog with same 3D architecture.

In the mammalian mitochondrial translation apparatus, the proteins and their partner RNAs are coded by two genomes. The proteins are nuclear-encoded and resemble their homologs, whereas the RNAs coming from the rapidly evolving mitochondrial genome have lost critical structural information. This raises the question of molecular adaptation of these proteins to their peculiar partner RNAs.

Double haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation results in successful engraftment of bone marrow from both donors without graft-versus-host or graft-versus-graft effects.

We established double-haploidentical (DH) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) murine models to explore competitive engraftment, graft-versus-graft effect and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). T cell-depleted (TCD) bone marrow (BM) cells from B6SJF1 (donor 1 [D1]) and B6D2F1 (donor 2 [D2]) mice achieved >90% donor engraftment when transplanted into B6CBAF1 mice. B6CBAF1 recipients survived without evidence of GVHD when undergoing HSCT with TCD-BM from 2 haploidentical donors, D1 and D2.

The Pupillographic SleepinessTest in adults: effect of age, gender, and time of day on pupillometric variables.

Objectives: The Pupillographic Sleepiness Test (PST) measures the level of alertness based on spontaneous oscillations in pupillary size. Reference data are available for male and female adults within the age range 20-60 years. The aim of the present multicenter study was to extend the age range for reference data from 20 to 79 years.

Re-designed N-terminus enhances expression, solubility and crystallizability of mitochondrial protein.

Mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are key enzymes in translation. They are encoded by the nuclear genome, synthesized as precursors in the cytosol and imported. Most are matured by cleavage of their N-terminal targeting sequence.

Design and dosimetric analysis of a 385 MHz TETRA head exposure system for use in human provocation studies.

A new head exposure system for double-blind provocation studies investigating possible effects of terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA)-like exposure (385 MHz) on central nervous processes was developed and dosimetrically analyzed. The exposure system allows localized exposure in the temporal brain, similar to the case of operating a TETRA handset at the ear. The system and antenna concept enables exposure during wake and sleep states while an electroencephalogram (EEG) is recorded.

Predicting protein crystallizability and nucleation.

The outcome of protein crystallization attempts is often uncertain due to inherent features of the protein or to the crystallization process that are not fully under control of the experimentalist. The aim of this contribution is to propose user-friendly tools that can increase the success rate of a protein crytallization project. Different bioinformatic approaches to predict the crystallization feasibility (before any crystallization attempts are undertaken) are discussed and a novel approach to assess the nucleation process of a given protein is proposed.

Cellular therapies in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

ALL remains a difficult disease to treat. In the adult setting, most patients will ultimately die of their disease, whereas in the pediatric setting, relapsed and refractory disease remains a therapeutic challenge. Cellular therapy through allo-HSCT remains an option for these patients, and recent advances in alternative forms of allo-HSCT, including unrelated donor transplants, UCB transplants, and haploidentical transplants, have expanded the numbers of patients eligible for allo-HSCT but have not improved outcomes when compared with HLA-matched related allo-HSCTs.

Structure of transfer RNAs: similarity and variability.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are ancient molecules whose origin goes back to the beginning of life on Earth. Key partners in the ribosome-translation machinery, tRNAs read genetic information on messenger RNA and deliver codon specified amino acids attached to their distal 3'-extremity for peptide bond synthesis on the ribosome. In addition to this universal function, tRNAs participate in a wealth of other biological processes and undergo intricate maturation events.

Crystal structure of the archaeal asparagine synthetase: interrelation with aspartyl-tRNA and asparaginyl-tRNA synthetases.

Asparagine synthetase A (AsnA) catalyzes asparagine synthesis using aspartate, ATP, and ammonia as substrates. Asparagine is formed in two steps: the β-carboxylate group of aspartate is first activated by ATP to form an aminoacyl-AMP before its amidation by a nucleophilic attack with an ammonium ion. Interestingly, this mechanism of amino acid activation resembles that used by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, which first activate the α-carboxylate group of the amino acid to form also an aminoacyl-AMP before they transfer the activated amino acid onto the cognate tRNA.

Structural insights into viral determinants of nematode mediated Grapevine fanleaf virus transmission.

Many animal and plant viruses rely on vectors for their transmission from host to host. Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), a picorna-like virus from plants, is transmitted specifically by the ectoparasitic nematode Xiphinema index. The icosahedral capsid of GFLV, which consists of 60 identical coat protein subunits (CP), carries the determinants of this specificity.

Effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by GSM 900 and WCDMA mobile phones on cognitive function in young male subjects.

Results of studies on the possible effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones on cognitive functions are contradictory, therefore, possible effects of long-term (7 h 15 min) electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure to handset-like signals of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) 900 and Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) on attention and working memory were studied. The sample comprised 30 healthy male subjects (mean ± SD: 25.3 ± 2.

Strategies for the crystallization of viruses: using phase diagrams and gels to produce 3D crystals of Grapevine fanleaf virus.

The small icosahedral plant RNA nepovirus Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is specifically transmitted by a nematode and causes major damage to vineyards worldwide. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the recognition between the surface of its protein capsid and cellular components of its vector, host and viral proteins synthesized upon infection, the wild type GFLV strain F13 and a natural mutant (GFLV-TD) carrying a Gly₂₉₇Asp mutation were purified, characterized and crystallized. Subsequently, the geometry and volume of their crystals was optimized by establishing phase diagrams.

Serious infection risk and immune recovery after double-unit cord blood transplantation without antithymocyte globulin.

Factors contributing to infection risk after cord blood transplantation (CBT) include the use of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), prolonged neutropenia, and failure to transfer immunity. In the present study, we investigated the potential of double-unit CBT without ATG to reduce the risk of infection and evaluated the nature of serious infections in the first year after CBT using this approach. Seventy-two predominantly adult patients underwent CBT for hematologic malignancies; of these, 52 patients received myeloablative conditioning, and 20 received nonmyeloablative conditioning.

Biocrystallography: past, present, future.

The evolution of biocrystallography from the pioneers' time to the present era of global biology is presented in relation to the development of methodological and instrumental advances for molecular sample preparation and structure elucidation over the last 6 decades. The interdisciplinarity of the field that generated cross-fertilization between physics- and biology-focused themes is emphasized. In particular, strategies to circumvent the main bottlenecks of biocrystallography are discussed.

Successful treatment of EBV-associated posttransplantation lymphoma after cord blood transplantation using third-party EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Cellular therapy of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)(+) posttransplantation lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLD) in cord blood transplant (CBT) recipients is limited by lack of donor access and the donor's naive neonatal immune system. We therefore used partially human leukocyte antigen-matched third-party in vitro expanded EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) to treat 2 CBT recipients with life-threatening, donor-derived monoclonal EBV(+) diffuse large B-cell lymphomas with extranodal involvement developing in the context of graft-versus-host disease. Both patients had failed immunosuppression taper and Rituximab.

Do mobile phone base stations affect sleep of residents? Results from an experimental double-blind sham-controlled field study.

Objectives: The aim of the present double-blind, sham-controlled, balanced randomized cross-over study was to disentangle effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and non-EMF effects of mobile phone base stations on objective and subjective sleep quality.

Methods: In total 397 residents aged 18-81 years (50.9% female) from 10 German sites, where no mobile phone service was available, were exposed to sham and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications, 900 MHz and 1,800 MHz) base station signals by an experimental base station while their sleep was monitored at their homes during 12 nights.

Effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones (GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS) on the macrostructure of sleep.

In the present double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled cross-over study, possible effects of electromagnetic fields emitted by Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) 900 and Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) cell-phones on the macrostructure of sleep were investigated in a laboratory environment. An adaptation night, which served as screening night for sleep disorders and as an adjustment night to the laboratory environment, was followed by 9 study nights (separated by a 2-week interval) in which subjects were exposed to three exposure conditions (sham, GSM 900 and WCDMA/UMTS). The sample comprised 30 healthy male subjects within the age range 18-30 years (mean ± standard deviation: 25.

Crystal growth of proteins, nucleic acids, and viruses in gels.

Medium-sized single crystals with perfect habits and no defect producing intense and well-resolved diffraction patterns are the dream of every protein crystallographer. Crystals of biological macromolecules possessing these characteristics can be prepared within a medium in which mass transport is restricted to diffusion. Chemical gels (like polysiloxane) and physical gels (such as agarose) provide such an environment and are therefore suitable for the crystallisation of biological macromolecules.