Bipedicle fasciocutaneous flaps for inframalleolar vascular graft coverage at the ankle/foot.

In 9 patients requiring inframalleolar bypass (11 extremities), intraoperative consult revealed exposed saphenous vein grafts at either the medial ankle or the dorsum of the foot in which primary wound closure resulted in the reduction or occlusion of blood flow. In these patients, longitudinally oriented bipedicle fasciocutaneous flaps were raised with widths of 3 to 4 cm and lengths ranging from 12 to 18 cm, with Doppler confirmation of discrete fascial perforators. Split-thickness skin grafts were placed in the wake of the flaps.

Regulation of internal ribosome entry site-mediated translation by eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha phosphorylation and translation of a small upstream open reading frame.

Adaptation to amino acid deficiency is critical for cell survival. In yeast, this adaptation involves phosphorylation of the translation eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 2alpha by the kinase GCN2. This leads to the increased translation of the transcription factor GCN4, which in turn increases transcription of amino acid biosynthetic genes, at a time when expression of most genes decreases.

Public hospital-based level I trauma centers: financial survival in the new millennium.

Background: The medical benefits of trauma centers have been well documented; studies have reported substantial financial losses attributed to trauma care. This study demonstrates the dependence of Level I trauma centers on Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) governmental funds and tax dollars. Furthermore, specific injury groups have greater dependence on these funds.

Isolation and characterization of the human homeobox gene HOX D1.

Homeobox genes, first identified in Drosophila, encode transcription factors that regulate embryonic development along the anteroposterior axis of an organism. Vertebrate homeobox genes are described on the basis of their homology to the genes found within the Drosophila Antennapedia and Bithorax homeotic gene complexes. Mammals possess four paralogous homeobox (HOX) gene clusters, HOX A, HOX B, HOX C and HOX D, each located on different chromosomes, consisting of 9 to 11 genes arranged in tandem.

Colon carcinoma: MR imaging with CO2 enema--pilot study.

Prior to surgery, seven patients with known colonic tumors underwent breath-hold single-shot fast spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging during a CO2 enema. The images were evaluated for depiction of tumor, adjacent structures, and the remaining colon, and findings were compared with findings at surgery. In all seven patients, the tumor was demonstrated, and in four (57%), breach of the muscularis propria was correctly predicted.

Cloning and characterization of 13 novel transcripts and the human RGS8 gene from the 1q25 region encompassing the hereditary prostate cancer (HPC1) locus.

The aim of this study was to develop a saturated transcript map of the region encompassing the HPC1 locus to identify the susceptibility genes involved in hereditary prostate cancer (OMIM 176807) and hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome (OMIM 145001). We previously reported the generation of a 6-Mb BAC/PAC contig of the candidate region and employed various strategies, such as database searching, exon-trapping, direct cDNA hybridization, and sample sequencing of BACs, to identify all potential transcripts. These efforts led to the identification and precise localization on the BAC contig of 59 transcripts representing 22 known genes and 37 potential transcripts represented by ESTs and exon traps.

Status of epidermal growth factor receptors family in hormone-dependent carcinomas of the breast and prostate with reference to serum lipids and lipoproteins.

There are numerous growing evidences of resemblance between carcinomas of the breast and prostate. A total of 45 cases of these two hormone-dependent cancers along with appropriate controls were subjected for status of epidermal growth factor receptors as well as serum lipid profile. Paraffin embedded tissue sections from aforesald tumours were analysed by immunohistochemical staining for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR).

Posttranslational modification of TEL and TEL/AML1 by SUMO-1 and cell-cycle-dependent assembly into nuclear bodies.

The E-26 transforming specific (ETS)-related gene, TEL, also known as ETV6, encodes a strong transcription repressor that is rearranged in several recurring chromosomal rearrangements associated with leukemia and congenital fibrosarcoma. TEL is a nuclear phosphoprotein that is widely expressed in all normal tissues. TEL contains a DNA-binding domain at the C terminus and a helix-loop-helix domain (also called a pointed domain) at the N terminus.

Localization, expression and genomic structure of the gene encoding the human serine protease testisin.

Testisin is a recently identified human serine protease expressed by premeiotic testicular germ cells and is a candidate tumor suppressor for testicular cancer. Here, we report the characterization of the gene encoding testisin, designated PRSS21, and its localization on the short arm of human chromosome 16 (16p13.3) between the microsatellite marker D16S246 and the radiation hybrid breakpoint CY23HA.

A new focus of visceral leishmaniasis in sub-Himalayan (Kumaon) region of northern India.

A localised focus of visceral leishmaniasis is reported for the first time from Kumaon region of North India. During a period of 18 months from July 1997 to December 1998 several cases of pyrexia of unknown origin with unresponsiveness to antibiotics and anti-tubercular treatments were referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Five of these were diagnosed to have visceral leishmaniasis.

The human RGL (RalGDS-like) gene: cloning, expression analysis and genomic organization.

Ral GDP dissociation stimulator (RalGDS) and its family members RGL, RLF and RGL2 are involved in Ras and Ral signaling pathways as downstream effector proteins. Here we report the precise localization and cloning of two forms of human RGL gene differing at the amino terminus. Transcript A, cloned from liver cDNA libraries has the same amino terminus as the mouse RGL, whereas transcript B cloned from brain has a substitution of 45 amino acids for the first nine amino acids.

Pancreatic eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha kinase (PEK) homologues in humans, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans that mediate translational control in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress.

In response to different cellular stresses, a family of protein kinases regulates translation by phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2alpha). Recently, we identified a new family member, pancreatic eIF-2alpha kinase (PEK) from rat pancreas. PEK, also referred to as RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum (ER) kinase (PERK) is a transmembrane protein implicated in translational control in response to stresses that impair protein folding in the ER.

Hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency virus infections in multiply-injected kala-azar patients in Delhi.

Sera from 164 patients with parasitologically confirmed kala-azar and 100 patients with non-kala-azar Delhite in 2 Delhi hospitals were tested for anti-human immunodeficiency (anti-HIV) and anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigens to determine which group is more likely to contract these infections. The mean age of the patients was 32.5 y (+/-6.

A 6-Mb high-resolution physical and transcription map encompassing the hereditary prostate cancer 1 (HPC1) region.

Several hereditary disease loci have been genetically mapped to the chromosome 1q24-q31 interval, including the hereditary prostate cancer 1 (HPC1) locus. Here, we report the construction of a 20-Mb yeast artificial chromosome contig and a high-resolution 6-Mb sequence-ready bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)/P1-derived artificial chromosome (PAC) contig of 1q25 by sequence and computational analysis, STS content mapping, and chromosome walking. One hundred thirty-six new STSs, including 10 novel simple sequence repeat polymorphisms that are being used for genetic refinement of multiple disease loci, have been generated from this contig and are shown to map to the 1q25 interval.

Substrate/inhibition studies of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase with the 5'-triphosphate derivative of a ring-expanded ('fat') nucleoside possessing potent antiviral and anticancer activities.

As part of an effort to explore the mechanism of potent, broad spectrum antiviral and anticancer activities of a number of ring-expanded ('fat') nucleosides that we recently reported, a representative 'fat' nucleoside 4,6-diamino-8-imino-8H-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazo[4,5-e][1,3]di azepine (1) was converted to its 5'-triphosphate derivative (2), and biochemically screened for possible inhibition of nucleic acid polymerase activity, employing synthetic DNA templates and the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase as a representative polymerase. Our results suggest that 2 is a moderate inhibitor of T7 RNA polymerase, and that the 5'-triphosphate moiety of 2 appears to be essential for inhibition as nucleoside 1 alone failed to inhibit the polymerase reaction.

A mammalian homologue of GCN2 protein kinase important for translational control by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2alpha.

A family of protein kinases regulates translation in response to different cellular stresses by phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2alpha). In yeast, an eIF-2alpha kinase, GCN2, functions in translational control in response to amino acid starvation. It is thought that uncharged tRNA that accumulates during amino acid limitation binds to sequences in GCN2 homologous to histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HisRS) enzymes, leading to enhanced kinase catalytic activity.

Localization of a gene for Duane retraction syndrome to chromosome 2q31.

Duane retraction syndrome (DRS) is a congenital eye-movement disorder characterized by a failure of cranial nerve VI (the abducens nerve) to develop normally, resulting in restriction or absence of abduction, restricted adduction, and narrowing of the palpebral fissure and retraction of the globe on attempted adduction. DRS has a prevalence of approximately 0.1% in the general population and accounts for 5% of all strabismus cases.

Forced expression of the leukemia-associated gene EVI1 in ES cells: a model for myeloid leukemia with 3q26 rearrangements.

Chromosome band 3q26 is the locus of two genes, MDS1/EVI1 and EVI1. The proteins encoded by these genes are nuclear factors each containing two separate DNA-binding zinc finger domains. The proteins are identical, aside from the N-terminal extension of MDS1/EVI1, which is missing in EVI1.

CACP, encoding a secreted proteoglycan, is mutated in camptodactyly-arthropathy-coxa vara-pericarditis syndrome.

Altered growth and function of synoviocytes, the intimal cells which line joint cavities and tendon sheaths, occur in a number of skeletal diseases. Hyperplasia of synoviocytes is found in both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, despite differences in the underlying aetiologies of the two disorders. We have studied the autosomal recessive disorder camptodactyly-arthropathy-coxa vara-pericarditis syndrome (CACP; MIM 208250) to identify biological pathways that lead to synoviocyte hyperplasia, the principal pathological feature of this syndrome.