Fluorescence-Based Activity Screening Assay Reveals Small Molecule Inhibitors of Vaccinia Virus mRNA Decapping Enzyme D9.

Vaccinia virus (VACV) represents a family of poxviruses, which possess their own decapping machinery as a part of their strategy to eliminate host mRNAs and evade the innate immune response. D9 is one of the two encoded VACV decapping enzymes that is responsible for cap removal from the 5' end of both host mRNA transcripts and viral double-stranded RNAs. Little is known about the structural requirements for D9 inhibition by small molecules.

An Asymptotically-Optimal Sampling-Based Algorithm for Bi-directional Motion Planning.

Bi-directional search is a widely used strategy to increase the success and convergence rates of sampling-based motion planning algorithms. Yet, few results are available that merge both bi-directional search and asymptotic optimality into existing optimal planners, such as PRM*, RRT*, and FMT*. The objective of this paper is to fill this gap.

Prediction of indoor climbing performance in women rock climbers.

In an attempt to more clearly understand the strength characteristics of female rock climbers and whether those variables affect and predict climbing performance, 2 indoor climbing performance tests (route and bouldering) were compared to a series of muscular strength tests performed by moderate (n = 6), intermediate (n = 6), and expert (n = 6) female rock climbers. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the expert group and the moderate and intermediate groups for climbing specific hand strength, as well as 1-arm lock-off strength when expressed as a strength-to-weight ratio.

One hundred consecutive thymectomies for myasthenia gravis.

Background: Between June 1997 and November 1993, 100 consecutive thymectomies for myasthenia gravis were performed at University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

Methods: A consistent, planned protocol involving preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care was followed. All thymectomies were performed through a median sternotomy with removal of all visible thymus and perithymic fat in the anterior mediastinum.

[Clinical evaluation of norfloxacin preparation in treatment of bacterial infections of the urinary tract in patients with various kidney diseases].

Norfloxacin (Nolicin Krka) has been administered to 22 patients with urinary tract infections. The drug has been administered in daily dose of 800 mg for 10 days. An ultimate result has been evaluated after 3 months.

[Urinary tract infections in the first three months following kidney transplantation].

Eighty kidney transplants were examined. During the first three months following transplantation, urinary tract infections occurred in 68 patients (85%). Fifty patients (74%) have had a few episodes of infections in the form of either suprainfection or recurrence whereas in the remaining patients there was only one episode of urinary infection.

[Susceptibility in vitro to certain quinolines of gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive cocci causing urinary tract infections].

Susceptibility to norfloxacin, ofloxacin, pipemidic acid and nalidixic acid of 848 bacterial strains isolated from urine of patients treated in 1989-1992 in Wrocław hospitals was investigated. The study, performed by the disc diffusion methods, concerned 568 Enterobacteriaceae strains, 147 Gram-negative non-fermenting bacteria and 133 strains of staphylococci. Highest percentage (90-100%) of susceptibility to all used antimicrobial agents was detected among Escherichia, Proteus, Morganella and Citrobacter.