Primase from Escherichia coli primes single-stranded templates in the absence of single-stranded DNA-binding protein or other auxiliary proteins. Template sequence requirements based on the bacteriophage G4 complementary strand origin and Okazaki fragment initiation sites.

We find that neither the hairpins nor bound single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) are required for in vitro primase activity at the G4 complementary strand origin. Primase has the ability to prime synthetic DNA templates in the absence of any auxiliary proteins, including SSB, and in the absence of any DNA secondary structure. primase does, however, initiate primer synthesis starting at a specific nucleotide sequence present in both the G4 origin system and at sites of Okazaki fragment initiation.

Complications after intracoronary stent implantation: three cases.

Complications after implantation of articulated Palmaz-Schatz stents in coronary arteries of 3 patients are reported. In 1 patient, embolization of the stent occurred during the acute phase, and in the other 2 patients, we observed restenosis after 4 and 5 months, respectively. Late restenosis was located in the midportion and the distal end of the stent in 1 patient.

[Lipoidproteinosis. A report of four cases].

Four cases of lipoid proteinosis (Urbach-Wiethe disease) are presented. The incidence, clinical features, relevant special investigations and possible treatment of the disease are reviewed. These patients present with hoarseness and lesions of the skin and mucosa.

A model of age-dependent population dynamics providing simple criteria for growth or extinction.

The Gurtin-MacCamy model for age-dependent population dynamics is reduced to a single ordinary differential equation. (This is done by assuming a specific form of the mortality function, and by assuming fertility to be age-dependent only.) The model is then applied to a population of greater horseshoe bats.

The Rapp-Hodgkin syndrome.

We report on a family with the Rapp-Hodgkin ectodermal dysplasia syndrome. Four affected family members are described and a review of the literature is given.

The aqueductus vestibuli--a morphological study.

The morphology of the aqueductus vestibuli enjoys considerable attention as it may possibly play a role in the cause of Ménière's disease. In this study, silicone rubber casts of human temporal bones were used, and the aqueductus vestibuli was then measured by means of a reflection microscope. By this method the morphometry of the aqueductus vestibuli was determined accurately.

Clinical characteristics and coronary angiographic findings of patients with unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and survivors of sudden ischemic death occurring during and after sport.

The clinical characteristics and coronary angiographic findings of 42 well-conditioned subjects with an acute ischemic event related to sport are reported. Five patients had unstable angina, 25 had acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and 12 were resuscitated victims of sudden ischemic death. Twenty-two events occurred during sport (group A) and 20 after sport (group B).

Cognitive function testing in comprehensive geriatric assessment. A comparison of cognitive test performance in residential and clinic settings.

Tests of cognitive function are frequently used in geriatric assessment, but the effect of test setting has rarely been explored. To determine the effect of testing site on the performance of elderly patients undergoing a comprehensive geriatric assessment, we administered the Mini-Mental State Exam to 116 geriatric patients in the clinic and at their residence. Their cognitive abilities varied from normal to severely impaired.

[Cardiomyoplasty: a new alternative in chronic heart failure].

The technique of cardiomyoplasty to support the failing heart as applied in the first two patients in The Netherlands is reported. Indications are presented for the selection of patients who might benefit from a cardiomyoplasty procedure, considering its experimental nature.

In vivo binding of spiperone and N-methylspiperone to dopaminergic and serotonergic sites in the rat brain: multiple modeling and implications for PET scanning.

Equilibrium models are derived and applied to in vivo binding of spiperone in the rat brain. The models express the concentration of the ligand in the striatum and frontal cortex as a function of the accumulation in the cerebellum. The models differ with respect to the description of specific binding.

Motion sickness--vestibular habituation with the centrifuge.

People who are prone to motion sickness have a directional preponderance of nystagmus to the left. Centrifuging will change this preponderance to the right in most people, and at the same time reduce their tendency towards motion sickness but only with regard to air travel.

Graphical method to determine sigmoid ligand binding in vivo at low doses.

In this study, a graphical method is presented to detect sigmoidal binding of in vivo data at low nonsaturating doses. The method can also be applied when the overall binding includes nonspecific binding. Irrespective of the mathematical expression describing the saturation curve, it is shown that a sigmoid curve, in contrast to a nonsigmoid, can be converted into a peak-shaped curve by normalizing the ordinate values with the corresponding value of the abscissa.

The significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in chronic otitis media.

Fifteen patients with chronic otitis media, where the organism cultured was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, had previously been treated with a variety of antibiotics, ear drops and surgical procedures. In 8 patients the discharge persisted. Between October 1986 and August 1987 these patients were treated with a combination of antibiotics (including piperacillin, ceftriaxone, amikacin and tobramycin) specific for Pseudomonas administered intravenously.

Stable controls in age-dependent population dynamics.

The classical age-dependent population model is considered, in which mortality depends on total population and fertility is age-dependent. It is shown that in general such systems are not completely controllable with respect to a control variable in the mortality function, but that in certain circumstances a suitable control can be found to hold the population at a specified level.

Dental aspects of hypophosphatasia: a case report, family study, and literature review.

The classic oral features of hypophosphatasia, namely, premature tooth loss and large pulp spaces, were found in a young adult woman with bone and joint pains. A study of 22 family members revealed several with dental abnormalities such as abnormal enamel, dentin, or cementum formation, decreased mandibular bone density, and abnormally large pulp spaces. Only the propositus' sister fulfilled the biochemical criteria for hypophosphatasia.

Reliability of drug histories in a specialized geriatric outpatient clinic.

To examine the reliability of drug histories of elderly outpatients, records of 122 frail elderly patients in a geriatric outpatient evaluation clinic were reviewed. Drug histories were taken by an internist during an initial clinical evaluation and by a nurse practitioner during a home visit. Home and office drug lists disagreed in 39 cases (32%).

The yield of a home visit in the assessment of geriatric patients.

Elderly patients often have problems not easily detected during an office visit. We investigated the yield of a home visit by a geriatric nurse specialist as part of an interdisciplinary assessment process. Compared with the findings of an office-based assessment by a general internist, the home visit resulted in up to four new problems (median = 2, mean = 1.

Long-term effects of destruction of the endolymphatic sac in a primate species.

The endolymphatic sacs of ten vervet monkeys were surgically ablated unilaterally, and the animals were assigned predetermined survival times ranging from 6 months to 5 years. The left and right ears were prepared in anatomical continuity for light microscopic study. Four experimental ears had openings in their membranous labyrinths of unknown etiology and were not considered acceptable for correlative studies.