A 9-state analysis of designer stimulant, "bath salt," hospital visits reported to poison control centers.

Study Objective: A new generation of designer stimulants marketed as "bath salts" emerged in late 2010. The goal is to describe the epidemiologic emergence of designer stimulants in 9 states in the Midwest.

Methods: A retrospective review of the National Poison Data System was performed between November 1, 2010, and November 30, 2011.

Structural basis for dual roles of Aar2p in U5 snRNP assembly.

Yeast U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) is assembled via a cytoplasmic precursor that contains the U5-specific Prp8 protein but lacks the U5-specific Brr2 helicase. Instead, pre-U5 snRNP includes the Aar2 protein not found in mature U5 snRNP or spliceosomes. Aar2p and Brr2p bind competitively to a C-terminal region of Prp8p that comprises consecutive RNase H-like and Jab1/MPN-like domains.

An autoinhibited state in the structure of Thermotoga maritima NusG.

NusG is a conserved regulatory protein interacting with RNA polymerase (RNAP) and other proteins to form multicomponent complexes that modulate transcription. The crystal structure of Thermotoga maritima NusG (TmNusG) shows a three-domain architecture, comprising well-conserved amino-terminal (NTD) and carboxy-terminal (CTD) domains with an additional, species-specific domain inserted into the NTD. NTD and CTD directly contact each other, occluding a surface of the NTD for binding to RNAP and a surface on the CTD interacting either with transcription termination factor Rho or transcription antitermination factor NusE.

Production of dosage forms for oral drug delivery by laminar extrusion of wet masses.

Laminar extrusion of wet masses was studied as a novel technology for the production of dosage forms for oral drug delivery. Extrusion was carried out with a ram extruder. Formulations contained either microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) or dicalcium phosphate (DCP) as diluent, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), lactose, and water.

Individual beam sharpening improves composite dose fall-off near a target for non-isocentric cyberknife radiosurgery.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) refers to a high dose of radiation delivered to a focal region of interest while maximizing the steep dose gradient to minimize dose to the surrounding normal tissues. Multiple factors can influence the dose fall-off, and the relative importance of such factors have not yet been characterized for non-isocentric Cyberknife SRS. Our aim was to investigate whether the composite dose fall-off near a target may be enhanced via sharpening the lateral beam profile (or penumbra) of each individual beam.

Direct comparison of 20-hour IV, 36-hour oral, and 72-hour oral acetylcysteine for treatment of acute acetaminophen poisoning.

There is no general consensus among clinicians on the superior route or duration of treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for acute acetaminophen (APAP) poisoning, and head-to-head studies comparing intravenous (IV) and oral NAC have not been done. Recent 20-hour IV NAC protocol failures in the United States prompted some to question its safety. Our objective was to determine if treatment with the 20-hour IV NAC protocol results in clinical outcomes different from the longer 36-hour oral or 72-hour oral NAC protocols in cases of acute APAP poisoning.

Percutaneous lumbar pedicle screw placement aided by computer-assisted fluoroscopy-based navigation: perioperative results of a prospective, comparative, multicenter study.

Study Design: Institutional review board-approved, prospective, multicenter, comparative study.

Objective: To assess the accuracy and utility of a computer-assisted fluoroscopic navigation method for percutaneous placement of lumbar pedicle screws compared with conventional fluoroscopic placement.

Summary Of Background Data: Recent reports indicate that cortical breaches during percutaneous pedicle screw placement can exceed 15%.

The Prp8 RNase H-like domain inhibits Brr2-mediated U4/U6 snRNA unwinding by blocking Brr2 loading onto the U4 snRNA.

The spliceosomal RNA helicase Brr2 catalyzes unwinding of the U4/U6 snRNA duplex, an essential step for spliceosome catalytic activation. Brr2 is regulated in part by the spliceosomal Prp8 protein by an unknown mechanism. We demonstrate that the RNase H (RH) domain of yeast Prp8 binds U4/U6 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) with the single-stranded regions of U4 and U6 preceding U4/U6 stem I, contributing to its binding.

Structural basis for functional cooperation between tandem helicase cassettes in Brr2-mediated remodeling of the spliceosome.

Assembly of a spliceosome, catalyzing precursor-messenger RNA splicing, involves multiple RNA-protein remodeling steps, driven by eight conserved DEXD/H-box RNA helicases. The 250-kDa Brr2 enzyme, which is essential for U4/U6 di-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein disruption during spliceosome catalytic activation and for spliceosome disassembly, is the only member of this group that is permanently associated with the spliceosome, thus requiring its faithful regulation. At the same time, Brr2 represents a unique subclass of superfamily 2 nucleic acid helicases, containing tandem helicase cassettes.

The second skin: ecological role of epibiotic biofilms on marine organisms.

In the aquatic environment, biofilms on solid surfaces are omnipresent. The outer body surface of marine organisms often represents a highly active interface between host and biofilm. Since biofilms on living surfaces have the capacity to affect the fluxes of information, energy, and matter across the host's body surface, they have an important ecological potential to modulate the abiotic and biotic interactions of the host.

Evaluation of a telemedical care programme for patients with Parkinson's disease.

We reviewed a telemedicine-based care model for drug optimization in Parkinson's disease. In this model patients send video recordings made in the home to the treating team via the Internet. These serve as the basis for making therapeutic decisions, in particular drug adjustments.

Structure determination by multiple-wavelength anomalous dispersion (MAD) at the Pr LIII edge.

The use of longer X-ray wavelengths in macromolecular crystallography has grown significantly over the past few years. The main reason for this increased use of longer wavelengths has been to utilize the anomalous signal from sulfur, providing a means for the experimental phasing of native proteins. Here, another possible application of longer X-ray wavelengths is presented: MAD at the L(III) edges of various lanthanide compounds.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of bimanual integration in human somatosensory cortex and their relevance to bimanual object manipulation.

Little is known about the spatiotemporal dynamics of cortical responses that integrate slightly asynchronous somatosensory inputs from both hands. This study aimed to clarify the timing and magnitude of interhemispheric interactions during early integration of bimanual somatosensory information in different somatosensory regions and their relevance for bimanual object manipulation and exploration. Using multi-fiber probabilistic diffusion tractography and MEG source analysis of conditioning-test (C-T) median nerve somatosensory evoked fields in healthy human subjects, we sought to extract measures of structural and effective callosal connectivity between different somatosensory cortical regions and correlated them with bimanual tactile task performance.

A protective coat of microorganisms on macroalgae: inhibitory effects of bacterial biofilms and epibiotic microbial assemblages on barnacle attachment.

Effects of epibiotic bacteria associated with macroalgae on barnacle larval attachment were investigated. Eight bacterial isolates obtained from samples of three macroalga species were cultured as monospecies bacterial films and tested for their activity against barnacle (Amphibalanus improvisus) attachment in field experiments (Western Baltic Sea). Furthermore, natural biofilm communities associated with the surface of the local brown alga, Fucus vesiculosus, which were exposed to different temperatures (5, 15 and 20 °C), were harvested and subsequently tested.

Abnormal distracter processing in adults with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

Background: Subjects with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are overdistractible by stimuli out of the intended focus of attention. This control deficit could be due to primarily reduced attentional capacities or, e. g.

Design and field application of a UV-LED based optical fiber biofilm sensor.

Detecting changes in the formation dynamics of biofilms stemming from bacteria and unicellular microorganisms in their natural environment is of prime interest for biological, ecological as well as anti-fouling technology research. We developed a robust optical fiber-based biofilm sensor ready to be applied in natural aquatic environments for on-line, in situ and non-destructive monitoring of large-area biofilms. The device is based on the detection of the natural fluorescence of microorganisms constituting the biofilm.

Modulation of habit formation by levodopa in Parkinson's disease.

Dopamine promotes the execution of positively reinforced actions, but its role for the formation of behaviour when feedback is unavailable remains open. To study this issue, the performance of treated/untreated patients with Parkinson's disease and controls was analysed in an implicit learning task, hypothesising dopamine-dependent adherence to hidden task rules. Sixteen patients on/off levodopa and fourteen healthy subjects engaged in a Go/NoGo paradigm comprising four equiprobable stimuli.

A reversibly photoswitchable GFP-like protein with fluorescence excitation decoupled from switching.

Photoswitchable fluorescent proteins have enabled new approaches for imaging cells, but their utility has been limited either because they cannot be switched repeatedly or because the wavelengths for switching and fluorescence imaging are strictly coupled. We report a bright, monomeric, reversibly photoswitchable variant of GFP, Dreiklang, whose fluorescence excitation spectrum is decoupled from that for optical switching. Reversible on-and-off switching in living cells is accomplished at illumination wavelengths of ∼365 nm and ∼405 nm, respectively, whereas fluorescence is elicited at ∼515 nm.

Intentional Coricidin product exposures among Illinois adolescents.

Objectives: We sought to describe the demographics and trends of Coricidin product abuse in children in Illinois and to calculate an approximate total charge to the health-care system.

Methods: In this retrospective database review, we identified 652 cases of intentional exposure to Coricidin products among children < 18 years old in the Illinois Poison Center database from 2001 to 2006. Demographic, historical, clinical, and outcome data were recorded.

Structural basis for the dual U4 and U4atac snRNA-binding specificity of spliceosomal protein hPrp31.

Human proteins 15.5K and hPrp31 are components of the major spliceosomal U4 snRNP and of the minor spliceosomal U4atac snRNP. The two proteins bind to related 5'-stem loops (5'SLs) of the U4 and U4atac snRNAs in a strictly sequential fashion.

Mechanism for Aar2p function as a U5 snRNP assembly factor.

Little is known about how particle-specific proteins are assembled on spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). Brr2p is a U5 snRNP-specific RNA helicase required for spliceosome catalytic activation and disassembly. In yeast, the Aar2 protein is part of a cytoplasmic precursor U5 snRNP that lacks Brr2p and is replaced by Brr2p in the nucleus.

Teaching new dogs old tricks: membrane biophysical properties in drug delivery and resistance.

"How do drugs cross the plasma membrane?" this may seem like a trivial question. This question is often overlooked to focus primarily on the different complex macro-molecular aspects involved in drug delivery or drug resistance. However, recent studies have highlighted the theme that to be fully understood, more knowledge of the underlying biology of the most complex biological processes involved in the delivery and resistance to drugs is needed.