Mutational analysis of the interacting cell death regulators CED-9 and CED-4.

The genes ced-3, ced-4 and ced-9 are central components in the cell death pathway of the nematode C. elegans. Ced-9, which functions to inhibit cell death, is homologous to the Bcl-2 family of mammalian anti-apoptotic genes.

Comparing various short-form Geriatric Depression Scales leads to the GDS-5/15.

Purpose: To compare three published short GDS scales and to identify a valid and reliable short-form alternative to the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale.

Design: Comparative validation study via retrospective chart review of 816 acute care patients in an 830-bed academic medical center in the USA in 2001.

Methods: Data of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and demographic data were extracted from medical records after patient discharge.

Comparison of two DNA extractions and nested PCR, real-time PCR, a new commercial PCR assay, and bacterial culture for detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in bovine feces.

In this study, 5 combinations of 2 DNA extractions and 3 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were compared with culture for the detection of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis directly from bovine feces. These combinations included a new commercial extraction technique combined with a commercial PCR/Southern blot technique, nested PCR (nPCR), or real-time PCR, and a university-developed extraction combined with nPCR or real-time PCR. Four of the 5 combinations had statistically similar sensitivities between 93% and 100% and specificity between 95% and 100%, when compared with culture results from 63 bovine fecal samples.

Assessment of aorto-iliac disease with magnetic resonance angiography using arterial phase 3-D gradient-echo and interstitial phase 2-D fat-suppressed spoiled gradient-echo sequences.

Purpose: To evaluate magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the pelvis for the examination of the aorto-iliac system using arterial phase 3-D gradient echo and interstitial phase 2-D fat-suppressed spoiled gradient-echo (SGE), with comparison to surgery and angiography.

Materials And Methods: Ninety MR angiograms performed on 79 consecutive patients were analyzed, retrospectively, for the presence of narrowing, aneurysm, and dissection. Comparisons were made with angiography and surgery in 50 examinations, and a weighted kappa statistic test was applied to assess agreement.

Unconventional venous access.

Venous access is commonly thought of as the bread and butter of interventional radiologic procedures. However, in those patients who have undergone multiple previous central venous catheter placements, venous access can be a technical challenge for even the most seasoned interventional radiologist. Conventional access sites include the internal jugular veins (IJV) and subclavian veins (SCV).

In-vitro characterisation of the phagocytosis and fate of anthrax spores in macrophages and the effects of anti-PA antibody.

Antibodies (Abs) to the protective antigen (PA) component of the anthrax toxins have anti-spore as well as anti-toxin activities. Anti-PA antisera and purified anti-PA Abs enhance the phagocytosis by murine-derived macrophages (MQs) of spores of the Ames and Sterne strains and retard the germination of extracellular spores in vitro. The fate after phagocytosis of untreated and anti-PA-treated spores was further studied in culture medium that supported phagocytosis without stimulating spore germination (Dulbecco's minimal essential medium with horse serum 10%).

Crystal structures of the Pyrococcus abyssi Sm core and its complex with RNA. Common features of RNA binding in archaea and eukarya.

The Sm proteins are conserved in all three domains of life and are always associated with U-rich RNA sequences. Their proposed function is to mediate RNA-RNA interactions. We present here the crystal structures of Pyrococcus abyssi Sm protein (PA-Sm1) and its complex with a uridine heptamer.

Anti-V antigen antibody protects macrophages from Yersinia pestis -induced cell death and promotes phagocytosis.

The pathogenic Yersinia spp. harbor a common plasmid (pYV) essential for virulence. The plasmid encodes a type III secretion system that functions to translocate Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) into the host cytosol.

Incidence of donor renal fibromuscular dysplasia: does it justify routine angiography?

Background: The use of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) versus helical CT angiography (CTA) or MR angiography (MRA) for live renal donor evaluation is still controversial. Although CTA and MRA can detect some proximal moderate to severe arterial changes caused by fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), mild and distal moderate FMD are not detected well without angiography.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of all potential, normotensive live renal donors at our center from July 1995 to June 2001.

Massive emissions of toxic gas in the Atlantic.

Recurrent eruptions of toxic hydrogen sulphide gas in the waters along the Namibian coast off southwestern Africa have been considered to be local features with only limited ecosystem-scale consequences. But satellite remote sensing has revealed that these naturally occurring events are much more extensive and longer-lasting than previously suspected, and that the resultant hypoxia may last for much longer. The effects on the marine ecology and valuable coastal fisheries of this region are likely to be important.

Use of endovascular stents for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The conventional open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms is a well-established and durable procedure. However, as with all other major abdominal surgical operations, there are associated morbidities. Both mortality and morbidity increase significantly with advanced patient age and associated comorbid conditions.

Encephalopathy with staphylococcal endocarditis: multiple neuropathological findings.

Background: Infective endocarditis is associated with serious neurological sequelae.

Objective: Here, we report a patient with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis, secondary to congenital heart disease, with subacute onset of multiple neurological complications.

Results: Despite prompt antibiotic treatment with rapid sterilization of blood cultures, the patient died with brain herniation within 96 hours of admission.