Loss of Soluble (Pro)renin Receptor Attenuates Angiotensin-II Induced Hypertension and Renal Injury.

[Figure: see text].

Identification of NFAT5 as a transcriptional regulator of the EDN1 gene in collecting duct.

The inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) produces very high levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) that acts as an autocrine inhibitor of IMCD Na and water reabsorption. Recent studies suggest that IMCD ET-1 production is enhanced by extracellular hypertonicity as can occur during high salt intake. Although NFAT5 has been implicated in the IMCD ET-1 hypertonicity response, no studies in any cell type have identified NFAT5 as a transcriptional regulator of the EDN1 gene; the current study examined this using a mouse IMCD cell line (IMCD3).

Role for reactive oxygen species in flow-stimulated inner medullary collecting duct endothelin-1 production.

Inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD)-derived endothelin-1 (ET-1) is stimulated by volume expansion, in part through augmented luminal flow, whereupon it can elicit natriuresis and diuresis. Since flow can alter nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), both of which can affect collecting duct salt transport, we asked whether NO and/or ROS mediate flow-stimulated IMCD ET-1. Mouse IMCD3 cells were exposed to flow, and ET-1/GAPDH mRNA was assessed.

Oviposition preference and larval performance of Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Botrytis cinerea (Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) infected berries of Vitis vinifera (Vitales: Vitaceae).

In this paper we tested the behavior of gravid Epiphyas postvittana in selecting the most-appropriate site for oviposition thus benefitting offspring performance. Our hypothesis was built on Jaenike's preference-performance hypothesis (also referred to as the "mother-knows-the-best" hypothesis). To test this, we used the interacting Epiphyas postvittana, its host Vitis vinifera, and the pathogenic microbe Botrytis cinerea system.

Endophytic fungus-vascular plant-insect interactions.

Insect association with fungi has a long history. Theories dealing with the evolution of insect herbivory indicate that insects used microbes including fungi as their principal food materials before flowering plants evolved. Subtlety and the level of intricacy in the interactions between insects and fungi indicate symbiosis as the predominant ecological pattern.

Influence of fungal endophyte infection on phenolic content and antioxidant activity in grasses: interaction between Lolium perenne and different strains of Neotyphodium lolii.

Lolium perenne is a major forage and turf grass, which is often naturally infected with a "wild-type" strain (E(WT)) of the fungal endophyte Neotyphodium lolii , establishing a symbiotic relationship. In this study, the impacts of different strains wild type E(WT), AR1 (E(AR1)) and AR37 (E(AR37)), of N. lolii on the phenolic profile, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity of L.

Isolation, characterization and preclinical development of human glial-restricted progenitor cells for treatment of neurological disorders.

Aim: Glial-restricted progenitor cells (GRPs), a neural cell population that gives rise to astrocytes and oligodendrocytes both in vitro and in vivo, hold great promise as a cellular therapeutic for the treatment of demyelinating and neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS. The manufacturing and characterization protocols of human-derived GRPs (hGRPs; trade name Q-Cells) for use in a clinical setting that adhere to rigorous standards for their isolation, propagation, characterization and storage are presented.

Materials & Methods: hGRPs, defined by their immunoreactivity with A2B5 antibodies, were isolated from fetal cadaver forebrain tissue of mice 17-24 weeks gestational age using Miltenyi paramagnetic bead cell separation technology.

Expression profiling of human glial precursors.

Background: We have generated gene expression databases for human glial precursors, neuronal precursors, astrocyte precursors and neural stem cells and focused on comparing the profile of glial precursors with that of other populations.

Results: A total of 14 samples were analyzed. Each population, previously distinguished from each other by immunocytochemical analysis of cell surface markers, expressed genes related to their key differentiation pathways.

A genetic selection method for expression products that induce apoptosis in adherent mammalian cell lines.

The process of apoptosis is carefully controlled in cells, and different cell types display different sensitivities to pro-apoptotic stimuli. The prospect of exploiting such differences for treatment of diseases such as cancer, via novel therapeutic agents, is extremely attractive. Therefore, genetic selections for novel expression products that kill cells may have considerable value.

Genetic selection for modulators of the MAP kinase and beta-catenin growth-control pathways in mammalian cells.

Transdominant genetic selections can yield protein fragment and peptide modulators of specific biochemical pathways. In yeast, such screens have been highly successful in targeting the MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase growth-control pathway. We performed a similar type of selection aimed at recovery of modulators of the mammalian MAP kinase cascade.

Intra-articular anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar tendon allograft in the skeletally immature patient.

Purpose: Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are becoming more prevalent in the skeletally immature patient. We report our results with intra-articular transphyseal ACL reconstruction in this patient population.

Type Of Study: Retrospective analysis.

Arthroscopic posterior cruciate ligament repair.

Purpose: We present our technique of arthroscopic repair for femoral avulsion soft-tissue tears of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and its results.

Type Of Study: Case series, retrospective review.

Methods: We performed 13 arthroscopic repairs of the PCL and reviewed them retrospectively.

Enhanced expression of exogenous genes from retroviruses using HIV2/Tat.

The capacity to produce large amounts of protein in mammalian cells is important in several contexts, including large-scale generation of biologically useful proteins, gene therapy, and transdominant genetics in cultured cells. For transdominant genetics, retroviral vectors are especially useful for delivery of expression libraries. However, even the potent CMV promoter is often unable to stimulate single-copy production of protein beyond the 1 microM level.

Ultrafiltration using the Amicon MPS-1 for assessing methadone plasma protein binding.

The percent of protein-free and protein-bound methadone were separated in methadone-spiked bank and artificial plasma, and in plasma samples taken from methadone-maintained patients using the Amicon MPS-1 ultrafiltration device. Following the separation procedure, protein-bound and protein-free methadone were extracted from the protein-bound and free fractions, and their respective concentrations were determined by gas chromatography and nitrogen-phosphorus detection. Eighty-five patient samples from 38 men and 10 women receiving methadone maintenance were collected and subjected to the ultrafiltration methodology.

Rehabilitation programmes following arthroscopic meniscectomy in athletes.

The athlete with a meniscal injury can be returned to activity quickly and safely with appropriate treatment and rehabilitation. When injuries occur in the relatively avascular inner zones of the meniscus, partial meniscectomy is usually the treatment of choice. The rehabilitation programme should emphasise decreasing inflammation, restoring motion, increasing strength, and safe return to competition.

Drug therapy during cardiac arrest in two hospitals.

The results of a study evaluating the appropriateness of drug and defibrillation therapy given during cardiac arrest at two hospitals are reported. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate and compare the appropriateness of therapy given during adult cardiac arrest at a large teaching hospital (hospital 1) and at a smaller nonteaching hospital (hospital 2) as measured by conformance to advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) guidelines and by less stringent alternative criteria based on published data and clinical judgment. Patients included in the study were older than 18 years and had experienced at least one of five types of cardiac arrest: ventricular fibrillation, asystole, ventricular tachycardia, electromechanical dissociation, or bradycardia.

Efficacies of Novel N-Halamine Disinfectants against Salmonella and Pseudomonas Species.

Six novel N-halamine compounds of potential importance as disinfectants to the food-processing industry were tested against Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella gallinarum, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas fluorescens in aqueous solution. Inactivation times for 10-fold reductions were determined as a function of water quality at pH 6.5 and 25 degrees C.

A null allele of esterase D is a marker for genetic events in retinoblastoma formation.

The development of homozygosity or hemizygosity in the 13q14 region by deletion, mitotic recombination, or chromosomal loss has been interpreted as a primary event in retinoblastoma. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that inactivation of both alleles of a gene located at 13q14.11 is required for tumorigenesis.

Single amino acid substitution, from Glu1025 to Asp, of the fps oncogenic protein causes temperature sensitivity in transformation and kinase activity.

We have sequenced 2.7 kilobases of v-fps DNA encoding the transforming protein, p140, of the temperature-sensitive (ts) FL-15 clone of avian Fujinami sarcoma virus. Ten single nucleotide differences were found when compared with the v-fps sequence of the temperature-resistant (tr) clone, FSV-2.

Purification, biochemical characterization, and biological function of human esterase D.

Human esterase D (carboxylesterase; carboxylic-ester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.

Microspore growth and anther staging in barley anther culture.

Nuclear growth, microspore cell growth and cell cycle stage were examined in microspores of anthers of Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Klages taken from florets of the middle of the spike as per anther staging methods.

Bactericidal properties of a new water disinfectant.

The N-chloramine compound 3-chloro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolidinone (agent I) has been compared with calcium hypochlorite as to its efficacy as a bactericide for the treatment of water. The study included concentration, contact time, pH, temperature, and water quality as controlled variables. The species of bacteria tested were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Shigella boydii.

Differences in anchorage-dependent growth and tumorigenicities between transformed C3H/10T 1/2 cells with morphologies that are or are not reverted to a normal phenotype by ascorbic acid.

C3H/10T 1/2 mouse embryo cells were transformed with 3-methylcholanthrene. Several type III morphologically transformed cell lines were selected with morphologies that either could or could not be reverted back to normal at passage 1 by daily addition of ascorbic acid (1 or 5 microgram/ml). Those transformed cell lines with morphologies that could be caused to revert to normal did not produce colonies in agarose or tumors in nude mice at early passages.

Antimicrobial activity of N-chloramine compounds.

Cellular mechanisms of action of two representative N-chloramines were studied. Both compounds, 3-chloro-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolidinone (I) and N-chlorosuccinimide (III), inhibited bacterial growth and exerted profound inhibition of bacterial DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis at a concentration of 10(-5) M. Enzymes containing sulfhydryl groups generally were significantly inhibited by these chloramines at 10(-4) M.