Dicaesium tetra-chlorido-dioxido-plutonate(VI).

The anion of the title complex, Cs(2)[PuCl(4)O(2)], adopts a pseudo-octa-hedral geometry (2/m crystallographic site symmetry) with two plutonyl oxide ligands in axial sites and four chloride ligands occupying the equatorial plane. Charge balance is maintained by two caesium cations per tetra-chlorido-dioxido-plutonate(VI) anion. Principal bond lengths include Pu-O = 1.

A novel cross-disciplinary multi-institute approach to translational cancer research: lessons learned from Pennsylvania Cancer Alliance Bioinformatics Consortium (PCABC).

Background: The Pennsylvania Cancer Alliance Bioinformatics Consortium (PCABC, http://www.pcabc.upmc.

Effective components of treatment for the chemically dependent physician.

Physicians with substance use disorders have been documented throughout history. In 1973 the American Medical Association (AMA) acknowledged that physicians suffered from addiction with a landmark policy paper and subsequent Physician Health Conference. Since that time extensive information has been collected regarding the evaluation and treatment of physicians who have the disease of addiction.

Dynamic inositol trisphosphate-mediated calcium signals within astrocytic endfeet underlie vasodilation of cerebral arterioles.

Active neurons communicate to intracerebral arterioles in part through an elevation of cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in astrocytes, leading to the generation of vasoactive signals involved in neurovascular coupling. In particular, [Ca(2+)](i) increases in astrocytic processes ("endfeet"), which encase cerebral arterioles, have been shown to result in vasodilation of arterioles in vivo. However, the spatial and temporal properties of endfoot [Ca(2+)](i) signals have not been characterized, and information regarding the mechanism by which these signals arise is lacking.

Blood smear from a cat: features to "dys"cover.

A 4-year-old, spayed female, domestic shorthair cat was presented for lethargy, nonregenerative anemia, and inappetence. Results of a CBC included macrocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia and a glucocorticoid-associated leukogram. On blood smear examination, neutrophils had abnormal features including hyposegmentation and a diffuse chromatin pattern with nuclear filament formation and nuclear blebbing.

xGDB: open-source computational infrastructure for the integrated evaluation and analysis of genome features.

The eXtensible Genome Data Broker (xGDB) provides a software infrastructure consisting of integrated tools for the storage, display, and analysis of genome features in their genomic context. Common features include gene structure annotations, spliced alignments, mapping of repetitive sequence, and microarray probes, but the software supports inclusion of any property that can be associated with a genomic location. The xGDB distribution and user support utilities are available online at the xGDB project website, http://xgdb.

Local potassium signaling couples neuronal activity to vasodilation in the brain.

The mechanisms by which active neurons, via astrocytes, rapidly signal intracerebral arterioles to dilate remain obscure. Here we show that modest elevation of extracellular potassium (K+) activated inward rectifier K+ (Kir) channels and caused membrane potential hyperpolarization in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of intracerebral arterioles and, in cortical brain slices, induced Kir-dependent vasodilation and suppression of SMC intracellular calcium (Ca2+) oscillations. Neuronal activation induced a rapid (<2 s latency) vasodilation that was greatly reduced by Kir channel blockade and completely abrogated by concurrent cyclooxygenase inhibition.

Detection of cellular immunity to rabies antigens in human vaccinees.

A nonradioactive multi-parameter flow cytometry assay was developed to identify antigen-specific lymphocytes in human subjects previously vaccinated against rabies virus and was subsequently compared to the standard tritiated thymidine method. A cell tracking dye, carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester, was used in combination with surface label for CD4 and CD8 cells in order to determine the response of lymphocytes to killed rabies virus in an antigen recall assay. The rabies virus-specific lymphocyte response was compared to the humoral immune response in each of ten vaccinated and five non-vaccinated subjects.

yrGATE: a web-based gene-structure annotation tool for the identification and dissemination of eukaryotic genes.

Your Gene structure Annotation Tool for Eukaryotes (yrGATE) provides an Annotation Tool and Community Utilities for worldwide web-based community genome and gene annotation. Annotators can evaluate gene structure evidence derived from multiple sources to create gene structure annotations. Administrators regulate the acceptance of annotations into published gene sets.

The leukotoxin operon of Fusobacterium necrophorum is not present in other species of Fusobacterium.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the leukotoxin operon of Fusobacterium necrophorum has been determined. The operon consists of three genes (lktBAC) of which the leukotoxin structural gene is the middle determinant. Southern and western blot analyses and flow cytometry analysis for biological activity of the culture supernatants were carried out to determine if the leukotoxin is present in other species of the genus Fusobacterium.

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation of cerebral arteries is altered with simulated microgravity through nitric oxide synthase and EDHF mechanisms.

Cephalic elevations in arterial pressure associated with microgravity and prolonged bed rest alter cerebrovascular autoregulation in humans. Using the head-down tail-suspended (HDT) rat to chronically induce headward fluid shifts and elevate cerebral artery pressure, previous work has likewise shown cerebral perfusion to be diminished. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that 2 wk of HDT reduces cerebral artery vasodilation.

Comparative plant genomics resources at PlantGDB.

PlantGDB (http://www.plantgdb.org/) is a database of plant molecular sequences.

Inositol trisphosphate receptor calcium release is required for cerebral artery smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Vascular damage signals smooth muscle cells to proliferate, often exacerbating existing pathologies. Although the role of changes in "global" Ca2+ in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell dedifferentiation has been studied, the role of specific Ca2+ signals in determining VSM phenotype remains relatively unexplored. Earlier work with cultured VSM cells suggests that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) expression and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release may be linked to VSM cell proliferation in native tissue.

Development and evaluation of a flow cytometry microsphere assay to detect anti-histone antibody in dogs.

Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) is one of the diagnostic parameters that support a diagnosis of autoimmune disorders in humans, dogs, and horses, particularly the condition systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The most commonly used method for detecting ANA in canine serum is the indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA) that detects dog IgG with reactivity towards mammalian cell nuclei. Interpretation of the IFA results is very subjective and dependent on the source of tissue/cellular substrate.

Lineage differentiation of canine lymphoma/leukemias and aberrant expression of CD molecules.

Multiparameter flow cytometry analysis and specific cluster differentiation (CD) molecules were used to determine the expression profiles of B- and T-cell antigens on lymph node preparations from 59 dogs with generalized or multisystemic lymphoma. Lymph node samples from 11 healthy dogs were labeled to validate the specificity of antibodies and to formulate guidelines for interpretation of the results obtained from lymphoma samples. In normal lymph nodes, T-lymphocytes expressing CD3, CD4, or CD8 beta represented 59+/-11%, 43+/-8%, or 16+/-5% of the total cells, whereas B-lymphocytes expressing either CD21 or surface IgM (IgM) represented 37+/-9% or 14+/-5%, respectively.

Afibrinogenemia and a circulating antibody against fibrinogen in a Bichon Frise dog.

A 1.5-year-old female Bichon Frise dog was evaluated for a life-threatening hemorrhagic condition that occurred after ovariohysterectomy, requiring 4 whole-blood transfusions. A hemostatic profile, including activated clotting time (ACT), one-stage prothrombin time (OSPT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), buccal mucosal bleeding time, and specific assays (heat-precipitation microhematocrit method and electroimmunoassay) for fibrinogen, were performed to investigate the coagulopathy.

Outcome study of substance impaired physicians and physician assistants under contract with North Carolina Physicians Health Program for the period 1995-2000.

The objective of this 6-year retroactive chart review is to compare outcome between chemically dependent physicians and physician assistants under contract with the North Carolina Physicians Health Program (NCPHP). Of 233 physicians 91% had a good outcome, compared to only 59% of 34 physician assistants in this sample (significant by Chi Square method, 99.99% confidence).

Community-based gene structure annotation.

Uncertainty and inconsistency of gene structure annotation remain limitations on research in the genome era, frustrating both biologists and bioinformaticians, who have to sort out annotation errors for their genes of interest or to generate trustworthy datasets for algorithmic development. It is unrealistic to hope for better software solutions in the near future that would solve all the problems. The issue is all the more urgent with more species being sequenced and analyzed by comparative genomics - erroneous annotations could easily propagate, whereas correct annotations in one species will greatly facilitate annotation of novel genomes.

Simulated microgravity enhances cerebral artery vasoconstriction and vascular resistance through endothelial nitric oxide mechanism.

Elevations in arterial pressure associated with hypertension, microgravity, and prolonged bed rest alter cerebrovascular autoregulation in humans. Using head-down tail suspension (HDT) in rats to induce cephalic fluid shifts and elevate arterial pressure, this study tested the hypothesis that 2-wk HDT enhances cerebral artery vasoconstriction and that an enhanced vasoconstriction described in vitro will alter regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) and vascular resistance (CVR) during standing and head-up tilt. To test this hypothesis, basal tone and vasoconstrictor responses to increases in transmural pressure, shear stress, and K(+) were determined in vitro in middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) from HDT and control rats.

Low-field magnetic resonance imaging of bone marrow in the lumbar spine, pelvis, and femur in the adult dog.

The purpose of this study was to describe the appearance of normal bone marrow in seven adult dogs using low-field (0.3T) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The areas imaged included the lumbar spine, pelvis, and femur.

Structural basis of light chain amyloidogenicity: comparison of the thermodynamic properties, fibrillogenic potential and tertiary structural features of four Vlambda6 proteins.

Primary (AL) amyloidosis results from the pathologic deposition of monoclonal light chains as amyloid fibrils. Studies of recombinant-derived variable region (VL) fragments of these proteins have shown an inverse relationship between thermodynamic stability and fibrillogenic potential. Further, ionic interactions within the VL domain were predicted to influence the kinetics of light chain fibrillogenicity, as evidenced from our analyses of a relatively stable Vlambda6 protein (Jto) with a long range electrostatic interaction between Asp and Arg side chains at position 29 and 68, respectively, and an unstable, highly fibrillogenic Vlambda6 protein (Wil) that had neutral amino acids at these locations.

The immunopathogenesis of flea allergy dermatitis in dogs, an experimental study.

In this study, we investigated the development of clinical disease and immune responses in the development of an experimental model of flea allergy dermatitis. Dogs were randomly divided into four treatment groups and were infested with fleas on two different feeding schedules (continuous and episodic). Group 1 consisted of four non-exposed dogs (negative controls) and Group 2 consisted of six dogs exposed to fleas continually.

Intraluminal pressure is a stimulus for NFATc3 nuclear accumulation: role of calcium, endothelium-derived nitric oxide, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase.

The transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) is implicated in cardiac hypertrophy and vasculogenesis. NFAT activation, reflecting dephosphorylation by the calcium-dependent phosphatase, calcineurin, and subsequent nuclear localization, is generally thought to require a sustained increase in intracellular calcium. However, in smooth muscle we have found that elevation of calcium by membrane depolarization fails to induce an increase in nuclear localization of the NFATc3 isoform.