Comparative analysis of multiple genome-scale data sets.

The ongoing analyses of published genome-scale data sets is evidence that different approaches are required to completely mine this data. We report the use of novel tools for both visualization and data set comparison to analyze yeast gene-expression (cell cycle and exit from stationary phase/G(0)) and protein-interaction studies. This analysis led to new insights about each data set.

Arginine-rich molecular transporters for drug delivery: role of backbone spacing in cellular uptake.

Short oligomers of arginine, either alone or when conjugated to therapeutic agents or large biopolymers, have been shown to cross readily a variety of biological barriers (e.g., lipid bilayers and epithelial tissue).

Normal perinatal mortality in type 1 diabetes mellitus in a series of 300 consecutive pregnancy outcomes.

Reports of outcomes of pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes have consistently found increased perinatal mortality and morbidity. The primary objective of our study was to compare the perinatal mortality rate in type 1 diabetic pregnancies with that of the general population. The secondary objective was to compare the morbidities in these groups.

A gene expression map for Caenorhabditis elegans.

We have assembled data from Caenorhabditis elegans DNA microarray experiments involving many growth conditions, developmental stages, and varieties of mutants. Co-regulated genes were grouped together and visualized in a three-dimensional expression map that displays correlations of gene expression profiles as distances in two dimensions and gene density in the third dimension. The gene expression map can be used as a gene discovery tool to identify genes that are co-regulated with known sets of genes (such as heat shock, growth control genes, germ line genes, and so forth) or to uncover previously unknown genetic functions (such as genomic instability in males and sperm caused by specific transposons).

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in a cohort of Australian blood donors and haemophiliac and liver transplant patients.

The aim of the present study was to characterize hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes using the INNO-LiPA HCV line probe assay and direct sequencing from three different HCV-RNA-positive (serum) groups: (i) blood donors (n = 59); (ii) haemophiliacs (n = 43); and (iii) patients undergoing liver transplantation (n = 26). Of 128 HCV-RNA-positive samples, 74 (58%) were genotype 1. Of these, 41 were genotype 1a, 32 were genotype 1b and one was genotype 1 indeterminate.

Managing HIV. Part 8: controlling an epidemic. 8.4 Protecting the blood supply from HIV.

Since 1985 the theoretical risk of HIV infection posed by medical treatment with blood products has been very low. There have been no known cases of HIV transmission via blood products in Australia since that time. Nevertheless, blood banks continue to examine new techniques for reducing the risks.

The effects of muscle fatigue on neuromuscular function and anterior tibial translation in healthy knees.

We investigated the effect of quadriceps and hamstring muscle fatigue on anterior tibial translation and muscle reaction time in 10 healthy subjects. The six men and four women had an average age of 21.3 years and had no known pathologic knee conditions.

Tolypodiol, an antiinflammatory diterpenoid from the cyanobacterium Tolypothrix nodosa.

A new diterpenoid, tolypodiol (1), has been isolated from the terrestrial cyanobacterium Tolypothrix nodosa (HT-58-2) and identified by NMR and mass spectral analysis. The monoacetate derivative 2 was prepared. Tolypodiol (1) and its monoacetate derivative 2 show potent antiinflammatory activity in the mouse ear edema assay.

Managing HIV. Part 6: People living with HIV. 6.4 Medically acquired HIV infection.

Often an underlying disorder (such as haemophilia) creates special management issues for people with medically acquired HIV. Although the risk of infection through donated biological materials is now slight, an unknown number of undiagnosed cases remain in the community.

Effect of blood donation on the establishment of normal ranges of lymphocyte subsets.

Background: Absolute counts of CD4+ T-lymphocytes are used in the management of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Low absolute counts of CD3+CD4+ cells have also been observed in healthy people--a phenomenon called idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia. It is common practice for normal ranges for lymphocyte subsets to be derived from samples taken from blood donors.

Post-transfusion hepatitis revisited.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of post-transfusion and postoperative non-A non-B hepatitis in Australia immediately before the introduction of screening for hepatitis C.

Design: Retrospective testing of blood samples from a prospective study of cardiac surgery patients. Samples were taken from transfusion recipients and non-transfused controls at regular intervals for 12 months after surgery during 1987-1989.

Cavitation/boundary effects in a simple head impact model.

An experimental and numerical analysis of the impact response of a simple model of the human head is presented. A water-filled 14-cm diameter cylinder was struck by a 10 kg free flying mass. Rigid-body acceleration-time-history and the pressure at the fluid-cylinder interface were monitored during the impact event.

Heterosexually acquired HIV infection in female blood donors: case series between 1985-1990.

The case histories aimed to describe the risk behaviours of a series of seven Australian women who acquired the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through heterosexual contact. Between 1985 and 1990 eight HIV antibody positive female donors were identified through routine HIV antibody screening at the NSW Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service. These donors were recalled and interviewed to assess risk factors for HIV and establish how and/or why the declaration form and the interview process prior to donation did not identify a risk factor.

Non-parametric analysis of transfusion-related HIV and AIDS incidence data.

The method for making non-parametric inferences about the probability distribution of the incubation period for AIDS from transfusion-related AIDS data is extended to include data on individuals who have tested positive for HIV but do not have AIDS at the time of analysis. The method is illustrated with data on individuals infected by transfusion in Australia. The shape of the incubation distribution, as represented by the truncated distribution function, can be estimated, but the additional data contribute very little to the estimation of this shape.

HIV infection in recipients of blood products from donors with known duration of infection.

From a registry of people with transfusion-acquired HIV infection, 25 recipients were identified for whom the dates of HIV infection in the 8 corresponding donors could be established. Longer times to AIDS and to death in recipients were independently associated (p < 0.01) with the receipt of blood from donors who developed AIDS more than 10 years after HIV infection, as well as with older age and fewer transfusions.

Inventory management in Sydney Public Hospital Blood Banks.

Monitoring the outdating of donated units is one way of assessing the efficiency of blood usage. Inventory management in public hospital blood banks in Sydney was reviewed with the aim of determining factors which lead to the outdating of donor blood. Factors which correlated significantly with increased outdating in hospitals included absence of an effective hospital transfusion committee; high ratio of average inventory: units transfused; fewer than three routine deliveries from the BTS per day; increased time taken for delivery of urgent products; CT values greater than 2:1, premature performance of the crossmatch and prolonged crossmatching holding time.