Cloning and Characterization of a Putative Antifungal Peptide Gene (Pm-AMP1) in Pinus monticola.

ABSTRACT We have been working on proteins that are involved in the defense response of western white pine (WWP) (Pinus monitcola) to the blister rust fungus Cronartium ribicola. Our objective was to identify candidate genes that could be used for improving resistance of WWP to this rust pathogen. During proteomic analysis of bark proteins extracted from WWP trees exhibiting slow-canker-growth (SCG) resistance, a 10.

Identification and Characterization of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers Linked to a Major Gene (Cr2) for Resistance to Cronartium ribicola in Pinus monticola.

ABSTRACT DNA markers tightly linked to resistance (R) genes provide a very powerful tool for both marker-assisted selection in plant breeding and positional cloning of R genes. In the present study, a linkage of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to the single dominant gene (Cr2) for resistance to white pine blister rust fungus (Cronartium ribicola) was investigated in western white pine (Pinus monticola). A mapping population of 128 individual megagametophytes was generated from seeds of a heterozygous resistant tree (Cr2/cr2), and the corresponding seedlings of each megagametophyte were subjected to the test of phenotype segregation by inoculation with C.

A Class IV Chitinase Is Up-Regulated by Fungal Infection and Abiotic Stresses and Associated with Slow-Canker-Growth Resistance to Cronartium ribicola in Western White Pine (Pinus monticola).

ABSTRACT In the present study, in a candidate gene approach, a class IV chitinase gene (PmCh4A) of pathogenesis-related family three was cloned and characterized in western white pine (Pinus monticola). PmCh4A chitinase expression in the different organs of healthy seedlings was below levels detectable by western immunoblot analysis using an antibody raised against PmCh4A protein. However, a 27-kDa isozyme of PmCh4A accu mulated in both susceptible and slow-canker-growth (SCG) resistant seedlings after infection by Cronartium ribicola.

Analytical modelling of kirschner wires in Ilizarov circular external fixators using a tensile model.

Mechanical characteristics of orthopaedic fixators, such as the stiffness and stability, directly influence the mechanobiological environment in which the bone is healed. In circular external fixators, the transfixing Kirschner wires are the major contributors to the biomechanics involved. A comprehensive understanding of the mechanical behaviour of the wires is therefore the key to biomechanical analysis of the Ilizarov fixator.

The utility of conductive plastic electrodes in prolonged ICU EEG monitoring.

We investigated the feasibility and utilization of conductive plastic electrodes (CPEs) in patients undergoing continuous video-electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring in the intensive care unit (ICU), and assessed the quality of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) images obtained during this period. A total of 54 patients were monitored. Seizures were recorded in 16 patients.

Determination of glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine in fungal cell walls.

A new method was developed to determine glucosamine (GlcN) and N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) in materials containing chitin and chitosan, such as fungal cell walls. It is based on two steps of hydrolysis with (i) concentrated sulfuric acid at low temperature and (ii) dilute sulfuric acid at high temperature, followed by one-step degradation with nitrous acid. In this process, chitin and chitosan are converted into anhydromannose and acetic acid.

Frequency and patterns of MRI abnormalities due to status epilepticus.

Background: MRI changes due to status epilepticus (SE) often suggest a combination of cytotoxic and vasogenic edema, but it is unclear why only certain patients have MRI changes.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of MRI changes due to SE and the associated patient characteristics.

Methods: We reviewed records for demographics, medical history, and MRI changes attributable to seizures of all patients admitted to Brigham and Women's Hospital or Massachusetts General Hospital for SE from 1/1999 to 7/2003 and who had MRI during admission.

Diagnostic multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for the identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the skin biopsy specimens in burn wound infections and detection of antibiotic susceptibility.

Objective: To identify Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) from the skin biopsy specimens in burn wound infections by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) and detection of antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates from culture.

Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study in 140 patients with wound infections who admitted to the referral burn center of Motahari, Tehran, Iran, during a 12-month period from 2005-2006.

Analytical modelling of Kirschner wires in Ilizarov circular external fixator as pretensioned slender beams.

Transfixing thin Kirschner wires (K-wires) are the key components of the Ilizarov fixator regarding its axial stiffness, which affects the mechanobiological environment in which bone is healed. Mechanically speaking, K-wires are slender beams that are axially tensioned, then fixed and transversely loaded. The existing solutions to such a problem either do not accommodate any axial loading prior to transverse loading, or do not account for the change in the axial load (reaction) due to transverse loading.

Methylmalonic acidemia: brain imaging findings in 52 children and a review of the literature.

Background: Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an autosomal-recessive inborn error of metabolism.

Objective: To recognize the CT and MR brain sectional imaging findings in children with MMA.

Materials And Methods: Brain imaging studies (47 MR and 5 CT studies) from 52 children were reviewed and reported by a neuroradiologist.

The full length hepatitis C virus polyprotein and interactions with the interferon-beta signalling pathways in vitro.

Background: Hepatitis C is a global health problem. The exact mechanisms by which hepatitis C virus (HCV) can evade the host immune system have become controversial. Whether HCV polyproteins modulate IFN signalling pathways or HCV proteins are responsible for such a property is the subject of interest.

Evaluation of the results of cordocentesis.

Objective: To evaluate the results of cordocentesis carried out in our clinic at Meram Medicine Faculty of Selcuk University in Konya, Turkey.

Materials And Methods: Cytogenetic results and complication data were obtained by cordocentesis from 250 pregnancies performed in our clinic.

Results: Adequate amount of cord blood was taken 98% of the time, the successful culture rate was 92.

Designing E1 deleted adenoviral vector by homologous recombination.

Background: Adenoviruses are used extensively to deliver genes into mammalian cells, particularly where there is a requirement for high-level expression of transgene products in cultured cells, or for use as recombinant viral vaccines or in gene therapy. In spite of their usefulness, the construction of adenoviral vectors (AdV) is a cumbersome and lengthy process that is not readily amenable to the generation of large collection of clones.

Methods: In this project, to delete E1 gene in adenovirus, an adenoviral plasmid containing lateral sites of E1 region of adenovirus was made and recombination in the 293A cells between the homologous region of this linearized plasmid and the adenovirus genome resulted in the formation of the complete adenoviral recombinant.

Extraction and precipitation of chitosan from cell wall of zygomycetes fungi by dilute sulfuric acid.

A new method was developed in this work for extraction of chitosan from the zygomycetes cell wall. It is based on the temperature-dependent solubility of chitosan in dilute sulfuric acid. Chitin is soluble in neither cold nor hot dilute sulfuric acid.

A new approach to chromosomal abnormalities in sperm from patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: detection of double aneuploidy in addition to single aneuploidy and diploidy by five-color fluorescence in situ hybridization using one probe set.

Objective: To determine the frequencies of disomy, nullisomy, total aneuploidy, and diploidy in the sperms of infertile men.

Design: A controlled prospective study.

Setting: Assisted reproductive technology (ART)/IVF Unit and Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Meram Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in children with Ebstein Barr virus infection.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is a disease of unknown etiology. A total of 50 patients with JRA who were hospitalized in the Pediatrics Rheumatology Ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran during the years 2001-2002, were assessed serologically (IgM and IgG specific viral capsid antigens) for EBV infection and their response to therapy was studied. Minimum age of the patients was at least 6 months and mean age was 60.

Multidetector CT of the paranasal sinus: potential for radiation dose reduction.

The aim of the study was to retrospectively determine the potential for radiation dose reduction at multidetector computed tomography (CT) of the paranasal sinus by using computer simulation of the effect of low-radiation dose acquisition on diagnostic image quality. This HIPAA compliant study was approved by the institutional human research committee. The need for informed patient consent was waived.

Effect of temperature on life history of Aphidius colemani and Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), two parasitoids of Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae).

The performance of two aphid parasitoids, Aphidius colemani Viereck and Aphidius matricariae (Haliday), against Aphis gossypii Glover on greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were evaluated at various constant temperatures.

Resected serous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas: a review of 158 patients with recommendations for treatment.

Background: Serous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are regarded as a benign entity with rare malignant potential. Surgical resection is generally considered curative.

Objective: To perform the largest single institution review of patients who underwent surgical resection for serous cystic neoplasms of the pancreas in the hopes of guiding future management.

A new heritable fragile site at 15q13 in a three-generation family.

Here, we describe a family ascertained through recurrent spontaneous abortions in which a new heritable fragile site located at 15q13 is segregating. The fragile site was present in nine members of a three-generation family and expressed spontaneously in a high proportion of the metaphases varying from 88 to 95% under standard culture conditions in all the carriers. This didn't change under folate deficiency.

Pattern of complementary and alternative medicine use in urban population.

Background: To determine the prevalence and patterns of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use in urban population in Isfahan.

Methods: In a crossâ€"sectional study through two-stage sampling methods, 870 individuals were selected from Isfahan Province, center of Iran. We selected 20 clusters randomly and chose one household from each cluster by chance then 24 households were included consequently.

Neurosurgical considerations in supratentorial low-grade gliomas: experience with 175 patients.

The authors reviewed 175 low-grade hemispheric gliomas surgically treated by one surgeon (P.B.) between 1987 and 1996: 74 astrocytomas (42%), 35 oligodendrogliomas (20%), 52 mixed gliomas (30%), 12 gangliogliomas (7%), and two ependymomas (1%).

Genetic analysis of MEFV gene pyrin domain in patients with Behçet's disease.

Objectives: Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis with recurrent oral and genital ulcers and uveitis. MEFV gene, which is the main factor in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), is also reported to be a susceptibility gene for BD. The pyrin domain of MEFV gene is a member of death-domain superfamily and has been proposed to regulate inflammatory signaling in myeloid cells.

Normative reference values for lung transfer factor in Isfahan, Iran.

Objectives And Background: Transfer factor or carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DL(CO)) is a particularly valuable test of the appropriateness of gas exchange across the alveolocapillary membrane. The purpose of this study is to derive predictive equations for DL(CO) and its derivative volume-corrected DL(CO) (DL(CO)/VA) measured by single-breath method in a large non-smoking population sample in Isfahan.

Methodology: We evaluated 1429 randomly selected subjects (732 men, aged 5-85 years).