Syndecan-1 and Its Expanding List of Contacts.

The binding of cytokines and growth factors to heparan sulfate (HS) chains on proteoglycans generates gradients that control development and regulate wound healing. Syndecan-1 (sdc1) is an integral membrane HS proteoglycan. Its structure allows it to bind with cytosolic, transmembrane, and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.

Mutations in XPR1 cause primary familial brain calcification associated with altered phosphate export.

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a neurological disease characterized by calcium phosphate deposits in the basal ganglia and other brain regions and has thus far been associated with SLC20A2, PDGFB or PDGFRB mutations. We identified in multiple families with PFBC mutations in XPR1, a gene encoding a retroviral receptor with phosphate export function. These mutations alter phosphate export, implicating XPR1 and phosphate homeostasis in PFBC.

Abnormal high-energy phosphate molecule metabolism during regional brain activation in patients with bipolar disorder.

Converging evidence suggests bioenergetic abnormalities in bipolar disorder (BD). In the brain, phosphocreatine (PCr) acts a reservoir of high-energy phosphate (HEP) bonds, and creatine kinases (CK) catalyze the transfer of HEP from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to PCr and from PCr back to ATP, at times of increased need. This study examined the activity of this mechanism in BD by measuring the levels of HEP molecules during a stimulus paradigm that increased local energy demand.

Paul Wittgenstein's right arm and his phantom: the saga of a famous concert pianist and his amputation.

Reports of postamputation pain and problems linked to phantom limbs have increased in recent years, particularly in relation to war-related amputations. These problems are still poorly understood and are considered rather mysterious, and they are difficult to treat. In addition, they may shed light on brain physiology and neuropsychology.

The Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials in Pediatric Orthopaedics: Are We Improving?

Purpose: The quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in orthopaedics is a topic of considerable importance, as RCTs play a major role in guiding clinical practice. The quality of RCTs published between 1995 and 2005 has previously been documented. The purpose of the current study was to assess and describe the quality of pediatric orthopaedic RCTs published from 2005 to 2012, by identifying study characteristics associated with higher quality and outlining areas for improvement.

A detailed comparison of mouse and human cardiac development.

Background: Mouse mutants are used to model human congenital cardiovascular disease. Few studies exist comparing normal cardiovascular development in mice vs. humans.

Mesalamine dose escalation reduces fecal calprotectin in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis.

Background & Aims: Among patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis (UC), lower fecal concentrations of calprotectin are associated with lower rates of relapse. We performed an open-label, randomized controlled trial to investigate whether increasing doses of mesalamine reduce concentrations of fecal calprotectin (FC) in patients with quiescent UC.

Methods: We screened 119 patients with UC in remission on the basis of Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index scores, FC >50 μg/g, and intake of no more than 3 g/day mesalamine.

Cytokine deposition alters leukocyte morphology and initial recruitment of monocytes and γδT cells after corneal injury.

Purpose: An in vivo mouse model reproducibly induces recurrent epithelial erosions in wild-type mice spontaneously 2 weeks after a single 1.5-mm corneal debridement wound made with a dulled blade. When 1.

A historical perspective: stereotactic lesions for the treatment of epilepsy.

Purpose: Most deep brain stimulation targets for movement disorders were derived from effective ablative surgery targets. Similarly effective lesion targets for epilepsy control may help refine brain stimulation targeting for epilepsy. A literature review of past stereotactic lesions for epilepsy treatment was performed to provide historical context and possible anatomical guidance for current and future attempts at controlling epilepsy with electrical stimulation.

Roy Schafer's contributions to psychological testing: from clinical sensibility to the analytic attitude.

The author reviews Schafer's contributions to psychological testing, emphasizing his development of the test battery, his significant contributions to psychoanalytically oriented Rorschach interpretation, and his understanding of the complex interpersonal dynamics involved in psychological test interpretation. The author also discusses his use of Schafer's writing in his own teaching and academic work, noting that Schafer's contributions have not only provided innovative methods for examining test data, but have also promoted a respectful, humanistic, and individualized approach to the patient in testing and treatment. The author asserts that Schafer's later seminal contributions to psychoanalysis had their origins in his early career as a psychologist applying psychoanalytic ideas to testing.

Acidic nucleoplasmic DNA-binding protein (And-1) controls chromosome congression by regulating the assembly of centromere protein A (CENP-A) at centromeres.

The centromere is an epigenetically designated chromatin domain that is essential for the accurate segregation of chromosomes during mitosis. The incorporation of centromere protein A (CENP-A) into chromatin is fundamental in defining the centromeric loci. Newly synthesized CENP-A is loaded at centromeres in early G(1) phase by the CENP-A-specific histone chaperone Holliday junction recognition protein (HJURP) coupled with other chromatin assembly factors.

The involvement of acidic nucleoplasmic DNA-binding protein (And-1) in the regulation of prereplicative complex (pre-RC) assembly in human cells.

DNA replication in all eukaryotes starts with the process of loading the replicative helicase MCM2-7 onto chromatin during late mitosis of the cell cycle. MCM2-7 is a key component of the prereplicative complex (pre-RC), which is loaded onto chromatin by the concerted action of origin recognition complex, Cdc6, and Cdt1. Here, we demonstrate that And-1 is assembled onto chromatin in late mitosis and early G(1) phase before the assembly of pre-RC in human cells.

Corneal goblet cells and their niche: implications for corneal stem cell deficiency.

Goblet cells are terminally differentiated cells secreting mucins and antibacterial peptides that play an important role in maintaining the health of the cornea. In corneal stem cell deficiency, the progenitor cells giving rise to goblet cells on the cornea are presumed to arise from differentiation of cells that migrate onto the cornea from the neighboring conjunctiva. This occurs in response to the inability of corneal epithelial progenitor cells at the limbus to maintain an intact corneal epithelium.

Tracheotomy outcomes and complications: a national perspective.

Objectives/hypothesis: To provide national level data on frequency of tracheotomy and complication rate and in-hospital mortality following tracheotomy.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study using a public national database, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2006.

The stability of histone acetyltransferase general control non-derepressible (Gcn) 5 is regulated by Cullin4-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase.

Histone acetyltransferases play important roles in the regulation of chromatin structure and gene transcription. As one of the most important histone acetyltransferases, general control non-derepressible (Gcn) 5 has been linked to diverse cellular processes and tumorigenesis as well. We have recently identified a functional link between Gcn5 and acidic nucleoplasmic DNA-binding protein 1 (And-1) that is elevated in multiple cancer cells and is essential for Gcn5 protein stability.

And-1 is required for the stability of histone acetyltransferase Gcn5.

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs) have a central role in the modification of chromatin as well as in the pathogenesis of a broad set of diseases including cancers. Gcn5 is the first identified transcription-related HAT that has been implicated in the regulation of diverse cellular functions. However, how Gcn5 proteins are regulated remains largely unknown.

Variation in surgical time-out and site marking within pediatric otolaryngology.

Objective: To determine variation in surgical time-out and site-marking within pediatric otolaryngology.

Design: Survey e-mailed via the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO).

Participants: A total of 167 Children's Hospital Corp of America (CHCA) operating room (OR) directors and ASPO members were asked about perioperative preparation of their patients.

The psychiatric medical record, HIPAA, and the use of electronic medical records.

This article addresses the practical and legal issues related to the psychiatric medical record, with an emphasis on the issues related to confidentiality. Implications of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) legislation for the practice of child and adolescent psychiatry are addressed. The advantages and disadvantages of electronic medical records are reviewed, with guidelines for selecting software for solo and group practices.

Primary dermal fibroblasts derived from sdc-1 deficient mice migrate faster and have altered alphav integrin function.

ABSTRACT The goal of this study is to determine whether dermal fibroblasts lacking syndecan-1 (sdc1) show differences in integrin expression and function that could contribute to the delayed skin and corneal wound healing phenotypes seen in sdc-1 null mice. Using primary dermal fibroblasts, we show that after 3 days in culture no differences in alpha-smooth muscle actin were detected but sdc-1 null cells expressed significantly more alphav and beta1 integrin than wildtype (wt) cells. Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) treatment at day 3 increased alphav- and beta1-integrin expression in sdc-1 null cells at day 5 whereas wt cells showed increased expression only of alphav-integrin.

Loewald's "binocular vision" and the art of analysis.

In his 1988 monograph on sublimation, Hans Loewald describes the process as a transformation of the drives aimed at re-creating what he presumes to be the subjective experience of infantile attachment. To describe this experience, he invokes a state of mind that he calls "binocular vision." He maintains that this mental state may arise not only in activities usually associated with sublimation, such as the creation and enjoyment of art, but in all forms of sublimation, including effective psychoanalysis.

Access to appointments based on insurance status in Washington, D.C.

In the U.S., emergency departments see millions of patients requiring timely and adequate outpatient follow-up.