Phage RNA polymerase vectors that allow efficient gene expression in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

We have developed expression vectors that direct the synthesis of proteins from a common set of signals in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. To allow transcription from a common promoter the vectors rely upon a phage RNA polymerase (RNAP). To direct initiation of translation to the same start codon the vectors utilize an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) from encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) that has been modified to include a prokaryotic ribosome-binding site (RBS) at an appropriate distance upstream from the desired start codon.

The pediatric trauma center.

The types of facilities providing care to injured children vary greatly. Some have organized, planned, and functioning Pediatric Trauma Units with all the appropriate personnel, equipment, and facilities needed to provide whatever is needed. Other institutions have done no planning, have no trained personnel, and are, in short, ill prepared to provide any type of care.

The Saccharomyces SHP1 gene, which encodes a regulator of phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 with differential effects on glycogen metabolism, meiotic differentiation, and mitotic cell cycle progression.

The phosphoprotein phosphatase 1 (PP1) catalytic subunit encoded by the Saccharomyces GLC7 gene is involved in control of glycogen metabolism, meiosis, translation, chromosome segregation, cell polarity, and G2/M cell cycle progression. It is also lethal when overproduced. We have isolated strains which are resistant to Glc7p overproduction lethality as a result of mutations in the SHP1 (suppressor of high-copy PP1) gene, which was previously encountered in a genomic sequencing project as an open reading frame whose interruption totally blocked sporulation and slightly slowed cell proliferation.

Analysis of rejection outcomes and implications--a report of the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study.

For this study, we analyzed the role of rejection in graft failure in children. Rejection results were examined after 3004 pediatric renal transplants (1367 living donor, 1637 cadaver source). A total of 3453 (1298 living donor, 2155 cadaver source) rejection episodes have occurred, for rejection ratios of .

GTP gamma S-induced pepsinogen secretion from gastric chief cells does not require carboxyl methylation or translocation of low molecular weight (LMW) GTP-binding proteins.

We identified at least four LMW GTP-binding proteins in membrane and cytosolic fractions from dispersed gastric chief cells. Extraction of membrane-bound GTP-binding proteins with various agents revealed that these proteins are intimately associated with chief cell membranes. Upon extraction with Triton X-114, the majority of GTP-binding proteins partitioned into the detergent phase, indicative of their hydrophobic nature.

Accuracy and precision of serum gastrin measurements in commercial laboratories.

Patients referred to us with "positive" secretin tests and the diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome were found to be achlorhydric. This observation led us to study prospectively the accuracy and precision of serum gastrin determinations from commercial laboratories. Synthetic gastrin (G17) was added to serum to achieve gastrin concentrations of 50, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 3000, and 5000 pg/mL after subtraction of the basal value (24 pg/mL).

An analytical review of growth hormone studies in children after renal transplantation.

With steady improvement in 1- and 5-year patient and graft survivals in the last decade, rehabilitation of the child is the major focus of the transplant physician. The notion that the elimination of the uremic milieu should enable children to grow has not been born out over time, and growth retardation continues to be a serious morbidity in many children despite a well-functioning renal allograft. In children with chronic renal failure prior to renal transplantation, recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been recently shown in controlled trials to improve growth.

Protein kinase C expression and translocation in dispersed chief cells from guinea-pig stomach.

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of enzymes is comprised of at least nine isoforms that vary with respect to co-factor dependence, cellular distribution and substrate specificity. Using specific antibodies for alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta and eta PKC isoforms, and Western blot analysis, we found that alpha and zeta PKC are expressed in gastric chief cells. We then used these methods to examine the effects of carbamylcholine, a cholinergic agonist that increases cellular calcium and diacylglycerol concentrations, and PMA, a phorbol ester that activates PKC, on the subcellular distribution of these isoforms.

The role of obstetric interventions in the prevention of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus infection.

By the end of the decade 10 million children will be infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Several potential means of preventing vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus are under study. Although the perinatal use of antiretroviral agents can prevent some of these infections, those agents are neither uniformly effective nor universally available.

Adenomyosis.

The clinical diagnosis of adenomyosis is elusive but should be suspected in women who complain of abnormal uterine bleeding or dysmenorrhea and have a regular but enlarged uterus. The use of newer diagnostic imaging modalities and recent research on myometrial biopsies should enable the clinician to arrive at a definite preoperative diagnosis and offer the patient treatment tailored to her needs.

The interactive seminar: an educational approach for voluntary HIV testing in a drug dependence treatment unit.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a pandemic disease with no known cure and limited effective strategies for prevention and control. It is one of the most devastating illnesses in contemporary society, and since 1982, certain populations, including intravenous drug users (IVDU), have been targeted as being at high risk for AIDS. Education is one strategy that seeks to address AIDS and the needs of IVDU.

Use of 125I-[Y39]exendin-4 to characterize exendin receptors on dispersed pancreatic acini and gastric chief cells from guinea pig.

We synthesized and iodinated an exendin-4 analogue, [Y39]exendin-4 (700 Ci/mmol), for use as a radioligand to characterize exendin receptors on dispersed pancreatic acini and gastric chief cells from guinea pig. Binding of this bioactive radioligand was rapid, temperature-dependent and specific (not inhibited by other pancreatic or gastric secretagogues). Measurement of the ability of exendin-4 to inhibit the binding of 125I-[Y39]exendin-4 indicated the presence of two classes of receptors.

Anxiety disorders in African Americans: an update.

This article discusses issues involved in the diagnosis of anxiety disorders, particularly panic disorder, in African Americans. Although epidemiological studies have shown similar prevalence rates of anxiety disorders among African Americans and non-African Americans, African Americans are underrepresented among those in treatment at mental health settings or serving as clinical research subjects. In addition, few studies have researched the unique demographic, diagnostic, and treatment characteristics of African-American patients with anxiety disorders.

Susceptibilities to clarithromycin and erythromycin of isolates of Chlamydia pneumoniae from children with pneumonia.

We tested in vitro 49 isolates of Chlamydia pneumoniae obtained from 35 children with community-acquired pneumonia against clarithromycin and erythromycin. The children were part of a treatment study comparing the two drugs. Clarithromycin was 2- to 10-fold more active than erythromycin, with a MIC for 90% of strains tested and minimal chlamydiacidal concentration for 90% of strains tested of 0.

Carbachol activates protein kinase C in dispersed gastric chief cells.

We used an 'in situ' kinase assay to examine agonist-induced protein kinase C. (PKC) activation in dispersed chief cells from guinea-pig stomach. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a phorbol ester, and carbamoylcholine, a cholinergic agent, caused a 4- and 3-fold increase in pepsinogen secretion from dispersed chief cells respectively.

Performance of three commercially available monoclonal reagents for confirmation of Chlamydia pneumoniae in cell culture.

We evaluated the performance of three commercially available monoclonal antibodies for confirmation of the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in cell culture by examining their abilities to stain inclusions of eight strains of C. pneumoniae. The antibodies tested were two unconjugated C.

Posttransplant deaths and factors that influence the mortality rate in North American children.

Of 2457 patients in the North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study registry who were followed for 5481 patient-years after the index transplantation, we observed 136 deaths, for an average annual rate of 24.8 deaths per 1000 patient-years. Death resulted primarily from infection (n = 55, 40%), cardiovascular causes (n = 28, 21%), hemorrhage (n = 16, 12%), and malignancies (n = 9, 7%).

Chronic daily headache--one disease or two? Diagnostic role of serum ionized magnesium.

The entity of chronic daily headache (CDH) is well documented, but is not included in the current classification. We divided patients with CDH into groups with and without migrainous features. This division resulted in clearly distinguishable syndromes of daily migrainous headaches (DMH) and daily tension-type headaches (DTH).

The phage RNA polymerases are related to DNA polymerases and reverse transcriptases.

The single subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNAP) that is encoded by bacteriophage T7 is the prototype of a class of relatively simple RNAPs that includes the RNAPs of the related phages T3 and SP6, as well as the mitochondrial RNAPs. The T7 enzyme has been crystallized, and recent genetic and biochemical analyses have facilitated an interpretation of this structure. A growing body of evidence suggests that the phage-like RNAPs are related to other nucleotide polymerases such as DNA polymerases, RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, and reverse transcriptases.

Multiple CCAAT binding proteins regulate the expression of the angiotensinogen gene.

Angiotensinogen is a serum glycoprotein which is primarily synthesized in the liver and converted into the octapeptide hormone angiotensin-II in circulation. Transient transfection studies have identified a cis-acting DNA element located between 115 and 145 bp upstream from the transcriptional initiation site in the promoter of the rat angiotensinogen gene which is involved in the regulation of its transcription. This region of the promoter has sequence homology with NF-1/CCAT, C/EBP, and CP1 binding sites.

Motor learning concepts applied to activity-based intervention with adults with hemiplegia.

This paper presents a framework for the integration of motor learning research findings with a neurodevelopmental treatment perspective. The importance of activity-based intervention is emphasized, and a strategy for activity synthesis is presented. Clinical problems seen in persons with hemiplegia are used to clarify concepts and illustrate therapeutic interventions.