Repeat motifs of tau bind to the insides of microtubules in the absence of taxol.

The tau family of microtubule-associated proteins has a microtubule-binding domain which includes three or four conserved sequence repeats. Pelleting assays show that when tubulin and tau are co- assembled into microtubules, the presence of taxol reduces the amount of tau incorporated. In the absence of taxol, strong binding sites for tau are filled by one repeat motif per tubulin dimer; additional tau molecules bind more weakly.

On the comparability of pharmacotherapy and behavior therapy for chronic insomnia. Commentary and implications.

Recently, we undertook an empirical review using meta-analytic techniques to assess the extent to which these therapeutic strategies produce comparable outcomes. No differences between the two therapeutic strategies were found, except for sleep latency (SL). Behavior therapy demonstrated a greater reduction in latency to sleep onset as compared to pharmacotherapy.

Abundant tau filaments and nonapoptotic neurodegeneration in transgenic mice expressing human P301S tau protein.

The identification of mutations in the Tau gene in frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) has made it possible to express human tau protein with pathogenic mutations in transgenic animals. Here we report on the production and characterization of a line of mice transgenic for the 383 aa isoform of human tau with the P301S mutation. At 5-6 months of age, homozygous animals from this line developed a neurological phenotype dominated by a severe paraparesis.

The impact of moderate sleep loss on neurophysiologic signals during working-memory task performance.

Study Objectives: This study examined how sleep loss affects neurophysiologic signals related to attention and working memory.

Design: Subjective sleepiness, resting-state electroencephalogram, and behavior and electroencephalogram during performance of working-memory tasks were recorded in a within-subject, repeated-measures design.

Setting: Data collection occurred in a computerized laboratory setting.

Safety studies of topical imiquimod 5% cream on normal skin exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Background: Imiquimod 5% topical cream is an immune response modifier that induces interferon alpha and interleukin-12, and exhibits antiviral and tumor-inhibiting properties. It is currently available for treatment of genital and perianal warts. Three randomized, open-label or assessor-blinded, placebo-controlled studies were carried out to assess its safety on normal white skin exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR).

Divalent metal inhibition of non-haem iron uptake across the rat duodenal brush border membrane.

Duodenal Fe2+ uptake is essential to body Fe2+ homeostasis, but the interaction of metals with the uptake process remains unclear. The present study compared the effects of four essential trace metals (Mn2+, Zn2+, Co2+ and Ni2+) with two toxic metals (Pb2+ and Cd2+) on Fe2+ uptake across the brush border membrane of villus-attached duodenal enterocytes. Everted rat duodenum was exposed to buffer containing 0.

Frequency distributions of 137Cs in fish and mammal populations.

We collected fish and mammals in several radioactively contaminated locations in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and analyzed them for 137Cs content. Frequency distributions were built for populations of channel catfish, yellow-necked mice and bank voles. We combined our data with similar data from several other studies to demonstrate the relationship between the standard deviations and means of 137Cs of fish and mammal populations.

Neuroimaging of NREM sleep in primary insomnia: a Tc-99-HMPAO single photon emission computed tomography study.

Study Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: 1) demonstrate the feasibility of combining polysomnography and SPECT neuroimaging to study NREM sleep in primary insomnia and 2) evaluate possible functional CNS abnormalities associated with insomnia.

Design: Patients with insomnia and good sleeper controls were studied polysomnographically for three nights with a whole brain SPECT Scan of NREM sleep on Night 3. Groups were screened for medical/psychiatric history, substance use, and matched on age, body mass index, and education.

Sleep apnea: from the nose to the heart.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder consisting of repetitive obstruction of the upper airway during sleep accompanied by ineffective respiratory effort.

Methods: We developed this clinical review using an extensive MEDLINE review of the literature and data from our laboratories. This review examines (1) the prevalence of OSA; (2) the pathophysiology involved including the causes of obstruction, the physiologic stimuli, and resulting autonomic changes; (3) the cardiovascular manifestations; and (4) the therapeutic approaches to patients with OSA with emphasis on arrhythmia management.

The effects of an orally administered cholinergic agonist on REM sleep in major depression.

Background: Centrally active cholinergic agents such as arecoline and physostigmine shorten rapid eye movement (REM) latency, reduce REM interval times, or both and do so preferentially in patients with depression. We tested an orally administered cholinergic agonist (donepezil HCL 10 mg [Aricept]) to determine whether this agent also alters REM timing in depressed patients (n = 8) compared with age- and gender-matched control subjects (n = 8).

Methods: All subjects were studied for 3 consecutive nights in the sleep laboratory.

Ecological half-life of 137Cs in plants associated with a contaminated stream.

Ecological half-life (Te) is a useful measure for studying the long-term decline of contaminants, such as radionuclides, in natural systems. The current investigation determined levels of radiocesium (137Cs) in two aquatic (Polygonum punctatum, Sagittaria latifolia) and three terrestrial (Alnus serrulata, Myrica cerifera, Salix nigra) plant species from a contaminated stream and floodplain on the U.S.

Soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst: a clinicopathologic study of five cases.

We describe five primary soft tissue tumors that had histologic features identical to intraosseous aneurysmal bone cyst. The tumors occurred in three females and two males, who ranged in age from 8 to 37 years (median 28 years). They arose in the deep soft tissue of the upper extremities, thigh, and groin region and typically presented as a rapidly growing mass; no involvement of the adjacent bones was identified.

ANNUAL DIFFERENCES IN FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS AFFECT SPATIAL AND COHORT-SPECIFIC GENOTYPIC HETEROGENEITY IN PAINTED TURTLES.

Long-term ecological data were used to evaluate the relative importance of movements, breeding structure, and reproductive ecological factors to the degree of spatial and age-specific variation in genetic characteristics of painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) on the E. S. George Reserve in southeastern Michigan.

FOOD QUALITY, HETEROZYGOSITY, AND FITNESS CORRELATES IN PEROMYSCUS POLIONOTUS.

Oldfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus) that are more heterozygous utilize food and maintain body weight under varying degrees of dietary stress better than their less heterozygous counterparts. Mice were collected in southern Florida and fed diets of three qualities. During each dietary treatment, body weight, amount of food eaten, amount of food absorbed, and feeding efficiency were determined.

BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS OF MOSQUITOFISH. IV. CHANGES OF ALLELE FREQUENCIES THROUGH TIME AND SPACE.

Gene frequency data from samples of Gambusia affinis populations at 76 localities across the Savannah River drainage were used to investigate temporal and spatial patterns in population genetic structure. Localities in the Par Pond system on the Savannah River Plant were sampled in 1971, 1977, and 1979. Allelic frequencies in these populations were generally stable through time, although significant temporal changes were observed among samples from Pond C, an impoundment receiving thermal effluent.