Using phage display to select antibodies recognizing post-translational modifications independently of sequence context.

Many cellular activities are controlled by post-translational modifications, the study of which is hampered by the lack of specific reagents due in large part to their ubiquitous and non-immunogenic nature. Although antibodies against specifically modified sequences are relatively easy to obtain, it is extremely difficult to derive reagents recognizing post-translational modifications independently of the sequence context surrounding the modification. In this study, we examined the possibility of selecting such antibodies from large phage antibody libraries using sulfotyrosine as a test case.

Nulliparas' preferences for epidural analgesia: their effects on actual use in labor.

Background: Few studies have directly examined the reasons for choices of pain relief during labor. The purpose of this study was to investigate if women's preferences for epidural analgesia in labor have an impact on the use of intrapartum epidural analgesia.

Methods: Nulliparous women attending childbirth classes completed questionnaires about their antenatal preferences for the use of intrapartum epidural analgesia.

Residential detoxification for substance abusers with HIV/AIDS. Walden House Detoxification Program.

Substance abusers with HIV/AIDS have a complex array of problems that are not easily addressed in outpatient or long-term residential programs. A new but promising treatment modality is residential detoxification for substance abusers with HIV/AIDS, such as described by this paper. The purpose of the program is profiled, as well as its general components and the aspects that address the special needs of HIV clients.

Carisoprodol-induced myoclonic encephalopathy.

Case Report: A 39-year-old man ingested 35 g carisoprodol. He developed agitation, tachycardia, myoclonus, and coma. The blood carisoprodol was 71 micrograms/mL; the meprobamate was 26 micrograms/mL.

Endoscopic management of esophageal variceal hemorrhage: injection, banding, glue, octreotide, or a combination?

Bleeding from esophageal varices presents a considerable challenge to clinicians. Adequate fluid resuscitation must be undertaken before urgent endoscopy. Pharmacotherapy of acute variceal hemorrhage consists of either vasopressin plus nitroglycerin or intravenous octreotide.

The technology of dialyzer reuse.

Dialyzer reuse has become an integral part of chronic hemodialysis in the United States of America because it has large economic benefits which allow the use of expensive, biocompatible membranes, and the delivery of adequate dialysis therapy in the face of continued inflation of costs and fixed reimbursement. The conflict between patient safety and provider economic benefit has been resolved by the development of recommended practice guidelines by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. When followed carefully, disinfection of dialyzers for multiple reuse by the same patient is relatively safe and effective in eliminating infection, pyrogen reactions, and other potential complications associated with germicide use.

Mood management mail intervention increases abstinence rates for Spanish-speaking Latino smokers.

A self-administered mood management intervention program for smoking cessation provided through the mail to Spanish-speaking Latinos resulted in a 23% abstinence rate at 3 months compared to an 11% abstinence rate for a smoking cessation guide alone. Participants (N = 136) were randomly assigned to receive either the cessation guide (the Guía), or the Guía plus a mood management intervention (Tomando Control de su Vida) presented in writing and in audiotape format. At 3 months after random assignment, 16 out of 71 of those assigned to the Guía-plus-mood management condition reported being abstinent (not smoking for at least 7 days) compared to 7 out of 65 in the Guía-only condition (z = 1.

The hemodialysis patient: object of diagnosis or part of the treatment team?

Through multidisciplinary diagnosis, the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treatment team defines the patients's problems and sets goals to reach positive outcomes. Each of the team members has a voice in recommending strategies to reach these goals, because each has been trained in appropriate treatment objectives. Patient noncompliance (nonadherence) with team recommendations can be a major, ongoing problem for the team.

Use of the medical differential diagnosis to achieve optimal end-stage renal disease outcomes.

Compared with the general population, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients continue to have a higher than expected morbidity and mortality. Hypoalbuminemia, anemia, hypertension, and inadequate dialysis are all thought to contribute to the high morbidity and mortality among ESRD patients. Anemia algorithms should help to standardize the approach to anemia and the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), but clinicians still must review each patient individually, searching for and treating the multitude of interrelated factors that affect rHuEPO responsiveness.

The evolution of modern plate osteosynthesis.

Plate osteosynthesis is still recognized as the treatment of choice for most articular fractures, many metaphyseal fractures, and certain diaphyseal fractures such as in the forearm. Since the 1960s, both the techniques and implants used for internal fixation with plates have evolved to provide for improved healing. Most recently, plating methods have focused on the principles of 'biological fixation'.

Individual differences in nicotine kinetics and metabolism in humans.

Individual differences in susceptibility to nicotine addiction, the likelihood of successful smoking cessation, and the development of adverse health effects of smoking are well recognized. The basis for these individual differences is as yet unknown. This chapter examines individual differences in the metabolism and kinetics of nicotine as a possible factor.

Treatment of severe diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum with oral bovine immunoglobulin concentrate in patients with AIDS.

We prospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of colostrum-derived bovine immunoglobulin concentrate in the treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium parvum in patients with AIDS. A total of 24 patients with severe chronic diarrhea and AIDS were stratified to one of three cohorts: (1) C. parvum infection alone (n = 16), (2) C.

Ethanol causes translocation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit to the nucleus.

Short- and long-term ethanol exposures have been shown to alter cellular levels of cAMP, but little is known about the effects of ethanol on cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). When cAMP levels increase, the catalytic subunit of PKA (C alpha) is released from the regulatory subunit, phosphorylates nearby proteins, and then translocates to the nucleus, where it regulates gene expression. Altered localization of C alpha would have profound effects on multiple cellular functions.

Endothelin antagonism in experimental hepatic fibrosis. Implications for endothelin in the pathogenesis of wound healing.

The liver's response to chronic injury is fibrosis, which is analogous to wound healing in other organs. Hepatic wounding is characterized by the "activation" of resident stellate cells (lipocytes, Ito cells) to myofibroblast-like cells that produce increased amounts of smooth muscle alpha-actin and extracellular matrix. Stellate cells possess abundant endothelin (ET) receptors (ETA/B) and, therefore, are subject to the effects of ET-1 and 3.

AIDS lymphoma.

Most AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can be categorized into one of three histologic subtypes: large-cell immunoblastic, small non-cleaved cell (Burkitt's or Burkitt's-like) and diffuse large cell. Rare histologies include Ki-1 anaplastic large cell lymphoma, angiotropic large cell lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, primary pulmonary T-cell lymphoma, and Sézary syndrome. Although the role of Epstein-Barr virus remains uncertain, a new herpes virus, human herpes virus 8, has been identified in the rare subset of effusion-based lymphomas.

Use of low molecular weight heparin in preventing thromboembolism in trauma patients.

Objective: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in preventing deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in high-risk trauma patients, compared with mechanical methods of prophylaxis.

Design: A prospective randomized trial conducted over a 19-month period in an urban, academic trauma center.

Methods: All trauma patients with the following risk factors for the development of DVT were considered for enrollment in this study: any injury with an Abbreviated Injury Scale score > or = 3; major head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score < or = 8); spine, pelvic, or lower extremity fractures; acute venous injury; or age > 50 years.

Identification of functional and structural amino-acid residues by parsimonious mutagenesis.

For in vitro evolution of protein function, we previously proposed using parsimonious mutagenesis (PM), a technique where mutagenic oligodeoxynucleotides (oligo) are designed to minimize coding sequence redundancy and limit the number of amino acid (aa) residues which do not retain parental structural features. For this work, PM was used to increase the affinity of C6.5, a human single-chain Fv (scFv) that binds the glycoprotein tumor antigen, c-erbB-2.

Atovaquone inhibits the glucuronidation and increases the plasma concentrations of zidovudine.

The pharmacokinetic interaction between atovaquone, a 1,4-hydroxynaphthoquinone, and zidovudine was examined in an open, randomized, three-phase crossover study in 14 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Atovaquone (750 mg every 12 hours) and zidovudine (200 mg every 8 hours) were given orally alone and in combination. Atovaquone significantly increased the area under the zidovudine concentration-time curve (AUC) (1.

Role of the morphogenetic furrow in establishing polarity in the Drosophila eye.

The Drosophila retina is a crystalline array of 800 ommatidia whose organization and assembly suggest polarization of the retinal epithelium along anteroposterior and dorsoventral axes. The retina develops by a stepwise process following the posterior-to-anterior progression of the morphogenetic furrow across the eye disc. Ectopic expression of hedgehog or local removal of patched function generates ectopic furrows that can progress in any direction across the disc leaving in their wake differentiating fields of ectopic ommatidia.

Risks, costs, and the expected complication of re-injury.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of young victims of violence and the risk of rehospitalization due to intentional injury (recidivism) and to estimate the potential cost of these injuries.

Materials And Methods: Trauma admissions from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 1993, at San Francisco General Hospital of youths < 25 years old who were victims of gunshot wounds (GSWs), assault, and stab wounds were screened. Five hundred and fifty-two charts were reviewed after sampling every other chart.

Cellular uptake of albumin from lungs of anesthetized rabbits.

Resolution of alveolar edema depends on clearance of serum protein, as well as liquid from the alveolar space. Protein clearance is slower than liquid clearance and may take days to weeks. Our earlier studies presented evidence for the importance of paracellular removal of soluble protein from the air spaces.