Identification and functional characterization of the iron-dependent regulator (IdeR) of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative agent of Johne's disease in cattle and sheep, has unique iron requirements in that it is mycobactin-dependent for cultivation in vitro. The iron-dependent regulator (IdeR) is a well-characterized global regulator responsible for maintaining iron homeostasis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). We identified an orthologous segment in the MAP genome, MAP2827, with >93 % amino acid identity to MTB IdeR.

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction after spinal cord injury.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a key role in the regulation of many physiologic processes, mediated by supraspinal control from centers in the central nervous system. The role of autonomic dysfunction in persons with spinal cord injuries is crucial to understand because many aspects of the altered physiology seen in these individuals are directly caused by ANS dysregulation.

Medical considerations of long-term survival of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease.

Objectives: To report intercurrent nonrespiratory complications of unprecedented survival for Werdnig-Hoffman disease (spinal muscular atrophy type 1 [SMA 1]).

Design: A retrospective chart review and caregiver questionnaire for 103 consecutively referred SMA 1 patients for whom death was prevented during infancy.

Results: Overall, 15 of 63 (23.