The pro-survival function of Akt kinase can be overridden or altered to contribute to induction of apoptosis.

The serine/threonine protein kinase B (PKB), which is now called Akt, has well-documented oncogenic potential and pro-survival activities that can counteract apoptosis induced by anti-cancer drugs. The goal of this review is to discuss current evidence that the pro-survival function of Akt can be overridden or converted to a pro-apoptotic function. A brief description of how upstream regulators and downstream effectors of the Akt kinase participate in a network of protection against cell death is presented.

Successful near-term pregnancy outcome after repair of a dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm at 14 weeks gestation.

Purpose: We report the anesthetic management for a scheduled Cesarean section of a 29-yr-old female who previously had a repair of her dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm during the 14th week of her pregnancy.

Clinical Features: A 29-yr-old female with a history of hypertension and previously diagnosed aortic dissection secondary to suspected Marfan's syndrome, presented to our institution for the first time after she became pregnant. A transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a dissecting aortic aneurysm greater than 8 cm in diameter beginning distal to the left subclavian artery and extending into the descending thoracic aorta.

Method-induced misclassification for a respirable dust sampled using ISO/ACGIH/CEN criteria.

The single cut measurement of exposure to respirable dust is the accepted method of exposure classification in occupational hygiene. We previously showed that actual pulmonary tissue dose may be substantially different from the dose expected, or the indicated dose, based on measurements using current single cut methodologies. We now examine exposure misclassification of workers based on any single cut respirable dust measurement using the internationally accepted ISO/ACGIH/CEN single cut respirable dust measurement criteria.

The variability of delivered dose of aerosols with the same respirable concentration but different size distributions.

The influences of aerosol size distribution and breath tidal volume on respirable dose estimates were examined for mouth breathing using the ACGIH/ISO/CEN criterion for respirable-equivalent aerosols. Actual tissue doses predicted from a set of pulmonary empirical deposition equations, the Heyder-Rudolf equations, were compared with deposition assumed to occur under the penetration-based respirable dust sampling criterion. Deposition estimate errors ranged from approximately 1/10- to 10-fold, with aerosol mass median aerodynamic equivalent diameter and geometric standard deviation as well as tidal volume each showing a substantial influence under appropriate conditions.

Synthesis and dopamine transporter binding of 2beta-isopropyl ester analogs of cocaine.

A series of 2beta-isopropyl ester analogs of cocaine (7-11) was synthesised and evaluated in an in vitro dopamine transporter (DAT) binding assays. Ecgonine HCl (5) was obtained from (-)-cocaine (1) by hydrolysis using 1 N HCl. Acid catalysed esterification of 5 using 2-propanol and HCl gas afforded 2beta-isopropyl ecgonine (6).

Vascular disease in younger-onset diabetes: comparison of European, Asian and American Indian cohorts of the WHO Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes.

Aims/hypothesis: This study compared the incidence of vascular disease in subjects with younger-onset diabetes from different ethnic groups.

Methods: The incidence of vascular disease endpoints has been studied in a sub-group (n = 994) of participants of the World Health Organization Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes (WHO MSVDD) who had younger-onset diabetes (diagnosed before the age of 30 years). The study participants have been divided into European (n = 631), Asian (n = 84) and American Indian (n = 91) cohorts.

The incidence of visual impairment and its determinants in the WHO Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes.

Aims/hypothesis: Incidence of severe visual impairment and the ultimate prevalence of all grades of impairment were estimated in the 10 centres of the WHO Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes (WHO MSVDD) participating in the follow-up.

Methods: Visual function was ascertained at follow-up in 2994 (77.9 %) of the 3845 eligible participating survivors of the 4709 originally recruited for the WHO MSVDD using the same baseline enquiry method.

Follow-up of the WHO Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes: general description and morbidity.

Aims: The incidence of retinal, renal and cardiovascular complications and their relation to baseline risk factors was documented in this follow-up study of 10 of the 14 original centres of the WHO Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes (WHO MSVDD).

Methods: The incidence of specified items of vascular disease and some associated risk factors was ascertained after 7 to 9 years (11-12 years in Oklahoma, USA) follow-up, re-using baseline examination methodology in 3165 patients (66.9 %) and, through secondary information in 717 (15.

The role of human papillomavirus in the development of pyogenic granulomas.

Background: Pyogenic granulomas (lobular capillary hemangiomas) and condyloma acuminata share similar locations and risk factors. Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 are commonly associated with condyloma acuminata, but their association with pyogenic granulomas has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pyogenic granulomas contain evidence of infection with condyloma-producing HPVs.

Sequential autoantigenic determinants of the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein Sm D shared by human lupus autoantibodies and MRL lpr/lpr antibodies.

Autoantibodies directed against the Sm proteins of the spliceosome complex are found in approximately 25% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients sera. To determine which regions of the Sm D polypeptide are involved in the lupus autoimmune response, binding to overlapping octapeptides of Sm D has been evaluated with sera from nine Sm D-positive patients, six patients with other autoimmune serology, and five normal human sera. Lupus patient sera which are Sm precipitin-positive bind various combinations of five regions of the peptide.

The streptokinase gene of group A streptococci: cloning, expression in Escherichia coli, and sequence analysis.

The gene specifying the group A streptokinase (ska) gene was cloned from an M type 49 strain of Streptococcus pyogenes and shown to express in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequence of the DNA fragment carrying ska was determined and compared to that of the group C streptokinase gene (skc). There is 90% sequence identity between the two genes, with highly conserved transcription and translation control regions.