Actin's prokaryotic homologs.

Actin is one of the most abundant and conserved eukaryotic proteins. Remarkably, two prokaryotic homologs of actin, MreB and ParM, have only recently been identified. MreB and ParM polymerize into filaments and play important roles in the control of bacterial cell shape and plasmid segregation, respectively.

The use of absorbable co-polymer pads with alginate and cells for articular cartilage repair in rabbits.

Purpose: To determine the effect of polyglycolic acid (PGA)-polylactic acid (PLA) co-polymer pads with calcium alginate on chondrogenic gene expression for chondrocytes cultured in vitro. We also evaluated the ability of these absorbable pads with alginate to deliver chondrocytes and influence osteochondral defect repair in vivo in immature rabbit knees.

Methods: Rabbit rib chondrocytes were suspended in calcium alginate and co-polymer pads composed of either 47.

Covalent histone modifications underlie the developmental regulation of insulin gene transcription in pancreatic beta cells.

Histone modifying enzymes contribute to the activation or inactivation of transcription by ultimately catalyzing the unfolding or further compaction, respectively, of chromatin structure. Actively transcribed genes are typically hyperacetylated at Lys residues of histones H3 and H4 and hypermethylated at Lys-4 of histone H3 (H3-K4). To determine whether covalent histone modifications play a role in the beta cell-specific expression of the insulin gene, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation assays using anti-histone antibodies and extracts from beta cell lines, non-beta cell lines, and ES cells, and quantitated specific histone modifications at the insulin promoter by real-time PCR.

Increased neurosteroid sensitivity of hippocampal GABAA receptors during postnatal development.

To investigate developmental changes in neurosteroid modulation of GABA(A) receptors, whole-cell currents were elicited by applying GABA with allopregnanolone or pregnenolone sulfate (PS) to dentate granule cells (DGCs), acutely isolated from 7-14-day-old and adult rats. GABA evoked larger currents from dentate granule cells acutely isolated from adult rats (adult DGCs) than from neonatal DGCs, due to increased efficacy (1662+/-267 pA in adult DGCs versus 1094+/-198 pA in neonatal DGCs, P=0.004), and current density (0.

The impact of prostate volume following neoadjuvant androgen deprivation on quality of life and voiding symptoms in patients undergoing permanent prostate brachytherapy.

Objective: Patients with large prostate volumes undergoing interstitial brachytherapy (BT) are currently believed to have worse urinary symptoms and quality of life (QOL) following the implant. We sought to determine if data from patients treated with neoadjuvant androgen ablation followed by BT at our institution supported this notion using a cross-sectional study design.

Methods: From 14 March 1997 to 25 August 2000, 248 patients underwent neoadjuvant androgen ablation followed by BT monotherapy (BTM) or BT combined with external beam (BTC) for treatment of localized prostate cancer.

Mesenchymal stem cells from rat visceral fat exhibit multipotential differentiation in vitro.

Human subcutaneous fat-derived stem cells were recently shown to have the potential to differentiate in vitro into a variety of cell types, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and myoblasts (Zuk et al., Tissue Eng. 2001;7:211-228).

Coordinate regulation of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium invasion of epithelial cells by the Arp2/3 complex and Rho GTPases.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium can infect epithelial cells via the basolateral surface after breaching the intestinal epithelium, yet little is known about this process. Here, we show that actin polymerization driven by the Arp2/3 complex is critical to both basolateral and apical bacterial invasion of polarized MDCK cells. While there is also a dependence upon toxin B-sensitive Rho GTPases, none of the four GTPases known to be activated by S.

Motivations and influences on the use of complementary medicine in patients with localized prostate cancer treated with curative intent: results of a pilot study.

Objectives: To analyse descriptively the use of complementary medicine (CM) by patients with localized prostate cancer treated with curative intent, assessing the major influences on their choice to use CM, and the major critics and advocates of CM.

Patients And Methods: From January 1997 to June 2000, 351 men with stage T1c-T3 adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated with either radical prostatectomy (RP) or brachytherapy. On the final date all patients were mailed a questionnaire relating to their use of CM and the results analysed cross-sectionally.

Effect of Health Care Financing Administration regulation on radiology fellowship training.

Rationale And Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) regulations on radiology fellowship training.

Materials And Methods: Surveys were sent to 157 fellowship program directors in body imaging and vascular/ interventional radiology. Questions addressed program accreditation status, faculty supervision of fellows, and any change in faculty supervision of fellows in response to HCFA's revised plan for Medicare Part B reimbursement.

Extravasation of hyperalimentation into the liver parenchyma from a peripherally inserted central catheter.

A neonate receiving hyperalimentation through a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) had acute abdominal distension and respiratory distress. She was found to have extravasated a 9-cm x 9-cm pocket of hyperalimentation into the liver parenchyma, most likely caused by arterial placement of the PICC. She had severe anasarca and markedly decreased synthetic liver function.

Identification of Entamoeba histolytica thiol-specific antioxidant as a GalNAc lectin-associated protein.

Entamoeba histolytica is a human intestinal parasite that causes amebic dysentery. A cell surface amebic adhesin, the galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine inhibitable (GalNAc) lectin mediates amebic adherence to and contact-dependent killing of host cells. Previous work has suggested that the GalNAc lectin transduces signals via protein interactions with its short cytoplasmic domain.

Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting of left subclavian artery stenosis in patients with left internal mammary-coronary bypass grafts: clinical experience and long-term follow-up.

The authors report their experience with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting of the left subclavian artery (LSA) in patients with recurrent angina and a left internal mammary (LIMA)-coronary bypass graft or in patients who will be undergoing LIMA-coronary artery bypass grafting. From November 1990 to February 2001, 21 patients (11 men and 10 women) with significant left subclavian artery stenosis were treated; 18 patients had a prior LIMA bypass graft, and 3 patients were treated before coronary artery bypass surgery. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 12 patients and clinical follow-up was obtained in all patients.

Intracellular chloride accumulation and subcellular elemental distribution during atrial fibrillation.

Background: Ion channel remodeling occurs during atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the extent of alteration in the subcellular distribution of elements (Na, K, Cl, Ca, Mg, P) is unknown. Electron probe microanalysis was used to determine the total (free+bound) in vivo subcellular concentration of these elements during AF.

Methods And Results: The left atrial appendage (LAA) was snap-frozen in situ after pacing (640 bpm) for 3 minutes (n=5 dogs), 30 minutes (n=3), or 48 hours (n=5).

Enhanced smooth muscle cell coverage of microvessels exposed to increased hemodynamic stresses in vivo.

During vascular remodeling in adult organisms, new capillary growth is often coupled with the adaptation of arterioles and venules, a process that requires the recruitment and differentiation of precursor cells into smooth muscle. We studied the in vivo adaptation of microvessels in the presence of elevated pressure and circumferential wall stress using a ligation strategy for mesenteric microvascular networks. Acute pressure increases of 42.

The d-dimer test for deep venous thrombosis: gold standards and bias in negative predictive value.

Background: Because venous ultrasound (US) fails to fully image the calf veins, there is the potential for US gold standard studies to classify patients with calf deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the nondiseased category, causing bias in test index calculations. A false increase in negative predictive value (NPV) is especially likely because calf DVT false-negative tests will be counted in the numerator along with the true-negative tests in NPV calculations. We verified the presence and magnitude of this bias for the d-dimer test.

B cell complement receptor 2 transfer reaction.

The B cell C receptor specific for C3dg (CR2) shares a number of features with the primate E C receptor (CR1). Previously, we have demonstrated, both in vitro and in animal models, that immune complexes (IC) bound to primate E CR1, either via C opsonization or by means of bispecific mAb complexes, can be transferred to acceptor macrophages in a process that also removes CR1 from the E. We have now extended this paradigm, the transfer reaction, to include B cell CR2.

Oolemmal proteomics--identification of highly abundant heat shock proteins and molecular chaperones in the mature mouse egg and their localization on the plasma membrane.

Background: The mature mouse egg contains the full complement of maternal proteins required for fertilization, the transition to zygotic transcription, and the beginning stages of embryogenesis. Many of these proteins remain to be characterized, therefore in this study we have identified highly abundant egg proteins using a proteomic approach and found that several of these proteins also appear to localize to the egg surface. Characterization of such molecules will provide important insight into the cellular events of fertilization and early development.

Process involved in reading imaging studies: workflow analysis and implications for workstation development.

Software development for imaging workstations has lagged behind hardware availability. To guide development and to analyze work flow involved in interpretation of cross-sectional imaging studies, we assessed the cognitive and physical processes. We observed the performance and interpretation of body computed tomography (CT scans and recorded the events that occurred during this process.

Nutrition support for the mechanically ventilated patient.

Nutrition support is a hotly debated topic in most intensive care units. Is enteral nutrition or TPN best? Is gastric or small-bowel feeding safer? Are specialized formulas needed? These are only some of the issues, and the fact remains that there is a paucity of clear, solid data. Folklore has become the standard of practice in many areas of medicine; it is richly found in nutrition support.

Central role of connexin40 in the propagation of electrically activated vasodilation in mouse cremasteric arterioles in vivo.

When a short segment of arteriole is stimulated, vasomotor responses spread bidirectionally along the vessel axis purportedly via gap junctions. We used connexin40 knockout (Cx40-/-) mice to study vasomotor responses induced by 10-second trains of electrical stimulation (30 Hz, 1 ms, 30 to 50 V) in 2nd or 3rd order arterioles of the cremaster muscle. Measurements were made at the stimulation site (local) and at conducted sites (500, 1000, and 2000 microm upstream).

LFA-1 is required for retention of effector CD8 T cells in mouse lungs.

The adhesion molecules involved in the migration and retention of activated effector CD8 T cells in the lung microcirculation and their recruitment into lung tissue are largely unknown. Here, we have analyzed the role of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) on adhesion of influenza hemagglutinin (HA)-specific CD8 T-cell clone D4 under shear conditions in an in vitro binding assay and in an in vivo homing assay to the lungs of naive or transgenic Balb/c mice expressing HA (HA-Tg) by a lung-specific promoter. Blocking LFA-1 or intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) significantly inhibited adhesion of D4 cells to lung vascular endothelium and parenchyma of lung sections.

Impact of a novel neoadjuvant and adjuvant hormone-deprivation approach on quality of life, voiding function, and sexual function after prostate brachytherapy.

Background: Data demonstrate a benefit from neoadjuvant and adjuvant hormone-deprivation therapy with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists in patients who are treated with radiotherapy for localized prostate carcinoma; however, this approach has detrimental effects on quality of life (QOL). A cross-sectional study was undertaken to evaluate the impact on QOL, voiding function, and sexual function of an alternative hormone-deprivation approach.

Methods: Three hundred fifty patients with clinical T1c-T2b prostate carcinoma were treated from March 1997 to August 2000 either with palladium 103 brachytherapy (BTM) without hormone therapy or with 8 months of adjuvant and neoadjuvant hormone-deprivation therapy with an antiandrogen and finasteride (BTM+H), were mailed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) global well being QOL instrument (FACT-G), the American Urological Association symptom score (AUASS), and specific items addressing urinary control and sexual function from validated instruments.

Why patients choose prostatectomy or brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer: results of a descriptive survey.

Objectives: Limited data exist as to the reasons patients have for deciding among potentially curative treatment choices in clinically localized prostate cancer. Therefore, we carried out a descriptive pilot study to determine such motivations, sources of information, and other variables that influence how such patients choose between radical prostatectomy (RP) and brachytherapy (BT).

Methods: Three hundred fifty-one men with clinically localized Stage T1c-T3 adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated by RP or palladium-103 BT, either alone (BTM) or in combination with external radiotherapy (BTC).

Accelerated migration of respiratory dendritic cells to the regional lymph nodes is limited to the early phase of pulmonary infection.

Respiratory dendritic cells (RDC) are believed to play a central role in the induction of adaptive immune responses to pulmonary infection. Herein we examine the basal migration of RDC from the lungs to secondary lymphoid tissues and their enhanced maturation/migration after pulmonary infection/inflammation. We demonstrate that the accelerated migration of RDC to the draining peribronchial lymph nodes occurs only during the first 24 hr after pulmonary virus infection.

Identification of novel ERK2 substrates through use of an engineered kinase and ATP analogs.

The mitogen-activated protein kinases are key regulators of cellular organization and function. To understand the mechanisms(s) by which these ubiquitous kinases affect specific cellular changes, it is necessary to identify their diverse and numerous substrates in different cell contexts and compartments. As a first step in achieving this goal, we engineered a mutant ERK2 in which a bulky amino acid residue in the ATP binding site (glutamine 103) is changed to glycine, allowing this mutant to utilize an analog of ATP (cyclopentyl ATP) that cannot be used by wild-type ERK2 or other cellular kinases.