Lauren Rosenberg | Search PubMed

PubMed2005

Combinatorial microRNA target predictions.

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that recognize and bind to partially complementary sites in the 3' untranslated regions of target genes in animals and, by unknown mechanisms, regulate protein production of the target transcript. Different combinations of microRNAs are expressed in different cell types and may coordinately regulate cell-specific target genes. Here, we present PicTar, a computational method for identifying common targets of microRNAs. Statistical tests using genome-wide alignments of eight vertebrate genomes, PicTar's ability to specifically recover published microRNA targets, and experimental validation of seven predicted targets suggest that PicTar has an excellent success rate in predicting targets for single microRNAs and for combinations of microRNAs. We find that vertebrate microRNAs target, on average, roughly 200 transcripts each. Furthermore, our results suggest widespread coordinate control executed by microRNAs. In particular, we experimentally validate common regulation of Mtpn by miR-375, miR-124 and let-7b and thus provide evidence for coordinate microRNA control in mammals.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

Characterizing occupational therapy practice in stroke rehabilitation.

UNLABELLED: Richards LG, Latham NK, Jette DU, Rosenberg L, Smout RJ, DeJong G. Characterizing occupational therapy practice in stroke rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: To describe how occupational therapy (OT) activities during stroke inpatient rehabilitation vary by admission functional status and over time and how time spent in these various activities relates to functional status at discharge. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Six inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: People (N=713) receiving 4 to 19 hours of post-stroke OT. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were categorized by number of 4-hour blocks of OT received and by admission upper-extremity (UE) dressing score on the FIM instrument. In each group, the percentage of time spent in 16 activities and the percentage of patients who received each activity were calculated. The amount of time in activities was compared for those patients scoring 1 or 2 at admission who achieved at least a level of supervision for UE dressing (a score of >or=5) using Wilcoxon 2-sample tests. RESULTS: The majority of OT time was spent in impairment-focused activities (37.5%) or training basic activities of daily living (31.9%). Treatment progressed to more advanced activities over time (eg, less bed mobility, more home management), yet little time was spent on community integration or leisure activities and with very few patients. Successful patients received more higher-level activities, whereas unsuccessful patients received larger amounts of basic-level activities. CONCLUSIONS: OT activities focused on a combination of remediating impairments and retraining specific functional tasks, at the ability level of each individual patient, and provided higher-level activities as patients improved their function. More time in higher-level activities was related to greater success in rehabilitation. However, higher-level activities remain the least common activities provided during inpatient rehabilitation.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Verbal and spatial functions across the menstrual cycle in healthy young women.

The effects of the menstrual cycle on cognitive functions were investigated using simple verbal and spatial tasks. Eight healthy young women with a regular, established 28-day menstrual cycle and the occurrence of ovulation on day 14 were tested four times during one cycle. Ten women on non-tricyclic birth control pills were also tested weekly during one cycle. Both groups were matched in age, handedness and education. No significant difference in spatial ability was found but improved verbal working memory, as measured by the verbal span score, was associated with periods of high estrogen levels.

Adult↗