Alcohol-avoiding (ANA), alcohol-preferring (AA), and control Wistar rats were tested sequentially for their initial preferences for single concentration solutions of quinine, saccharin, salt, and citric acid, and then for an ascending series of saccharin concentrations. A similar study was subsequently conducted with the alcohol-nonpreferring (NP) and alcohol-preferring (P) rat lines. Both lines developed for low alcohol consumption drank much less saccharin than their respective lines developed for high alcohol intake when tested with the single concentration and with the ascending series. The ANAs also generally drank less of the bitter, salty, and sour solutions than the AAs or Wistars but little difference was found between the NPs and Ps with the other tastes. The curve relating saccharin consumption to concentration reached a maximum at about the same concentrations for AAs, Wistars, NPs, and Ps but for the ANAs, was shifted to the left. The results support a close relationship between the genetic factors influencing alcohol and saccharin intake in both line pairs. This relationship is probably not caused by saccharin tasting like alcohol to a rat, because other results indicate that the NPs do not have more negative reactions initially to the taste of alcohol, but it might be related to similar mechanisms mediating the reinforcement from sweet tastes and from systemic alcohol.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of a gene family from Drosophila melanogaster encoding proteins with homology to invertebrate sarcoplasmic calcium-binding proteins (SCPS).

Using antibodies raised against the Drosophila Ca(2+)-binding protein DCABP-23, we have isolated two distinct cDNA clones that encode Ca(2+)-binding proteins of the invertebrate sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein (SCP) family. Southern blot analysis of whole genomic DNA has shown that one of the clones, Dcabp-A.1, is present in more than one copy in the genome of the fly, and is located in the beta-heterochromatic region at cytological division 80 on chromosome III. The expression pattern of this transcript shows that it is present in the tubular but not the fibrillar muscles of the adult thorax. This expression pattern is consistent with this being a true SCP. In contrast, the expression pattern of the transcript corresponding to the second cDNA clone is exclusive to neural tissue. This transcript derives from a single copy gene, and is located at cytological position 89 D on chromosome III. Comparative analysis of the amino acid sequences from the proteins encoded by the two cDNAs with that of the original DCABP-23 protein indicates that the purified DCABP-23 contained mainly the DCABP-A.1 protein. The identification of members of the SCP family of proteins in Drosophila, will allow for a future genetic investigation of the function of these ubiquitous proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Application of international standards to disasters: summary and action plan.

INTRODUCTION: The need for the application of international standards has been evolving over the last decade. Consistency is needed not just in how we respond, but in when we respond. The discussions in this theme reflected on the progress of standard setting both at the local level and internationally. METHODS: Details of the methods used are provided in the introductory paper. The chairs moderated all presentations and produced a summary that was presented to an assembly of all of the delegates. The chairs then presided over a workshop that resulted in the generation of a set of action plans that then were reported to the collective group of all delegates. RESULTS: Main points developed during the presentations and discussion included: (1) requirement of standards of care for ALL disasters and core parameters, (2) process and procedure is best when there is interagency collaboration and coordination, (3) problems in disasters are management-related, not skill-related, and (4) standards of care must encompass evolving emergencies (e.g., emerging diseases, landmines). DISCUSSION: The action plans for Theme 5 included: (1) develop positions of standards for management, health and public health, education and training, research, psychosocial aspects, and disaster plans; (2) advocate for actions and task forces to deal with evolving and emerging disasters, terrorism, landmines, and emerging infections; (3) proactively work to advocate and facilitate the multidisciplinary and multiorganizational requirements for disaster management; and (4) develop a resource list of interdisciplinary institutions and activities organized by country and topic including the design and maintenance of a website. CONCLUSIONS: There is a clear need for international standards for the management of disasters. Positions and advocacy for these positions are required to define and implement such standards.

Disaster Planning↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Self-assembled peptides exposing epitopes recognizable by human lymphoma cells.

A bifunctional N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer containing nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and benzophenone (BP) groups was synthesized by free-radical copolymerization of HPMA, 2-methacrylamidobutyl nitrilotriacetic acid (MABNTA), and 4-methacrylamido benzophenone (MABP) using 2, 2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. A His-tagged coiled coil stem loop peptide containing a tridecapeptide (TDP) epitope (GFLGEDPGFFNVE) in the loop region (CCSL-TDP) was designed and synthesized genetically by expressing an artificial gene in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The peptide was characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Surfaces containing self-assembled CCSL-TDP peptide were prepared by first covalently grafting poly(HPMA-co-MABNTA-co-MABP) onto polystyrene (PS) surface by UV irradiation, then charging the surface with nickel through NTA groups, and finally attaching the CCSL-TDP peptide through Ni-histidine chelation. The modified PS surfaces with and without self-assembled CCSL-TDP peptide were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). Cell attachment studies with human Burkitt's lymphoma Raji B cells showed that the cells selectively bound to the self-assembled CCSL-TDP peptide surfaces, but not to the surfaces of PS, PS with grafted copolymer, and PS with grafted copolymer and self-assembled coiled coil peptide with similar structure but without the epitope. This indicates that the cell attachment was mediated by the CCSL-TDP peptide, most probably by the TDP epitope region. The CCSL peptide self-assembly presented here may represent a feasible model of exposing epitopes for biorecognition studies.

Acrylamides↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Copper-62-pyruvaldehyde bis(N-methyl-thiosemicarbazone) PET imaging in the detection of coronary artery disease in humans.

BACKGROUND: Copper-62 (II)-pyruvaldehyde bis(N(4)-methyl-thiosemicarbazone) (PTSM) has been proposed for cardiac imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). This study evaluated the agreement between Cu-62-PTSM and coronary angiography in the detection of occlusive coronary artery disease. The normalcy rate for Cu-62-PTSM PET in a group of healthy volunteers was also assessed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-five subjects completed the study. Twenty-eight patients underwent stress technetium-99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and cardiac catheterization followed by Cu-62-PTSM rest/dipyridamole stress PET scans, and 17 volunteers underwent Cu-62-PTSM rest/dipyridamole stress PET scans. Cu-62-PTSM myocardial perfusion defects were identified in 100% of patients with 3-vessel disease (n = 8), 100% of patients with 2-vessel disease (n = 9), and 67% of patients with single-vessel disease (n = 6). When considering individual vessels, Cu-62-PTSM perfusion defects were seen in 72% of patients with occlusive disease in the left anterior descending artery territory, 67% in the left circumflex artery territory, and 60% in the right coronary artery territory, respectively. All 17 healthy volunteers had Cu-62-PTSM scans interpreted as normal, for a normalcy rate of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Perfusion abnormalities are demonstrated by means of Cu-62-PTSM PET in 91% of patients with occlusive coronary artery disease seen at the time of cardiac catheterization, and it shows an excellent normalcy rate of 100%.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Distributed situation awareness in dynamic systems: theoretical development and application of an ergonomics methodology.

The purpose of this paper is to propose foundations for a theory of situation awareness based on the analysis of interactions between agents (i.e. both human and non-human) in subsystems. This approach may help to promote a better understanding of technology-mediated interaction in systems, as well as helping in the formulation of hypotheses and predictions concerning distributed situation awareness. It is proposed that agents within a system each hold their own situation awareness, which may be very different from (although compatible with) that of other agents. It is argued that we should not always hope for, or indeed want, sharing of this awareness, as different system agents have different purposes. This view marks situation awareness as a dynamic and collaborative process binding agents together on tasks on a moment-by-moment basis. Implications of this viewpoint for the development of a new theory of, and accompanying methodology for, distributed situation awareness are offered.

Awareness↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of avrPphE, a gene for cultivar-specific avirulence from Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola which is physically linked to hrpY, a new hrp gene identified in the halo-blight bacterium.

The avirulence gene matching the R2 gene for resistance to halo-blight disease in Phaseolus was cloned and sequenced from race 4 strain 1302A of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola. The predicted 41-kDa AvrPphE protein is hydrophilic, has no features that indicate function, and no similarity to other protein sequences. The promoter region of avrPphE contains a "harp box" motif. The gene was expressed more strongly in minimal than in nutrient-rich media. Lower concentrations of the phytoalexin phaseollin accumulated in tissue undergoing the hypersensitive reaction (HR) determined by avrPphE than by avrPphB. Homologs of avrPphE were detected in strains representing eight races of P. s. pv. phaseolicola including those virulent on cultivars with the R2 resistance gene, and in P. s. pv. tabaci but not in P. cichorii or P. s. pvs. coronafaciens, glycinea, maculicola, pisi, or syringae. Disruption of avrPphE prevented induction of the HR but did not appear to affect basic pathogenicity. Transposon mutagenesis and DNA sequencing showed that avrPphE was linked to hrpY a hrp locus identified at the left end of the hrp gene cluster. Sequence analysis showed that the region linked to avrPphE was very similar to DNA containing hrp genes from P. s. pv. syringae including hrpJ, hrpL, and hrpK.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cryosurgery for unusual cutaneous neoplasms.

Cryosurgery is used effectively to treat several unusual cutaneous tumors, namely, four cases of lentigo maligna (melanotic freckle of Hutchinson, or circumscribed precancerous melanosis of Dubreuilh), one case of pseudopyogenic granuloma of Wilson Jones, and one case of granuloma faciale.

Cheek↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Apolipoprotein E genotype, vascular risk and early cognitive impairment in an African Caribbean population.

A reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) associated with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele is reported in populations of African origin. In order to clarify possible reasons for this, we examined the association between APOE genotype and early cognitive impairment in a community-based African Caribbean UK population aged 55-75 years. APOE genotype was available for 202 participants, 57 (28%) of whom were classified as having relative cognitive impairment on a battery of neuropsychological tests. Cognitive impairment was negatively associated with epsilon2 and positively but more weakly associated with epsilon4. Effects of both alleles increased markedly after age 70. The effect of epsilon4 was increased in combination with hypertension, diabetes or lower educational attainment, but these factors did not influence epsilon2 effects. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels partially explained effects of epsilon2, but did not account for those of epsilon4. A reduced association between epsilon4 and later AD in populations of African origin is unlikely to be explained by reduced cognitive effects or by differential mortality. However, it may be accounted for by vascular comorbidity. The different patterns of association between epsilon2 and epsilon4 alleles suggest different pathways of effect.

Black or African American↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. A novel approach to repair.

Isolated partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage with an intact atrial septum is a rare finding. The authors describe their experience with three patients (ages 9, 37, and 54 years), with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the superior vena cava, right atrium, and inferior vena cava, who underwent extracardiac conduit repair of this anomaly. In all three patients, a synthetic Gortex graft was used for reconstruction of the venous pathways to the left atrium. The follow-up period ranged from 10 to 82 months (mean, 42 months). All three patients were evaluated with intravenous digital angiography, transesophageal echocardiography, or both at 10, 33, and 82 months postoperatively. Patency of the grafts with no evidence of obstruction and excellent pulmonary venous flow was shown. This surgical technique is an excellent option for correction of this anomaly, and intravenous digital subtraction angiography is a useful diagnostic tool during the postoperative period to evaluate patency of the repair.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pressure garment adherence in adult patients with burn injuries: an analysis of patient and clinician perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: This study provides a descriptive analysis of the factors affecting pressure garment adherence from the perspective of adult patients with burn injuries and occupational therapy clinicians. METHOD: Questionnaires were administered to 23 adult patients with burn injuries and 10 occupational therapy clinicians selected from six provincial hospitals in a large metropolitan area in South Africa. Adherence behavior was evaluated from the perspective of both sample groups in terms of four variables: garment type, garment comfort, garment cosmesis, and garment instructions. RESULTS: Adherence behavior was negatively influenced by differences in both patient and clinician perceptions across several variables, including the types and consequences of skin problems arising from pressure garment use, levels of satisfaction with garment construction and color, and the issuing and understanding of garment instructions. Other factors compromising adherence behavior included the negative effects of visible burn disfigurement, the issuing of pressure garments after hypertrophic scarring had developed, a lack of patient choice in the selection of scar management techniques, and a lack of social support in the wearing of pressure garments. CONCLUSION: Much of what is traditionally understood as "patient nonadherence" appeared to be largely because of rational choices made by patients in the face of several difficulties they experienced with the current form and nature of their pressure garment therapy. On the basis of these findings, a range of patient-centered interventions are indicated to enhance treatment efficacy and consumer satisfaction with this treatment regimen, including horizontal rather than vertical therapist-patient communication, closer interaction among members of the health care team, the facilitation of family and social support, and interactive health education interventions.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An inspectorate for all nursing homes is long overdue.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Accreditation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mucinous (adenocystic) sweat gland carcinoma of the great toe.

The authors describe a rare case of mucinous (adenocystic) eccrine carcinoma isolated in the hallux and present a review of the literature. The potential for metastases involving this skin tumor is low with local excision and 1-year follow-up the treatment of choice.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence and distribution of transplant coronary artery disease: insights from intravascular ultrasound imaging.

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Adult↗