Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “PDS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

General surgery program directors' perceptions of the match.

To identify expectations of general surgery program directors (PDs) for recruitment behavior, and to document the experiences, perceptions, and ethical dilemmas they experienced with the 1998 National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).Two hundred sixty-five general surgery PDs were asked to complete a 30-item written questionnaire. Questions inquired about PD perceptions of students' interviewing practices, how communication with applicants is conducted and interpreted, and overall perceptions of the match.A total of 77.7% of PDs responded. A total of 44% of PDs found nothing wrong with students interviewing in multiple specialties and conceded legitimate reasons for doing so; yet, 75% of PDs felt this practice negatively affected students' rank order. A total of 46.6% of programs told students to keep in touch to be ranked; only 8.7% of PDs believed students' stated interest, and 76.6% of PDs said these affirmations had no effect on students' rank. A total of 36.5% of PDs felt students made informal commitments to them, and 90.4% felt students at least sometimes lied to them. A total of 51.7% of PDs felt the match was a reasonable process that needed no changes.As long as the stakes are high and there are no repercussions for unethical behaviors and practices during residency recruitment, gamesmanship will continue to be the accepted culture.

Journal Article↗

Bull exposure and an increased within-day milking to suckling interval reduced postpartum anoestrus in dual purpose cows.

It is hypothesized that the combined effects of suckling and milking in the dual purpose cows is one of the main suppressors of reproductive efficiency in this production system. The experiment described here examined whether managing the interval between milking and suckling could reduce the postpartum anoestrous period and whether the presence of a teaser bull could enhance the effects of these managements. The experiment involved 39 Bos taurus x Bos indicus cows which had an average weight of 523.0 +/- 12.8 kg (mean +/- S.E.M.) and body condition score of 5-7 (scale 1-9) at calving. The cows and calves grazed separate pastures and the cows were supplemented with 2 kg 17% CP concentrates and 1 kg molasses per cow per day. The experiment was conducted over the first 100 days postpartum. Cows were hand-milked once per day in the presence of the calf to stimulate milk release. The factors in the 2 x 2 design were the milking to suckling interval (0 h, control suckling; CS versus 8 h prolonged-delay suckling; PDS) and no exposure versus exposure to a teaser bull (B). Cows were assigned at random within calving date to the four treatments: CS (n = 10), PDS (n = 10), CS-B (n = 9) and PDS-B (n = 10). Cows on treatments CS and CS-B had three-quarters of the udder milked and one-quarter was not milked. The entire udder was milked on those treatments where there was an interval between milking and suckling. The bull was introduced 7 days after calving in treatments where the cows were exposed to a teaser bull. Body weights of cows and calves and cow milk yield were recorded. Weekly blood samples were collected for plasma progesterone assay. Data were analyzed by ANOVA in a 2 x 2 factorial design and by chi(2)-test. There were no statistically significant differences between treatments in cow body weight at calving and at 100 days postpartum, nor in milk yield (overall mean 6.0 +/- 1.1 kg per day). Calf daily gain was 598 +/- 25 g for treatments CS and CS-B in which suckling immediately followed milking and 833 +/- 24 g for treatments PDS and PDS-B (P < 0.001). The proportion of cows ovulating was CS 80.0%, PDS 100.0%, CS-B 88.8% and PDS-B 100.0%. The difference between CS and PDS or PDS-B was significant (P < 0.05). CS-B did not differ significantly from the other three treatments. The calving to first ovulation interval was not improved when the interval between milking and suckling was increased from 0 h (56.5 +/- 5.0 days) to 8 h (64.8 +/- 4.5 days). Exposure to a teaser bull, however, significantly (P < 0.001) reduced this interval from 77.0 +/- 2.7 days (no bull exposure) to 44.4 +/- 2.7 days (exposure to teaser bull). Exposure to a teaser bull significantly reduced the calving to first anoestrus interval. Delaying the start of suckling after milking did not improve the reproductive performance of the cows or alter the effect of bull exposure, however, delaying suckling after milking improved the performance of the calves without affecting milk yield.

Anestrus↗

Effects of conventional peritoneal dialysates on leukocyte adhesion and CD11b, CD18 and CD14 expression.

Bacterial peritonitis is the most important complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), limiting its widespread application. Conventional glucose-based peritoneal dialysates (G-PDS) depress oxygen consumption, chemiluminescence, superoxide production, phagocytosis, bacterial killing and actin polymerization in neutrophils (PMN) in vitro. Expression of adhesion receptors is critical to leukocyte activation, adhesion, migration and phagocytosis. The effects of G-PDS on basal and stimulated leukocyte adhesion molecule expression and leukocyte adhering capacity is unknown. We examined the effect of a five minutes incubation of whole blood in either HEPES-buffered saline or G-PDS containing 1.5% (83 mM), 2.5% (139 mM) or 4.25% (236 mM) glucose, at pH = 5.2, and pH = 7.4. PMN intracellular pH was measured spectrofluorometrically. Leukocyte CD11b, CD18 and CD14 were measured by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies in otherwise unstimulated cells or 60 minutes after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. In addition, leukocyte adhering capacity to nylon wool was tested. In an attempt to dissect the effect of high glucose concentrations from that of the attendant hyperosmolality, the experiments were repeated with dialysates in which glucose was substituted by sodium chloride (NaCl-PDS) to attain identical osmolalities. G-PDS, as well as the mixtures of spent and fresh G-PDS, significantly depressed the basal PMN expression of adhesion receptors CD11b and CD18 and monocyte expression of CD14, and substantially mitigated the LPS-mediated up-regulation of CD11b and CD18. Likewise, G-PDS significantly inhibited leukocyte adhering capacity without affecting cell viability. Similar results were observed with NaCl-PDS. The observed abnormalities were primarily osmolality-dependent, and largely intra- and extracellular pH-independent. Impaired adhesion receptor expression and cell adhesion capacity shown here reveal another dimension of the G-PDS-induced leukocyte abnormalities.

Adult↗

On the birth and fate of bacterial division sites.

Thanks to genetics, to the study of protein-protein interactions and to direct viewing of subcellular structures by the use of immunofluorescence and green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions, the organization of the constriction apparatus of walled bacteria is gradually coming to light. The tubulin-like protein FtsZ assembles as a ring around the site of constriction and operates as an organizer and activator of septum-shaping proteins. Much less is known about the factors specifying the location of FtsZ rings. Circumstantial evidence favours the presence at future ring positions of fixed elements, the potential division sites (PDS), before FtsZ assembles. FtsZ polymerization is initiated from a point on a PDS, the nucleation site, still to be identified, and proceeds bidirectionally around the cell. We hypothesize that new PDS are specified in a manner that depends on the functioning of an active chromosome partition apparatus. This view is supported by the fact that formation of mid-cell PDS requires initiation of DNA replication, and by recent studies supporting the existence of a specialized partition apparatus in a variety of microorganisms. Although PDS may be specified directly by the partition apparatus, indirect localization linked to compartmentalized gene expression during chromosome segregation is also possible. Once created, PDS are used in a regulated manner, and several mechanisms normally operate to direct constriction to selected PDS at the correct time. One, dedicated to the permanent suppression of polar PDS, rests on the minicell suppression system and involves a protein that is able to discriminate between polar and non-polar sites. Another is involved in asymmetric site selection at the early stages of sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. Finally, a mechanism observed only in certain multi-nucleated cells appears to favour division at non-polar PDS related to the most ancient replication/DNA segregation events.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Barley stripe mosaic virus-induced gene silencing in a monocot plant.

RNA silencing of endogenous plant genes can be achieved by virus-mediated, transient expression of homologous gene fragments. This powerful, reverse genetic approach, known as virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), has been demonstrated only in dicot plant species, where it has become an important tool for functional genomics. Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) is a tripartite, positive-sense RNA virus that infects many agriculturally important monocot species including barley, oats, wheat and maize. To demonstrate VIGS in a monocot host, we modified BSMV to express untranslatable foreign inserts downstream of the gammab gene, in either sense or antisense orientations. Phytoene desaturase (PDS) is required for synthesizing carotenoids, compounds that protect chlorophyll from photo-bleaching. A partial PDS cDNA amplified from barley was 90, 88 and 74% identical to PDS cDNAs from rice, maize and Nicotiana benthamiana, respectively. Barley infected with BSMV expressing barley, rice or maize PDS fragments became photo-bleached and accumulated phytoene (the substrate for PDS) in a manner similar to plants treated with the chemical inhibitor of PDS, norflurazon. In contrast, barley infected with wild-type BSMV, or BSMV expressing either N. benthamiana PDS or antisense green fluorescent protein (GFP), did not photo-bleach or accumulate phytoene. Thus BSMV silencing of the endogenous PDS was homology-dependent. Deletion of the coat protein enhanced the ability of BSMV to silence PDS. This is the first demonstration of VIGS in a monocot, and suggests that BSMV can be used for functional genomics and studies of RNA-silencing mechanisms in monocot plant species.

Base Sequence↗

Pyruvate preserves neutrophilic superoxide production in acidic, high glucose-enriched peritoneal dialysis solutions.

AIM: To investigate effects of pyruvate (Py)-based peritoneal dialysis solutions (P-PDS) on neutrophilic superoxide (O2-) production against high glucose (HG) concentrations at acidic or physiologic pH value, and explore potential mechanisms. METHODS: Human neutrophils were incubated with both dl-lactate (La, 40 mM)-based PDS (L-PDS) and equimolar P-PDS at various pH and HG levels, respectively. Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS) served as controls. O2- generation was determined by the reduction of ferricytochrome c. RESULTS: Acidic pH and high La induced acute and substantial inhibitions of O2- production. HG in both PDS and HBSS resulted in a suppression of O2- in a dose-dependent manner. P-PDS generated near twofold O2- formation of L-PDS counterparts at various pH and HG levels. P-PDS with HG produced significantly more O2- than Py-free HBSS counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Py in PDS effectively protected neutrophils from HG-induced inhibition of O2- production, even at a physiological pH. The Py cytoprotection may be associated with the preservation of carbohydrate metabolic pathways in addition to its alkalization.

Acidosis↗

Clinician ratings of the five-factor model of personality and the DSM-IV personality disorders.

This study explored the associations among the domains of the five-factor model (FFM) of personality (neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and the DSM-IV personality disorders (PDs). Clinician ratings were obtained for both the DSM-IV PDs and the FFM on a sample of 100 PD patients. The correlational data showed that the DSM PDs were most strongly associated with the FFM domains of neuroticism, extraversion, and agreeableness. Factor analysis revealed four underlying factors that provided insights into qualities shared by subgroups of the DSM-IV PDs. The domain of neuroticism was associated with the borderline, avoidant, and dependent PDs (factor 1). The paranoid, avoidant, schizoid, and schizotypal PDs were negatively associated with the domain of agreeableness (factor 2). The domain of extraversion was positively associated with the narcissistic and histrionic PDs and negatively with schizoid PD (factor 3). The FFM conscientiousness and openness domains loaded onto a single factor and were positively associated with the obsessive-compulsive PD and negatively associated with the antisocial and borderline PDs. Exploring the relationships between these two personality systems will improve our conceptualization and understanding of the DSM PDs.

Adult↗

Clinical signs of the pigment dispersion syndrome in blacks.

BACKGROUND: The pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) is considered rare in blacks, and minimal literature exists concerning the condition in this patient population. The diagnosis of PDS in blacks may present unique challenges because some of the typical clinical signs that are present in whites, including iris transillumination defects, posterior iris bowing, and noticeable anterior iris stromal pigment dusting, may not occur as commonly. Diagnosis can be particularly difficult when neither these signs nor significant corneal endothelial pigmentation exists. Although zonular and peripheral lens pigment has been found to be consistently present in whites with PDS, attention has not been given to this as a potentially important diagnostic sign in blacks. METHODS: From among a primary care population, we identified and studied 7 patients (13 eyes) who exhibited moderate to heavy trabecular meshwork (TM) pigmentation, as well as zonule and/or peripheral lens pigmentation. Patients were identified during routine clinical care provided by one of the authors, as well as from notification by other practitioners. All patients received complete eye examination and other signs of PDS were looked for. RESULTS: Four males and 3 females were identified, their average age being 37 years (range = 15 to 51) at the time of their initial identification. All but one patient was myopic (average approximately -2.50 D spherical equivalent). Iris transillumination defects were present in only one eye of one patient, and no eyes showed overt posterior iris bowing, although the iris contours were usually flat and the anterior chambers appeared relatively deep. Corneal endothelial pigmentation was frequently barely detectable and could not be relied on as a predictor of trabecular meshwork or lenticular pigmentation. Glaucoma, or a suspicion of glaucoma due to increased intraocular pressure (IOP) or cupping, was common among the group. Using heavy TM pigmentation as well as any degree of zonular and/or peripheral lenticular pigmentation as a criteria for the diagnosis of PDS, we calculated the prevalence of PDS among blacks in a nonreferred primary care population (> age 7) to be at least 15 cases per 10,000. CONCLUSIONS: More investigation is needed to study the clinical presentation of PDS in blacks because it may be substantially different than in whites. Zonular and peripheral lenticular pigmentation may be a particularly useful diagnostic sign of PDS in blacks, especially in those cases where other traditional signs, including iris transillumination defects, pronounced corneal endothelial pigmentation, posterior iris bowing, and visible anterior iris stromal pigment dusting, are absent. The "classic" variety of PDS may be more common among blacks than previously recognized.

Adolescent↗

Regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis during tomato development.

Phytoene synthase (Psy) and phytoene desaturase (Pds) are the first dedicated enzymes of the plant carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. We report here the organ-specific and temporal expression of PDS and PSY in tomato plants. Light increases the carotenoid content of seedlings but has little effect on PDS and PSY expression. Expression of both genes is induced in seedlings of the phytoene-accumulating mutant ghost and in wild-type seedlings treated with the Pds inhibitor norflurazon. Roots, which contain the lowest levels of carotenoids in the plant, have also the lowest levels of PDS and PSY expression. In flowers, expression of both genes and carotenoid content are higher in petals and anthers than in sepals and carpels. During flower development, expression of both PDS and PSY increases more than 10-fold immediately before anthesis. During fruit development, PSY expression increases more than 20-fold, but PDS expression increases less than threefold. We concluded that PSY and PDS are differentially regulated by stress and developmental mechanisms that control carotenoid biosynthesis in leaves, flowers, and fruits. We also report that PDS maps to chromosome 3, and thus it does not correspond to the GHOST locus, which maps to chromosome 11.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Characterization of a higher plant herbicide-resistant phytoene desaturase and its use as a selectable marker.

Three natural somatic mutations at codon 304 of the phytoene desaturase gene (pds) of Hydrilla verticillata (L. f. Royle) have been reported to provide resistance to the herbicide fluridone. We substituted the arginine 304 present in the wild-type H. verticillata phytoene desaturase (PDS) with all 19 other natural amino acids and tested PDS against fluridone. In in vitro assays, the threonine (Thr), cysteine (Cys), alanine (Ala) and glutamine (Gln) mutations imparted the highest resistance to fluridone. Thr, the three natural mutations [Cys, serine (Ser), histidine (His)] and the wild-type PDS protein were tested in vitro against seven inhibitors of PDS representing several classes of herbicides. These mutations conferred cross-resistance to norflurazon and overall negative cross-resistance to beflubutamid, picolinafen and diflufenican. The T3 generation of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants harbouring the four selected mutations and wild-type pds had similar patterns of cross-resistance to the herbicides as observed in the in vitro assays. The Thr304 Hydrilla pds mutant proved to be an excellent marker for the selection of transgenic plants. Seedlings harbouring Thr304 pds had a maximum resistance to sensitivity (R/S) ratio of 57 and 14 times higher than that of the wild-type for treatments with norflurazon and fluridone, respectively. These plants exhibited normal growth and development, even after long-term exposure to herbicide. As Thr304 pds is of plant origin, it could become more acceptable than other selectable markers for use in genetically modified food.

Amides↗

The reactions of Escherichia coli citrate synthase with the sulfhydryl reagents 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and 4,4'-dithiodipyridine.

Citrate synthase of Escherichia coli reacts rapidly with 1 equivalent of Ellman's reagent, 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), per subunit, losing completely its sensitivity to the allosteric inhibitor, NADH. When the enzyme is treated instead with 4,4'-dithiodipyridine (4,4'-PDS), all activity is lost. Certain evidence in this paper is consistent with the belief that the sulfhydryl group modified by DTNB, and that whose modification by 4,4'-PDS inactivates the enzyme, are the same. (i) Both reagents abolish NADH fluorescence enhancement by the enzyme. (ii) Saturating levels of NADH and some other adenylic acid derivatives inhibit the reactions with both reagents. (iii) When the enzyme is modified with one equivalent of DTNB or 4,4'-PDS, subsequent reactivity toward the other reagent is greatly decreased. (iv) Following modifications, the DTNB and 4,4'-PDS derivatives spontaneously lose thionitrobenzoate (TNB) or pyridine-4-thione (PT), respectively, in reactions which are thought to involve displacement of TNB or PT by a second enzyme sulfhydryl group, so that an enzyme disulfide is introduced. The introduction of the disulfide bond, if this is what occurs, does not lead to cross-linking of citrate synthase polypeptide chains, as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions. Certain evidence has also been found, however, that the sites of modification by DTNB and 4,4'-PDS are not the same. (i) DTNB modification desensitizes to NADH but does not inactivate, while 4,4'-PDS inactivates at least 99.9%. (ii) The presumed disulfide from elimination of TNB is also active, while that from PT modification is no more active than the original 4,4'-PDS modified product. (iii) Prior modification of the enzyme with DTNB affords no protection against later inactivation by 4,4'-PDS. The studies therefore indicate a close relationship between the DTNB desensitization and 4,4'-PDS inactivation, but they are unable to identify it exactly. Other properties of the DTNB reaction are also described, and a hypothesis is offered to explain quantitatively the finding that desensitization lags behind modification during the modification of citrate synthase by DTNB.

Binding Sites↗

Analysis of voltage-gated and synaptic conductances contributing to network excitability defects in the mutant mouse tottering.

1. Intracellular current- and voltage-clamp recordings were carried out in CA3 pyramidal neurons from hippocampal slices of adult tg/tg mice and their coisogenic C57BL/6J (+/+) controls with the use of the single-electrode switch-clamp technique. The principal aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the tg gene-linked prolongation (mean 60%) of a giant synaptic response, the potassium-induced paroxysmal depolarizing shift (PDS) at depolarized membrane potentials (Vm -47 to -54 mV) during synchronous network bursting induced by 10 mM potassium ([K+]o). 2. To examine the role of intrinsic voltage-dependent conductances underlying the mutant PDS prolongation, neurons were voltage clamped by the use of microelectrodes filled with 100 mM QX-314 or QX-222 chloride (voltage-gated sodium channel blockers) and 2 M cesium sulphate (potassium channel blocker). The whole-cell currents active during the PDS showed a significantly prolonged duration (mean 34%) at depolarized Vms in tg/tg compared with +/+ cells, indicating that a defect in voltage-dependent conductances is unlikely to completely account for the mutant phenotype. 3. Bath application of 40 microM (DL)-2-aminophosphonovalerate (DL-APV) produced a 30% reduction in PDS duration in both genotypes but failed to significantly alter the tg gene-linked prolongation compared with the wild type. These data indicate that the mutant PDS abnormality does not result from a selective increase of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitatory synaptic component. 4. Blockade of gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) transmission with picrotoxin (50 microM) or bicuculline (1-5 microM) completely eliminated the difference in PDS duration between the genotypes. Furthermore, although both GABAA receptor antagonists increased the mean PDS duration in +/+ neurons, they did not significantly alter it in tg/tg neurons. These findings are consistent with a reduction in GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition during bursting in the tg CA3 hippocampal network. 5. To test this hypothesis, bursting CA3 pyramidal neurons were loaded intracellularly with chloride by the use of KCl-filled microelectrodes to examine the effect of reversing the hyperpolarizing chloride-dependent GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic component of the PDS. Chloride loading prolonged PDS duration in both genotypes, but the increase was greater in +/+ than in tg/tg neurons, indicating that a smaller GABAA inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) component was reversed in the mutant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Reduced serum-stimulatory activity on prostacyclin production by cultured aortic endothelial cells in diabetes mellitus.

Reduced prostacyclin (PGI2) production by the vascular wall has been proposed as a possible cause of macro- or microangiopathy in diabetes mellitus. In the present study, we confirmed the stimulatory activity on PGI2 (PSA) production in plasma-derived serum (PDS) by cultured aortic endothelial cells. Furthermore, the abnormality of PSA was examined in diabetic PDS. PSA in PDS from non-insulin-dependent diabetics significantly decreased as compared with that in PDS from age-matched control subjects. There was no difference in PSA in PDS between diabetic patients with and without vascular complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy. In addition, after treatment with dialysis, PSA in diabetic PDS was still not restored to that in normal PDS. These findings suggest that relatively heat-stable (56 degrees C, 30 min) and nondialyzable PGI2 stimulatory substance(s) may decrease in diabetic PDS. It is concluded that a reduction in PDS-stimulated PGI2 production by the vascular wall can play an important role in the pathogenesis of vascular lesions in diabetes mellitus.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Effects of peritoneal dialysis solutions on the secretion of growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins by human peritoneal mesothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of different peritoneal dialysis solutions (PDS) on secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1), procollagen I C-terminal peptide (PICP), procollagen III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP), and fibronectin by cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC). DESIGN: Using M199 culture medium as control, commercial PDS containing 1.5% or 4.25% glucose and 40 mmol/L lactate [Dianeal 1.5 (D 1.5) and Dianeal 4.25 (D 4.25), respectively; Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, Illinois, USA]; PDS containing 1.5% or 4.25% glucose with 25 mmol/L bicarbonate and 15 mmol/L lactate [Physioneal 1.5 (P 1.5) and Physioneal 4.25 (P 4.25), respectively; Baxter]; and PDS containing 7.5% icodextrin [Extraneal (E); Baxter] were tested. Growth-arrested and synchronized HPMC were continuously stimulated for 48 hours by test PDS diluted twofold with M199, TGFbeta1 1 ng/mL, or different concentrations of icodextrin. VEGF, TGFbeta1, and fibronectin secreted into the media were analyzed by ELISA, and PICP and PIIINP by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Dianeal 1.5, D 4.25, and P 4.25, but not P 1.5 and E, significantly increased VEGF secretion compared with control M199. D 4.25- and P 4.25-induced VEGF secretion was significantly higher than induction by D 1.5 and P 1.5, respectively, suggesting that high glucose may be involved in the induction of VEGF. Physioneal 1.5- and P 4.25-induced VEGF secretion was significantly lower than induction by D 1.5 and D 4.25, respectively, suggesting a role for glucose degradation products (GDP) in VEGF production. TGFbeta1 secretion was significantly increased by D 4.25 and E. Icodextrin increased TGFbeta1 secretion in a dose-dependent manner. All PDS tested significantly increased secretion of PIIINP compared with control. D 1.5- and D 4.25-induced PIIINP secretion was significantly higher than P 1.5, P 4.25, and E. Physioneal 4.25-induced PIIINP secretion was significantly higher than P 1.5, again implicating high glucose and GDP in PIIINP secretion by HPMC. There was no significant increase in PICP or fibronectin secretion using any of the PDS tested. Addition of TGFbeta1 1 ng/mL into M199 control significantly increased VEGF, PICP, PIIINP, and fibronectin secretion by HPMC. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides direct evidence that HPMC can secrete VEGF, TGFbeta1, and PIIINP in response to PDS, and that HPMC may be actively involved in the development and progression of the peritoneal membrane hyperpermeability and fibrosis observed in long-term PD patients. This study also suggests that both high glucose and GDP in PDS may play important roles in inducing VEGF and PIIINP production/secretion by HPMC.

Bicarbonates↗

[Arthroscopic stabilization of the fractured intercondylar eminence].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The authors present the results of arthroscopic reduction of a displaced fracture of the intercondylar eminence and stabilization of the fracture with a tension band wire and absorbable, double PDS sutures. MATERIAL: In the years 1998 to 2002, a fracture of the intercondylar eminence was arthroscopically diagnosed in 34 patients, 21 women and 13 men in the age range of 17 to 46 years. Five patients had type I fracture, 13 had type II fracture and 16 had type III fracture, as classified by the Meyers and McKeever system. Arthroscopic stabilization was used for all type II and type III fractures in a total of 29 patients. Double PDS sutures no. 1 were always applied. One double PDS loop was used in eight patients and, in the rest, two or three double PDS loops were employed. METHODS: PDS no. 1 sutures were inserted, by means of wire loops, through bone tunnels. These were drilled with 2-mm Kirschner's wires, using an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reamer, medial to the tibial tuberosity. Double PDS sutures were applied to the distal portion of the ACL, which permits good stabilization even in comminuted fractures of the eminence. The strength of a double PDS loop is sufficient and facilitates speedy recovery. Before terminating surgery it is necessary to check joint mobility and fixation stability. Only good stability allows for early mobilization of the joint. The postoperative treatment involved immobilization of the knee joint with a rigid brace in a semi-flexed position at 20 degrees for 6 weeks. However, from the second postoperative day, the brace was removed during targeted rehabilitation. Exercise on a continuous passive motion device, strengthening of the thigh muscles, patellar mobilization, walking with the use of crutches, while wearing the brace, with partial weight bearing until pain were practised. A treadmill without loading was used from the fifth postoperative week. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients in whom stabilization with PDS sutures was used were evaluated. Of them 26 were completely free from any complaints and fully healed, always without findings of displacement on X-ray. In one patient, a fragment of the comminuted fracture was loosened and interfered with full extension. It was removed by arthroscopy and full recovery without consequences ensued. One patient underwent repeat surgery for hematoma in the wound; after wound healing and rehabilitation, he achieved a full range of motion. One patient showed signs of fibrosis of Hoffa's fat pad. All patients returned to the style of life as before injury. At follow-up of 1 to 4 years, Lysholm scores were excellent in 23 patients, very good in four patients, satisfactory in one patient (repeat surgery) and one patient was not examined. DISCUSSION: Fracture of the intercondylar eminence is caused by a mechanism similar to that causing rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament but, in addition, the margin of the intercondylar fossa is pressed against the eminence which breaks off. Displaced fractures (types II and III according to the Meyers and McKeever classification) are indicated for surgical stabilization. Fixation of the fractured eminence by means of absorbable material is sufficient, and insertion of metal material and its subsequent removal thus can be avoided. Arthroscopic inspection permits exact reduction; this procedure is minimally invasive. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic stabilization of a fractured eminence by means of PDS sutures is a gentle surgical procedure that provides good mechanical support, facilitates early rehabilitation and achieves good outcomes. The use of absorbable sutures allows us to avoid further surgery in order to remove fixation material.

Adolescent↗

Breast masses: color Doppler, power Doppler, and spectral analysis findings.

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic efficacy of power Doppler sonography (PDS) with spectral analysis for breast diseases, we retrospectively compared PDS and color Doppler sonography (CDS) in patients with breast lesions. METHODS: One hundred thirty-eight women with palpable breast lesions were examined with PDS (65 women) and/or CDS (73 women). We calculated peak velocity, end-diastolic velocity, pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI). RESULTS: On a 4-point subjective visual vascularity scale, PDS demonstrated higher vascularity than did CDS. Although smaller and more subtle vessels could be detected only with PDS, the PI and RI differed significantly between malignant and benign lesions when either PDS or CDS was used. However, logistic regression analysis showed that high PI and RI were associated with malignancy only when CDS was used. When PDS was used, PI was significantly higher in invasive ductal carcinomas with fibrous stroma and ill-defined margins (associated with a poor prognosis) than in invasive ductal carcinomas without fibrous stroma or with well-defined margins. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler spectral analysis of malignant breast lesions using PDS may contribute to the determination of prognosis.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Light scattering studies of bovine skin proteodermatan sulfate.

The proteodermatan sulfate (PDS) of bovine skin is a low molecular weight proteoglycan with a molecular structure consisting of a protein chain and a sulfated polysaccharide chain covalently linked at the 4-serine of the protein. Static and dynamic laser light scattering methods have been used to determine the weight-average molecular weight, Mw, zeta-average radius of gyration, Rg zeta, and zeta-average translational diffusion coefficient, Dto, zeta, of bovine skin PDS. We have also characterized the two components of PDS, i.e., the protein core and the dermatan sulfate (DS) chain. (The latter contained an N-terminal-linked penta- or tetrapeptide.) Interpretation of the PDS data is complicated by the block copolymer nature of its structure. When appropriate corrections are made, our results indicate that Mw for PDS monomer is 62,000 when dissolved in 4M guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl), and increases to 610,000 in 0.15M NaCl. Mw for the core protein in 4M GdnHCl is 39,000, and this also increases substantially to 650,000 in 0.15M NaCl. In contrast, Mw for the DS chain is 24,000 in 0.15M NaCl, indicating that there is minimal self-association of DS in 0.15M NaCl. Thus we conclude that the self-association of PDS involves the protein core. Comparison of Rg zeta and Rh, the average hydrodynamic radius, suggests that trace amounts of aggregation persist for the PDS and its core protein even in 4M GdnHCl. This conclusion is supported by evaluation of the second moments of the dynamic light scattering correlation function. Comparisons of the observed Dto, zeta for PDS with predicted values using hydrodynamic theory are consistent with a "lollipop" conformation for the molecule.

Animals↗

Two-year prospective study of personality disorders in adults with longstanding eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The current study had three objectives: to report the presence of personality disorders (PDs) in adults with longstanding eating disorders (EDs) at admission to inpatient treatment, and at 1 and 2-year follow-up; to compare the frequency of PDs in anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS); and to investigate whether recovered patients had lower frequency of PDs. METHOD: Seventy-four patients with a mean age of 30 years and long-lasting EDs were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-II disorders at admission to inpatient treatment, and at 1 and 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: At admission, 57 patients (77%) had one or more PDs, whereas 42 patients (57%) had one or more PDs at 2-year follow-up No statistically significant differences in frequencies of PDs among patients with AN, BN, and EDNOS were found. Recovered patients had a lower frequency of PDs (p < .01). DISCUSSION: At 2-year follow-up, there were substantial reductions in the frequency of PDs in patients with long-lasting EDs.

Adolescent↗