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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Sequelae of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after patent ductus arteriosus ligation.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively study the clinical course of neonates with vocal cord paralysis (VCP) after patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of all premature infants undergoing PDA ligation from March 2001 to February 2004. Flexible laryngoscopy was performed after extubation to assess vocal cord function. Data regarding patient characteristics, operative findings, post-operative endoscopic findings, and the subsequent clinical course were collected. RESULTS: One hundred patients were enrolled. Flexible laryngoscopy was performed on 61 patients. Median birth weight was 740 g, gestational age 25 weeks, and age at operation 23 days. Flexible laryngoscopy was performed at an average of 8 days after extubation. Seven cases of vocal cord paralysis were identified. Two had stridor and feeding difficulty requiring nasogastric feeding. Five of the seven had an average follow-up of 9 months after surgery. At last follow-up, endoscopically satisfactory compensation by the normal vocal cord was observed in all five patients. No patient had feeding problems. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of infants who can be successfully extubated after PDA ligation tend to be asymptomatic despite vocal cord paralysis. Compensation appears to occur rapidly, and patients generally have no *long-term problems with the airway or feeding.

Ductus Arteriosus, Patent↗

Going through the motions: the ATPase cycle of p97.

p97 (VCP, Cdc48), a type II AAA+ ATPase family member, is ubiquitous, essential, highly abundant, and involved in a diverse range of biological functions with roles in membrane fusion, endoplasmic-reticulum associated degradation, transcriptional activation, and cell cycle control. As such, dysfunction of this protein has serious pathological consequences and has been implicated in a variety of cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. p97 has a large number of adaptor proteins through which it transmits energy from ATPase activity to conformational changes which are then exerted onto target proteins. p97 has been studied by a variety of biochemical and structural techniques at various resolutions and stages throughout its ATPase cycle. From these studies, many models have been proposed and consequently a single model for p97's action cannot be suggested. Many questions about the mechanism of p97 still remain, including whether the protomers act in a concerted manner and crucially how the induced changes in p97 are transmitted to its adaptor proteins and target substrates. The elucidation of p97's mechanism is not only important in furthering our knowledge of this intriguing protein and its many functions, but subsequently in the development of potential therapies for diseases associated with p97 dysfunction.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Modification of a viral envelope glycoprotein cell-cell fusion assay by utilizing plasmid encoded bacteriophage RNA polymerase.

Many viruses enter cells via an interaction of the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) with receptor inducing fusion of viral and cellular membranes. These interactions are often evaluated in cell-cell fusion, gene-reporting systems with effector cells expressing Env and target cells expressing receptors. A common system utilizes vaccinia virus encoding T7 RNA polymerase (RNAP) in effector cells and a T7 promoted reporter plasmid in target cells. Fusion is quantified with expression of the reporter plasmid. However, direct activation of reporter plasmid from vaccinia virus can occur increasing background activity. We report here a modification of this assay in which T7 RNAP is expressed from a plasmid rather than vaccinia. This modification increased sensitivity with a ten-fold reduction in background. A novel dual T7/SP6 RNAP fusion assay was also developed to allow rapid screening for functional Env clones. Using these assays, we show that Envs from two CD4-independent HIV-2 isolates (VCP and ROD/B), which are able to fuse with chemokine receptor CXCR4 in a CD4-independent manner, are also able to fuse with alternative coreceptors GPR1 and GPR15 in the absence of CD4. The assay could also detect fusion of murine leukemia virus on target cells expressing the ecotropic MCAT-1 receptor showing its broad utility in other viral systems.

Animals↗

CREB isoform represses yolk protein gene expression in the mosquito fat body.

In mosquitoes, the steroid 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is the main regulator of yolk protein precursor (YPP) gene expression. However, peptide hormones have also been implicated. To investigate involvement of the cAMP-mediated signal-transduction cascade in regulation of mosquito vitellogenic events, we cloned an Aedes aegypti cAMP response element binding protein (AaCREB). The AaCREB contained the domains characteristic to members of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) family of transcription factors: a kinase inducible domain region and a bZIP domain responsible for DNA binding and protein dimerization. In the mosquito fat body (site of YPP gene expression), the AaCREB gene was constitutively expressed and produced a transcript of 3.5-4 kb. In vitro fat body organ culture experiments demonstrated that elicitors of the cAMP signal-transduction pathway attenuated 20E-stimulated YPP gene expression. Cell transfection analysis indicated that AaCREB served as a potent repressor of transcription (designated AaCREBr). The role of AaCREBr as a transcriptional repressor supported the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) with nuclear extracts from vitellogenic fat bodies. This analysis detected CREB-specific band-shift complexes in nuclear extracts at 24 and 36 h post-blood meal (PBM), when YPP gene expression reaches its peak then terminates. Examination of the regulatory regions of two major YPP genes, vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenic carboxypeptidase (VCP), revealed the presence of putative CREB response elements (CREs). These elements competed with the CRE consensus sequence for binding of in vitro-expressed AaCREBr. We propose that AaCREBr functions as a repressor of YPP gene expression at the time of vitellogenesis termination in the fat body.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gp78, a membrane-anchored ubiquitin ligase, associates with Insig-1 and couples sterol-regulated ubiquitination to degradation of HMG CoA reductase.

Sterol-regulated ubiquitination is an obligatory step in ER-associated degradation (ERAD) of HMG CoA reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Accelerated degradation of reductase, one of several strategies animal cells use to limit production of cholesterol, requires sterol-induced binding of the enzyme to ER membrane proteins called Insigs. Once formed, the reductase-Insig complex is recognized by a putative membrane-associated ubiquitin ligase (E3) that mediates the reductase ubiquitination reaction. Here, we show that gp78, a membrane bound E3, binds to Insig-1 and is required for sterol-regulated ubiquitination of reductase. In addition, gp78 couples regulated ubiquitination to degradation of reductase by binding to VCP, an ATPase that plays a key role in recognition and degradation of ERAD substrates. The current results identify gp78 as the E3 that initiates sterol-accelerated degradation of reductase, and Insig-1 as a bridge between gp78/VCP and the reductase substrate.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Structural and functional abnormality of systemic microvessels in cardiac syndrome X.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Microvascular damage of coronary bed has been considered the main pathogenetic factor of cardiac syndrome X (chest pain, exercise-induced ischemic ST-segment changes and angiographically normal coronary arteries). Previous studies have demonstrated that vascular abnormalities are not confined to the heart, suggesting a peripheral vascular dysfunction. On the hypothesis of a generalized microvascular disturbance in cardiac syndrome X, we performed a morphologic and functional study of systemic microcirculation in patients with syndrome X compared to normal subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microvessels were evaluated with intravital videocapillaroscopy (VCP) executed in peripheral and conjunctival observation sites which explore micro and paramicrocirculation; biohumoral study included markers of inflammation and of endothelial function, coagulative-fibrinolytic system and lipid metabolism. Videocapillaroscopy showed several morphologic changes (present in high percent of patients with syndrome X and not in controls) and significant quantitative alterations (capillary density, granular flow score, alterations of vessel profile, length of capillary loop branches and of arteriole/venule diameter) which indicated a severe alteration of whole vessel structure and an important rearrangement of microvascular disposition. In a similar way, the humoral study showed some significant changes of endothelial (vWF, ICAM-1, E-sel, PAI-1), inflammatory (C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen) and metabolic factors (HDL-chol) which are commonly associated with inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that patients with cardiac syndrome X exhibited some structural and functional alterations of systemic microvasculature; the pattern is similar to that detected in systemic inflammatory diseases and suggests a vascular lesion of inflammatory type. The same changes could be operating also in coronary microvessels of patients with syndrome X.

Angina Pectoris↗

Conformational changes of p97 during nucleotide hydrolysis determined by small-angle X-Ray scattering.

Valosin-containing protein (VCP)/p97 is an AAA family ATPase that has been implicated in the removal of misfolded proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum and in membrane fusion. p97 forms a homohexamer whose protomers consist of an N-terminal (N) domain responsible for binding to effector proteins, followed by two AAA ATPase domains, D1 and D2. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of p97 in the presence of AMP-PNP (ATP state), ADP-AlF(x) (hydrolysis transition state), ADP, or no nucleotide reveal major changes in the positions of the N domains with respect to the hexameric ring during the ATP hydrolysis cycle. Nucleotide binding and hydrolysis experiments indicate that D2 inhibits nucleotide exchange by D1. The data suggest that the conversion of the chemical energy of ATP hydrolysis into mechanical work on substrates involves transmission of conformational changes generated by D2 through D1 to move N.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Characterization of the mouse gene for the U-box-type ubiquitin ligase UFD2a.

UFD2a is a mammalian homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ufd2, originally described as an E4 ubiquitination factor. UFD2a belongs to the U-box family of ubiquitin ligases (E3s) and likely functions as both an E3 and E4. We have isolated and characterized the mouse gene (Ube4b) for UFD2a. A full-length (approximately 5700 bp) Ube4b cDNA was isolated and the corresponding gene spans >100 kb, comprising 27 exons. Luciferase reporter gene analysis of the 5(') flanking region of Ube4b revealed that nucleotides -1018 to -943 (relative to the translation initiation site) possess promoter activity. This functional sequence contains two putative Sp1 binding sites but not a TATA box. Immunoblot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that UFD2a is expressed predominantly in the neuronal tissues. We also show that UFD2a interacts with VCP (a AAA-family ATPase) that is thought to mediate protein folding. These data implicate UFD2a in the degradation of neuronal proteins by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

NSF and p97/VCP: similar at first, different at last.

N-Ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) and p97/valosin-containing protein (VCP) are distantly related members of the ATPases associated with a variety of cellular activities (AAA) family of proteins. While both proteins have been implied in cellular morphology changes involving membrane compartments or vesicles, more recent evidence seems to imply that NSF is primarily involved in the soluble NSF attachment receptor (SNARE)-mediated vesicle fusion by disassembling the SNARE complex whereas p97/VCP is primarily involved in the extraction of membrane proteins. These functional differences are now corroborated by major structural differences based on recent crystallographic and cryo-electron microscopy studies. This review discusses these recent findings.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Cloning, sequencing and expression of VAT, a CDC48/p97 ATPase homologue from the archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum.

A member of the AAA family of Mg2(+)-ATPases from the archaeon Thermoplasma acidophilum has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein, VCP-like ATPase of Thermoplasma acidophilum (VAT), is a homologue of SAV from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and CdcH of Halobacterium salinarium, and belongs to the CDC48/VCP/p97 subfamily. The deduced product of the vat gene is 745 residues long (Mr 83,000), which has an optimal Mg2(+)-ATPase activity at 70 degrees C. Electron microscopy shows the purified protein to form single and double homo-hexameric rings. Although the symmetry is different, the appearance of the complexes formed of two rings resembles the 20S proteasome and Hsp60/GroEL.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Value of premature ventricular contraction morphology in the detection of myocardial infarction.

A ventricular premature contraction (VCP) with a QR pattern has been associated with antecedent myocardial infarction. In order to determine the validity of this sign, we compared the presence of localized abnormal wall motion during left ventricular angiography with the morphology of VPC's induced in each patient by catheter stimulation of the left ventricular endocardium. The morphology of V1 was compared with anterior wall infarction, and of AVF with inferior wall infarction, and the specificity, sensitivity and predictive value of the QR VPC evaluated. A QR pattern VPC in V1 with a Q greater than or equal to 0.04 sec and a Q/R ratio = 0.20 had a specificity of 0.93, a sensitivity of 0.24 and a predictive value of 0.72 in the detection of anterior myocardial infarction. The detection rate was considerably increased with a Q/R ratio of greater than or equal to 0.1 and specificity remained high at 0.87. Detection of inferior infarction by use of AVF was less certain, and is probably of limited value.

Angiocardiography↗

RETRACTED: Crystal structure of a complement control protein that regulates both pathways of complement activation and binds heparan sulfate proteoglycans.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of request of the editors. Cell is retracting this paper reporting structures of a poxvirus protein, VCP, that inhibits the complement system. The paper presents a structural model derived from two crystal forms of the protein (PDB: 1G40 and 1G44) that defines an interaction surface implicated in inhibition of complement C3 proteins and visualizes heparin binding sites. We were contacted by the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB), the corresponding author's institution, with a report detailing concerns about the veracity of the structures and recommending that the structures be retracted from the Protein Data Bank. We then conducted an assessment with input from experts in the field who found that the structures as presented in the paper were not consistent with available data, including spatial packing and structure (B) factors. These findings were consistent with issues contained in the UAB report. A subsequent investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Research Integrity (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/04/16/2018-07782/findings-of-research-misconduct) has concluded that the corresponding author, Krishna H.M. Murthy, engaged in research misconduct and that the structures were falsified and/or fabricated. Given the results of our own assessment and the institutional investigations, the most appropriate course of action is to retract the paper. Co-authors Nick Mullin, Paul N. Barlow, and Craig M. Ogata support this retraction.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Organization of the NKEF gene and its expression in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Natural killer enhancing factor (NKEF) is a member of the newly defined peroxiredoxin (Prx) family. Its functions are to enhance the cytotoxic capacity of natural killer cells and to prevent DNA and protein from being damaged by oxidative stress in the presence of thiol compounds. However, little is known about the structure and function of NKEF in lower vertebrates. We have recently cloned a cDNA encoding NKEF from the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) by use of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). In the present study, we used PCR to obtain a genomic DNA which covers the entire coding region of carp NKEF. In the 3363bp-long genomic sequence, six exons and five introns were identified. The carp NKEF gene has splice donor/acceptor site sequences at the boundaries of exons and introns, and contains two Val-Cys-Pro (VCP) motifs. The exon/intron organization of the carp NKEF gene shows complete conservation with other members of the Prx family. Genomic Southern blotting analyses suggest that carp has multiple copies of the NKEF gene. RT-PCR analyses reveal that carp NKEF has very different expression levels not only in tissues but also from individuals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The delta-TCP concept: a clinically useful measure of tumor control probability.

PURPOSE: The aim of this article is to provide a quantitative tool to evaluate the influence of the different dose regions in a non-uniformly irradiated tumour upon the probability of controlling that tumor. METHODS AND MATERIALS: First, a method to generate a distribution of the probability of controlling the cells in a voxel (VCP) is explored and found not to be useful. Second, we introduce the concept of delta-TCP, which represents the gain or loss in the overall TCP as a result of each particular bin in a DVH not receiving the prescribed dose (the same concept is applicable to dose cubes or to a fraction of the bin). The delta-TCP method presented here is based on the Poisson TCP model, but any other model could also be used. Third, using this tool, with parameters appropriate to Stage C prostate tumors, the consequences of "cold" and "hot" dose regions have been explored. RESULTS: We show that TCP is affected by the minimum dose, even if it is delivered to a very small volume (20% dose deficit to 5% of the volume makes the TCP decrease by 18%), and that a hot region may be "wasted" unless the boost is to the bulk of the volume. An example of the application of the delta-TCP concept to a prostate radiotherapy plan is also given. CONCLUSION: The delta-TCP distribution adds more objective information to the original DVH by enabling the clinician or planner to directly evaluate the effects of a non-uniform dose distribution on local control.

Algorithms↗

Multicomponent cycloadditions: the four-component [5+1+2+1] cycloaddition of vinylcyclopropanes, alkynes, and CO.

Prompted by the view that intermediates of transition metal-catalyzed reactions could be intercepted by one or more additional components, studies in our laboratory have led to the design and development of new three-component [5+2+1], [4+2+1], and [2+2+1] cycloadditions. These continuing studies have now led to the identification of a fundamentally new four-component [5+1+2+1] cycloaddition reaction of vinylcyclopropanes, alkynes and CO, yielding hydroxyindanone products in generally good yields. Terminal alkynes bearing aryl or alkyl groups are tolerated well. Substitution at any position of the VCP leads predictably to substituted hydroxyindanone products. Using a bis-alkynyl substrate, the reaction can be carried out bi-directionally, forming 10 C-C bonds and four new rings from seven components in a single, operationally simple process.

Journal Article↗

The proteomic reactor facilitates the analysis of affinity-purified proteins by mass spectrometry: application for identifying ubiquitinated proteins in human cells.

Mass spectrometry (MS) coupled to affinity purification is a powerful approach for identifying protein-protein interactions and for mapping post-translational modifications. Prior to MS analysis, affinity-purified proteins are typically separated by gel electrophoresis, visualized with a protein stain, excised, and subjected to in-gel digestion. An inherent limitation of this series of steps is the loss of protein sample that occurs during gel processing. Although methods employing in-solution digestion have been reported, they generally suffer from poor reaction kinetics. In the present study, we demonstrate an application of a microfluidic processing device, termed the Proteomic Reactor, for enzymatic digestion of affinity-purified proteins for liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Use of the Proteomic Reactor enabled the identification of numerous ubiquitinated proteins in a human cell line expressing reduced amounts of the ubiquitin-dependent chaperone, valosin-containing protein (VCP). The Proteomic Reactor is a novel technology that facilitates the analysis of affinity-purified proteins and has the potential to aid future biological studies.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The inflammation modulatory protein (IMP) of cowpox virus drastically diminishes the tissue damage by down-regulating cellular infiltration resulting from complement activation.

Vaccinia virus (VV) and other pathogenic poxviruses encode for a complement control protein. The VV complement control protein or VCP, was one of the first soluble microbial proteins postulated to have an active role in the immunomodulation of the host defense. Since then, 2 other poxviruses, including variola virus and cowpox virus (CPV), were found to have corresponding proteins. Based upon earlier studies which demonstrated the role of the CPV complement control protein in modulating the specific tissue responses in BALB/c and congenic-matched C5-sufficient and C5-deficient mice, the CPV equivalent has been renamed the inflammation modulatory protein (IMP), so as to specifically reflect its function. In this study, the in vivo cellular response of mice injected with CPV or a recombinant virus lacking the IMP sequence (CPV-IMP) was examined using a connective tissue air pouch model. Microscopic examination revealed that CPV-IMP caused a significant mononuclear cell infiltration into the connective tissue and adjacent dermal tissue of the skin. To characterize IMP's ability to regulate the observed cellular infiltration through both complement derived and non-complement derived chemotactic factors, footpad and skin connective tissue of C3 knockout mice and footpad of MIP-1alpha knockout mice received injections of CPV and CPV-IMP. In comparison to the matched control, significantly greater footpad specific swelling response was seen in C3 -/- mice injected with CPV. This indicates an important role for C3 in poxvirus pathogenesis. However, MIP-1 alpha -/- mice injected with CPV-IMP recovered earlier than mice injected with CPV alone. This indicates that the function of IMP in vivo in mice with a complete repertoire of immune components is to limit cellular infiltration by down regulating the complement derived chemotactic analphylotoxins, thereby modulating the inflammatory response contributing to a diminished tissue pathology and preservation of viral habitat.

Animals↗

Geometrical capillary network analysis.

BACKGROUND: Skin microcirculation, especially the superficial network, can be assessed by a computer capillary video microscope system. The study of morphology and dynamics of microcirculation must include all dynamic and cooperative processes between the capillaries. For characterizing capillary ensembles, the statistical and geometrical properties of the network need to be explored. METHODS: The microvaculature of the skin and the microcirculation were investigated by combining videocapillaroscopy (VCP) and image processing techniques based on computational geometry and graph theory. Our goal was to characterize the capillary network in noisy pictures of the scalp. Different geometric methods were developed, based on proximity parameters (distance and surface) in order to circumscribe and construct this network. RESULTS: By studying the distribution of these parameters, extreme values or outliers, which usually correspond to artifact subregions in the pictures could be eliminated. Different algorithms were developed and has been implemented in an image processing software (Capilab Toolbox). CONCLUSION: This computerized system is capable of real-time processings, increasing the quality of videocapillaroscope images and minimizing the disturbance of artifacts. The algorithms presented here are easy to implement and can process any kind of images of the skin, even in the scalp. In association with an example-based detection system, this method can be generalized to other stimuli in the same conditions.

Capillaries↗