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PubMed2001

Spectrin and ankyrin-based pathways: metazoan inventions for integrating cells into tissues.

The spectrin-based membrane skeleton of the humble mammalian erythrocyte has provided biologists with a set of interacting proteins with diverse roles in organization and survival of cells in metazoan organisms. This review deals with the molecular physiology of spectrin, ankyrin, which links spectrin to the anion exchanger, and two spectrin-associated proteins that promote spectrin interactions with actin: adducin and protein 4.1. The lack of essential functions for these proteins in generic cells grown in culture and the absence of their genes in the yeast genome have, until recently, limited advances in understanding their roles outside of erythrocytes. However, completion of the genomes of simple metazoans and application of homologous recombination in mice now are providing the first glimpses of the full scope of physiological roles for spectrin, ankyrin, and their associated proteins. These functions now include targeting of ion channels and cell adhesion molecules to specialized compartments within the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum of striated muscle and the nervous system, mechanical stabilization at the tissue level based on transcellular protein assemblies, participation in epithelial morphogenesis, and orientation of mitotic spindles in asymmetric cell divisions. These studies, in addition to stretching the erythrocyte paradigm beyond recognition, also are revealing novel cellular pathways essential for metazoan life. Examples are ankyrin-dependent targeting of proteins to excitable membrane domains in the plasma membrane and the Ca(2+) homeostasis compartment of the endoplasmic reticulum. Exciting questions for the future relate to the molecular basis for these pathways and their roles in a clinical context, either as the basis for disease or more positively as therapeutic targets.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Who invented 'Avicenna's gilded pills'?

This article questions the belief expressed in various histories of pharmacy that the tenth-century Arab physician Avicenna introduced the tradition of coating pills with gold and silver. Although an examination of his Canon documents Avicenna's interest in the medicinal application of gold and silver, no mention is made of coating pills. Nor do other Islamic physicians seem to have been familiar with this practice, any more than such medieval European authors as Arnaldus of Villanova, Raymund Lull or Johannes de Rupescissa. The same is true of medicinal compendia representative of later periods, such as the Ortus sanitatis, Valerius Cordus' Dispensatorium or the Secrets of Alessio Piemontese. The earliest known mention of coating pills with precious metals occurs in a non-medical book, The Golden Fleece (London, 1626), and the earliest mention in the professional literature seems to appear only in the second half of the seventeenth century. The practice of coating pills with gold and silver was to be practiced in Europe into the first half of the twentieth century.

Drug Compounding↗
PubMed1995

Re-inventing the wheel; the use of autologous and fresh donor blood in cardiac surgery.

From the opening of a new cardiac surgical programme in November 1992, autologous and fresh donor blood (FDB) were used rather than cold stored blood (CSB) wherever possible in patients undergoing operations involving the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In the first 250 consecutive patients, autologous blood was used in 168 (67.2%), fresh blood was used in 188 (75.2%). A total of 740 units of fresh blood were obtained on the day of operation (mean 3.9 +/- 1.6 units per patient able to supply donors; 4.9 +/- 1.7 units in the 147 who received fresh blood) and 728 units of stored blood were used (mean 3.08 +/- 1.84 units per patient where fresh blood was used; 6.2 +/- 2.5 units in the 114 where no fresh blood was used). The use of autologous blood significantly reduced FDB and CSB requirements (p < 0.001), was associated with a shorter intensive care and total postoperative stay (p = 0.006 and p = 0.033 respectively), even though there were more urgent and emergency cases in this group (p = 0.009) and no significant difference in chest drainage. Coagulopathy developed in 41 patients (16.4%) and was significantly associated with bypass time (p = 0.0001) and preoperative renal dysfunction (p = 0.005), although not with advanced age, sex, redo operation, diabetes or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Patients with coagulopathy had significantly more transfused blood and blood products (p = 0.0001) and longer intensive care and total postoperative stays (p = 0.0001). In terms of blood conservation, the use of autologous blood was of primary importance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Breast and cervical cancer screening practices and inventions among Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese Americans.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To review research on breast and cervical cancer screening practices among Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese Americans. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of the 28 studies reviewed, 19 (68%) were descriptive and 9 (32%) were interventions. Instruments were developed or translated into the native language. Inconsistent operational definitions for positive facilitators and negative barriers made comparisons across studies difficult. CONCLUSIONS: Research about breast and cervical cancer screening is limited in these groups. All of the studies reviewed indicated low adherence to cancer screening guidelines. Some interventions showed promising results. Poor awareness about cancer was reported; positive facilitators and negative barriers were identified. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The rapidly increasing number of Asian Americans in the United States underscores the need for further research in this area. Future studies should focus on each population as a disaggregated subgroup. Cancer control interventions should be culturally competent.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The minitel: the glittering future of a new invention.

In the eighties a new medium has found its way in French society: the minitel. It has influenced gay communication immediately, heavily and constantly. The role of the minitel in the gay world of the eighties is gone into. Some ideas are put forward as to why the minitel has been so successful in France. A connection is made between the minitel's success and the role of anonymity and promiscuity in the gay world. A theoretical explanation is sought in the link between urbanisation and social communication.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗