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PubMed1968

Pyrimidine dimers in the DNA of Paramecium aurelia.

The production and fate of thymine-containing pyrimidine dimers in Paramecium aurelia DNA was investigated in three experimental series: production of dimers by UV irradiation, fate of dimers in the dark, and "loss of photoreactivability of dimers." It is shown that cyclobutyl dimers are made by UV irradiation of Paramecium DNA in vivo, that because of cytoplasmic absorption the number of dimers made in DNA irradiated in vivo is much lower than in DNA irradiated in vitro, that dimers are lost from animals incubated in the dark after irradiation, and that all the dimers that remain in the animals can be destroyed by photoreactivating illumination. Since mutation induction is photoreactivable, these and previous photoreactivation data suggest that pyrimidine dimers are important in mutation induction in P. aurelia.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Multicentre evaluation of a new point-of-care test for the quantitative determination of D-dimer.

Imprecision studies, interference testing and multicentre method comparisons using patient samples were carried out with of a new point-of-care test for D-dimer (CARDIAC D-Dimer). The CV of the within-series and the day-to-day imprecision with blood samples and control materials were between 7% and 13%. Compared with Tina-quant D-Dimer, CARDIAC D-Dimer showed a good correlation and accuracy (n=353; r=0.91; y=1.06x-0.03), compared with STA LIATEST D-Dimer some poorer accuracy (n=304; r=0.91; y=1.12x-0.03). No interference was detected for different hematocrit values (16% to 51%) and in investigations with hemoglobin (up to 0.13 mmol/l), biotin (up to 30 microg/l), bilirubin (up to 340 micromol/l), intralipid (up to 31.1 mmol/l) and rheumatic factor (up to 79 IU/ml). Overdosing or underdosing by 10 microl did not affect the test result. The diagnostic sensitivity of CARDIAC D-Dimer for the detection of acute venous thromboembolic diseases was 100% in our study. With CARDIAC D-Dimer reliable quantitative D-dimer results can be easily obtained. Because of the good analytical and clinical agreement with Tina-quant D-Dimer, it should be suitable for ruling out venous thromboembolic diseases.

Clinical Chemistry Tests↗
PubMed2001

D-dimer testing as the initial test for suspected pulmonary embolism. Appropriateness of prescription and physician compliance to guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have shown that strategies for pulmonary embolism diagnosis which have included D-dimer testing have been most cost effective. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a new strategy for pulmonary embolism diagnosis based on D-dimer results. METHODS: A prospective survey was conducted in the emergency ward and three medical departments of a university teaching hospital. Guidelines for diagnosis of PE were established and implemented through an educational intervention and a specific order form. D-dimer (ELISA) was required for all patients suspected of having PE. A result above 500 ng/ml was to be followed by an a pulmonary imaging procedure. Appropriateness of prescription of D-dimer and non-compliance with guidelines (absence of diagnostic imaging procedure following D-dimer results above 500 ng/ml) were evaluated. RESULTS: One-hundred sixty patients were studied. D-dimer test was performed in 154 patients (96.3%) suspected of PE during a two-month period. Test results were above 500 ng/ml in 111 cases. PE was confirmed in 20 cases. Twenty percent (31/154) of the D-dimer prescriptions were inappropriate. Among those with D-dimer results above 500 ng/ml, 45% (50/111) of the patients experienced no imaging procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Despite implementation of clinical guidelines for its use, D-dimer was excessively prescribed. A large proportion of results was not taken in consideration by prescribers. Often new technologies have good experimental results, but behave differently when used routinely in ordinary care settings. It is important that field studies be developed to evaluate the effectiveness of new technologies.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1997

Amino-terminal dimerization of an erythropoietin mimetic peptide results in increased erythropoietic activity.

BACKGROUND: Erythropoietin (EPO), the hormone involved in red blood cell production, activates its receptor by binding to the receptor's extracellular domain and presumably dimerizing two receptor monomers to initiate signal transduction. EPO-mimetic peptides, such as EMP1, also bind and activate the receptor by dimerization. These mimetic peptides are not as potent as EPO, however. The crystal structure of the EPO receptor (EBP) bound to EMP1 reveals the formation of a complex consisting of two peptides bound to two receptors, so we sought to improve the biological activity of EPO-mimetic peptides by constructing covalent dimers of EMP1 and other peptide mimetics linked by polyethylene glycol (PEG). RESULTS: The potency of the PEG-dimerized EPO peptide mimetics both in vitro and in vivo was improved up to 1,000-fold compared to the corresponding peptide monomers. The dimers were constructed using peptide monomers which have only one reactive amine per molecule, allowing us to conclude that the increase in potency can be attributed to a structure in which two peptides are linked through their respective amino termini to the difunctional PEG molecule. In addition, an inactive peptide was converted into a weak agonist by PEG-induced dimerization. CONCLUSIONS: The potency of previously isolated peptides that are modest agonists of the EPO receptor was dramatically increased by PEG-induced dimerization. The EPO receptor is thought to be dimerized during activation, so our results are consistent with the proposed 2:2 receptor : peptide stoichiometry. The conversion of an inactive peptide into an agonist further supports the idea that dimerization can mediate receptor activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Titration of histidine 62 in R67 dihydrofolate reductase is linked to a tetramer<-->two-dimer equilibrium.

R67 dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an R-plasmid encoded protein that confers clinical resistance to the antibacterial drug trimethoprim. To determine whether an acidic titration in kinetic pH profiles is related to titration of histidines 62, 162, 262, and 362, the stability of tetrameric R67 DHFR has been monitored as a function of pH. For the pH range 5-8, tetrameric R67 DHFR reversibly dissociates into dimers, as monitored by ultracentrifugation and molecular sieving techniques. From the crystal structures of dimeric and tetrameric R67 DHFR [Matthews et al. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 4194-4204] (Narayana, Matthews, and Xuong, personal communication), symmetry-related histidines 62, 162, 262, and 362 occur at the two dimer-dimer interfaces and protonation of these residues could destabilize tetrameric R67 DHFR. Ionization of these histidines was confirmed by monitoring the chemical shifts of the C2 proton in NMR experiments, and best fits of an incomplete titration curve yield a pKa of 6.77. Since tryptophans 38, 138, 238, and 338 also occur at the dimer-dimer interfaces, fluorescence additionally monitors the tetramer-two dimers equilibrium. When fluorescence was monitored over the pH range 5-8, a protein concentration dependence of fluorescence was observed and global fitting of three titration curves yielded Kd = 9.72 nM and pKa = 6.84 for the linked reactions: [formula: see text] Modification of H62, H162, H262, and H362 by diethyl pyrocarbonate stabilizes dimeric R67 DHFR and causes a 200-600-fold decrease in catalytic efficiency. Decreased catalytic activity in dimeric R67 DHFR is presumably due to loss of the putative single active site pore found in tetrameric R67 DHFR.

Chromatography, Gel↗
PubMed1993

Solution structure of the mithramycin dimer-DNA complex.

We have characterized the NMR parameters for the complexes formed by the Mg(2+)-coordinated mithramycin dimer with self-complementary d(T-G-G-C-C-A) and d(T-C-G-C-G-A) duplexes. The solution structure of the latter complex has been determined using a combined NMR-molecular dynamics study including relaxation matrix refinement. The Mg(2+)-coordinated mithramycin dimer-d(T-C-G-C-G-A) complex exhibits a 2-fold center of symmetry with the divalent cation coordinated aglycons positioned opposite the central (G3-C4).(G3-C4) segment such that the aglycon C8 hydroxyl oxygens form symmetrical sequence-specific hydrogen bonds to guanine amino protons in the complex. The C-D-E trisaccharide segments of each monomer in the mithramycin dimer adopt extended conformations, are positioned inside the minor groove, and are directed toward either end of the duplex. The C-D saccharide component of one monomer and the aglycon of the other monomer in the mithramycin dimer share a widened minor groove with the hydrophobic edges of the C and D sugars interacting with individual strands of the duplex. The E-sugar ring is positioned in the floor of the minor groove, and its hydroxyl-bearing face interacts with both strands of the duplex through hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic intermolecular interactions. The A-B disaccharide and the hydrophilic side chain form intermolecular contacts with the sugar-phosphate backbone in the complex. The antiparallel alignment of divalent cation coordinated monomers in the mithramycin dimer results in the two outwardly directed C-D-E trisaccharide segments generating a right-handed continuous hexasaccharide domain that spans six base pairs in the minor groove of the duplex. The solution structure of the mithramycin dimer-DNA complex reported in this study and the solution structure of the chromomycin dimer-DNA complex reported previously [Gao, X., Mirau, P., & Patel, D. J. (1992) J. Mol. Biol. 223, 259-279] show global similarities, as well as local differences that are of interest. All four nucleotides in the tetranucleotide segment of the duplex centered about the sequence-specific (G-C).(G-C) step adopt A-DNA sugar puckers and glycosidic torsion angles in the chromomycin dimer-DNA complex, while only the central cytidine adopts an A-DNA sugar pucker and glycosidic torsion angle in the mithramycin dimer-DNA complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Kinetics of Fc epsilon RI dimer formation by specific monoclonal antibodies on mast cells.

Clustering of the type I receptor for Fc epsilon domains constitutes the signal initiation leading to mast cell secretory response. In order to characterize the relationship between the lifetime of clustered Fc epsilon receptors and the cellular response we have studied the rates of association and dissociation of monoclonal, IgG class antibodies (mAbs) specific for the alpha-subunit of type 1 receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) (designated as F4, J17, and H10) to and from this receptor on live rat mucosa-type mast cells (line RBL-2H3) were measured at three different temperatures (25, 15, and 4 degrees C). These antibodies dimerize the Fc epsilon RI on these cells and induce their secretion, thus providing clear evidence that Fc epsilon receptor dimers are sufficient for the stimulus [Ortega et al. (1988), EMBO J. 7, 4101]. Marked differences in the response to the different mAbs have been explained in terms of possible orientational constraints imposed by them on the Fc epsilon receptor dimers. Interaction kinetics between the Fab fragments of these mAbs and the Fc epsilon RI have previously been measured and found to be best fitted by a two-reaction-step model involving a conformational transition from a low-affinity (l) to a high-affinity (h) state of the receptor-ligand complex [Ortega et al. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 3473]. Analysis of the interaction kinetics between the corresponding intact mAbs and the Fc epsilon RI therefore requires consideration of this 1-->h transition for both complexes involved, namely, the monomeric Fc epsilon RI-mAb and the dimeric Fc epsilon RI-mAb-Fc epsilon RI complexes. This was done by assuming the involvement of the following Fc epsilon RI dimer species: all 1- or h-state dimers Dll and Dhh and a hybrid Dlh with one receptor in the l state and the other in the h state. A self-consistent set of rate constants was derived by fitting the experimental results to this model. At 25 degrees C the all-h-state dimers Dhh turned out to be preferentially stabilized, probably by interaction with other cellular components. Different dimer formation rates were observed for each of the three mAbs, indicating that the dimer distribution among different states is determined by the individual epitope-binding site combination and also by the geometry of the respective complexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Detection of bovine heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase dimers in Triton X-100 and phospholipid vesicles by chemical cross-linking.

Bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase is a multisubunit enzyme whose oligomeric state is dependent on its detergent or phospholipid environment. We have utilized the cleavable, heterobifunctional cross-linking reagent N-succinimidyl 3-[(4-azidophenyl)dithio]propionate (SADP) to detect cytochrome c oxidase dimers. Monomeric or dimeric enzyme dispersed in Triton X-100 (as assessed by sedimentation velocity measurements) was reacted with SADP. A unique intersubunit cross-link having an apparent molecular mass of 136 kDa was identified in the dimeric enzyme; this product was insensitive to limited proteolysis by trypsin and contained a cross-link between two adjacent monomers. Two-dimensional NaDodSO4-PAGE (the second dimension containing beta-mercaptoethanol to cleave the cross-linking reagent) indicated that subunit I was the major component of the dimer-specific cross-link. The dimer-specific cross-link created by SADP was observed in phospholipid vesicles [cardiolipin/phosphatidylcholine (1:20, w/w)] containing dimeric (2 microM heme aa3) enzyme; a low yield of dimer-specific cross-link was observed in liposomes containing 6 microM (heme aa3) monomeric enzyme. The 136-kDa cross-link was not observed in liposomes containing 2 microM (heme aa3) monomeric enzyme. These results indicate that subunit I from each monomer may provide one site of interaction between monomers in the dimeric form of the enzyme and that cytochrome c oxidase monomers may reassociate to form dimeric complexes in phospholipid vesicles.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Escherichia coli phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system: role of divalent metals in the dimerization and phosphorylation of enzyme I.

The function of divalent metal ions (Mg2+ and Mn2+) in the dimerization and phosphorylation of enzyme I has been studied. Only a dimeric form of the enzyme can be phosphorylated [Misset, O., Brouwer, M., & Robillard, G. T. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 883--890; Hoving, H., Lolkema, J. S., & Robillard, G. T. (1981) Biochemistry 20, 87--93]. Kinetic studies of phosphoryl-group exchange between phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate and measurements of initial enzyme I phosphorylation rates revealed that a divalent metal ion must be bound to the enzyme to render the dimer active. Mn2+ binding experiments by means of electron paramagnetic resonance showed binding of at least one Mn2+ per unphosphorylated dimer with a binding constant comparable to the activation constant found in the kinetic studies and a 10-fold tighter binding of only one Mn2+ per phosphorylated dimer. Gel filtration experiments provided evidence that divalent metals produce about a 10-fold stabilization of the dimers, in addition to their effect on the specific dimer activity. The stability of the dimer was also strongly dependent on salts such as LiCl, NaCl, KCl, and a series of tetraalkylammonium chlorides. The relative effects of these salts suggest that hydrophobic interactions possibly play a significant role in enzyme I dimerization.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1986

Dimeric form of diphtheria toxin: purification and characterization.

Many preparations of diphtheria toxin were found to contain dimeric and multimeric toxin forms. The monomeric and dimeric forms were fractionated to greater than 98% purity, and their properties were compared. Dimeric toxin slowly dissociated to native monomers in solution at neutral pH and could be rapidly dissociated with dimethyl sulfoxide. In cell culture assays and rabbit skin tests, the dimer exhibited no significant toxic activity, except for that attributable to trace contamination by monomer, or partial dissociation to monomer during the incubation period. In guinea pig lethality tests, however, toxic activity varied depending upon the dose. At least 7-fold greater amounts of dimer than monomer (161 ng vs. 22 ng, respectively) were required to cause death at 18 h, whereas similar weights of the two toxin forms (22 ng) caused death at 120 h. This variability probably reflected slow dissociation of dimer to monomer in the animal. The dimer was unable to bind toxin receptors on the surface of susceptible cells, whereas it retained full activity in the ADP-ribosyltransferase, NAD-glycohydrolase, or ligand-binding assays. Thus, the lack of toxicity of the dimeric toxin may have resulted from distortion or occlusion of the receptor binding site on the B moiety. We propose that the dimer contains two monomeric units bound by hydrophobic interactions and that the points of contact involve regions of the B moieties that are normally buried in the native monomer.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Dimerization of the myosin heads in solution.

It is shown, by means of analytical ultracentrifugation, that skeletal myosin S-1 exists in the form of a monomer-dimer mixture, in rapid reversible equilibrium, sensitive to the hydrostatic pressure, the temperature, and the composition of the buffer (at least, pH, ionic strength, presence or absence of a Mg-(phosphate compound), and presence or absence of Mg2+). The dimer is predominant at high pH, at low ionic strength, in the presence of a Mg-(phosphate compound), at high pressure, and at low temperature. The monomer is predominant in the reverse conditions. At atmospheric pressure and at room temperature, in a buffer having a composition close to that of the physiological medium, but containing no Mg-(phosphate compound), the monomer is largely predominant (more than 90% at 1 mg/mL S-1). At atmospheric pressure and at room temperature, in a buffer containing a Mg-(phosphate compound) and having a composition close to that of the physiological medium, S-1 exists in the form of a monomer-dimer mixture, with a noticeable proportion of dimer (more than 25% at 1 mg/mL S-1 in the presence of 2 mM MgADP and 3 mM Mg2+). In such buffers, the monomer:dimer ratio is extremely sensitive to both the pH and the ionic strength. The sedimentation coefficients of the monomer and the dimer are respectively 5.05 +/- 0.05 S and 6.05 +/- 0.05 S. The two protomers making up the dimer are stuck together in an end-to-end arrangement. Both the monomer and the dimer are highly hydrated (about 0.9 g of water/g of protein for the monomer and probably more for the dimer).

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Domains of macrophage N(O) synthase have divergent roles in forming and stabilizing the active dimeric enzyme.

The cytokine-inducible NO synthase (iNOS) is a flavin-containing hemeprotein that must dimerize to generate NO. Trypsin cleaves the dimeric enzyme into an oxygenase domain fragment that remains dimeric, contains heme and H4biopterin, and binds L-arginine and a reductase domain fragment that is monomeric, binds NADPH, FAD, FMN, and catalyzes the reduction of cytochrome c [Ghosh, D. K. & Stuehr, D. J. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 801-807]. The current study investigates the isolated oxygenase and reductase domains of iNOS to understand how they form and stabilize the active dimeric enzyme. The dimeric oxygenase domain dissociated into folded, heme-containing monomers when incubated with 2-5 M urea, whereas the reductase domain unfolded under these conditions and lost its ability to catalyze NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reduction. Spectral analysis of the dissociation reaction showed that it caused structural changes within the oxygenase domain and exposed the distal side of the heme to solvent, enabling it to bind dithiothreitol as a sixth ligand. Importantly, the oxygenase domain monomers could reassociate into a dimeric form even in the absence of the reductase domain. The reaction required L-arginine and H4biopterin and completely reversed the structural changes in heme pocket and protein structure that occurred upon dissociating the original dimer. Together, this confirms that the oxygenase domain contains all of the determinants needed for subunit dimerization and indicates that the dimeric structure greatly affects the heme and protein environment in the oxygenase domain.

Enzyme Stability↗
PubMed1996

Kinetics of Water Exchange on the Dihydroxo-Bridged Rhodium(III) Hydrolytic Dimer.

()()Conventional (18)O isotopic labeling techniques have been used to measure the water exchange rates on the Rh(III) hydrolytic dimer [(H(2)O)(4)Rh(&mgr;-OH)(2)Rh(H(2)O)(4)](4+) at I = 1.0 M for 0.08 < [H(+)] < 0.8 M and temperatures between 308.1 and 323.1 K. Two distinct pathways of water exchange into the bulk solvent were observed (k(fast) and k(slow)) which are proposed to correspond to exchange of coordinated water at positions cis and trans to bridging hydroxide groups. This proposal is supported by (17)O NMR measurements which clearly showed that the two types of water ligands exchange at different rates and that the rates of exchange matched those from the (18)O labeling data. No evidence was found for the exchange of label in the bridging OH groups in either experiment. This contrasts with findings for the Cr(III) dimer. The dependence of both k(fast) and k(slow) on [H(+)] satisfied the expression k(obs) = (k(O)[H(+)](tot) +k(OH)K(a1))/([H(+)](tot) + K(a1)) which allows for the involvement of fully protonated and monodeprotonated Rh(III) dimer. The following rates and activation parameters were determined at 298 K. (i) For fully protonated dimer: k(fast) = 1.26 x 10(-)(6) s(-)(1) (DeltaH() = 119 +/- 4 kJ mol(-)(1) and DeltaS() = 41 +/- 12 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1)) and k(slow) = 4.86 x 10(-)(7) s(-)(1) (DeltaH() = 64 +/- 9 kJ mol(-)(1) and DeltaS() = -150 +/- 30 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1)). (ii) For monodeprotonated dimer: k(fast) = 3.44 x 10(-)(6) s(-)(1) (DeltaH() = 146 +/- 4 kJ mol(-)(1) and DeltaS() = 140 +/- 11 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1)) and k(slow) = 2.68 x 10(-)(6) s(-)(1) (DeltaH() = 102 +/- 3 kJ mol(-)(1) and DeltaS() = -9 +/- 11 J K(-)(1) mol(-)(1)). Deprotonation of the Rh(III) dimer was found to labilize the primary coordination sphere of the metal ions and thus increase the rate of water exchange at positions cis and trans to bridging hydroxides but not to the same extent as for the Cr(III) dimer. Activation parameters and mechanisms for ligand substitution processes on the Rh(III) dimer are discussed and compared to those for other trivalent metal ions and in particular the Cr(III) dimer.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Calculation of vibrational spectra of linear tetrapyrroles. 3. Hydrogen-bonded hexamethylpyrromethene dimers.

The structure and vibrational spectra of hexamethylpyrromethene (HMPM) have been investigated by X-ray crystallography, IR and Raman spectroscopies, and density functional theory calculations. HMPM crystallizes in the form of dimers, which are held together by bifurcated N-H(...N)(2) hydrogen bonds, involving one intramolecular and one intermolecular N-H...N interaction. The monomers are essentially planar, and the mean planes of the monomers lie approximately perpendicular to one another, so that the four N atoms in the dimer form a distorted tetrahedron. The structure of the HMPM dimer is well-reproduced by B3LYP/6-31G calculations. A comparison of the calculated geometry of the dimer with that of the monomer reveals only small changes in the N-H...N entity and the methine bridge angles upon dimerization. These are a result of weakening of the intramolecular N-H...N hydrogen bond and the formation of a more linear N-H...N intermolecular hydrogen bond. Using an empirical relation between the shift of the N-H stretching frequency of pyrrole and the enthalpy of adduct formation with bases [Nozari, M. S.; Drago, R. S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1970, 92, 7086-7090], estimates of the strength of the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds are obtained. IR and Raman spectroscopies of HMPM and its isotopomers deuterated at the pyrrolic nitrogen atom and at the methine bridge reveal that the molecule is monomeric in nonpolar organic solvents but dimeric in a solid Ar matrix and in KBr pellets. The matrix IR spectra show a splitting of vibrational modes for the dimer, particularly those involving the N-H coordinates. Due to intrinsic deficiencies of the B3LYP/6-31G approximation, a satisfactory reproduction of these modes of the monomeric and dimeric HMPM requires specific adjustments of the NH scaling factors for the calculated force constants and, in the case of the NH out-of-plane modes of HMPM dimers, also of intra- and intermolecular coupling constants. This parametrization does not significantly affect the other calculated modes, which in general reveal a very good agreement with the experimental data.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Screening for venous thromboembolism in traumatic brain injury: limitations of D-dimer assay.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether 2 different D-dimer fibrin degradation assays-a second-generation latex immunosorbent agglutination (LIA) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-are predictive for the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) at the currently accepted level of 500 microg/L of D-dimer assay during the first weeks after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to correlate over 8 weeks the second-generation LIA assay with the ELISA assay after acute TBI. DESIGN: A case series of persons with TBI were screened for DVT at 2 weeks (+/-3d) using real-time, spectral Doppler ultrasound, as well as D-dimer fibrin split products. All persons were rescreened at 4, 6, and 8 weeks (+/-3d) after injury using D-dimer LIA and ELISA assays. SETTING: A university hospital with a directly connected comprehensive in- and outpatient rehabilitation center that are part of the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. PARTICIPANTS: Over 3 years, 35 TBI subjects with a mean Glasgow Coma Scale score of 6.5 were consecutively enrolled into the trial while on acute care. Persons were at least 16 years of age with no history of treatment for DVT. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were analyzed for the levels of D-dimer and risk as established by a predictive value of 500 microg/L. Changes in D-dimer values over time and within subjects were assessed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures, and the methods were correlated. RESULTS: The mean LIA level at 2 weeks was 4.3mg/L and averaged 1.6 mg/L at 8 weeks from injury (P=.012, ANOVA), and the ELISA dropped from 4,748 microg/L to 1.695 microg/L (P=.0022, ANOVA). Except for 1 ELISA value in 1 patient, D-dimer levels were elevated beyond 500 microg/L at 2 weeks. There was a very good correlation between the LIA and the ELISA at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after TBI (P<.0001). In individual cases, there were only occasional discrepancies between the LIA and ELISA methods. There were no positive DVTs at 2 weeks using ultrasound, so prediction of the sensitivity and the specificity of D-dimer with DVT was not possible. CONCLUSION: Using the currently recommended levels of D-dimer to predict DVT is not clinically useful in the acute TBI population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Strategies for the safe and effective exclusion and diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis by the sequential use of clinical score, D-dimer testing, and compression ultrasonography.

Patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are subjected to leg vein compression ultrasonography (CUS) that confirms DVT in only 20 to 30% of patients. A positive CUS is consistent with DVT irrespective of clinical score. The sequential use of a simple clinical score assessment, a rapid sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) D-dimer test and CUS to safely exclude DVT is promising. The clinical score is a validated clinical model of complaints, signs, and symptoms, on the basis of which a pretest clinical probability for DVT can be estimated as low, moderate, and high. The safe exclusion of DVT by a rapid sensitive D-dimer test in combination with clinical score or CUS necessitates a negative predictive value of more than 99%. The negative predictive value for DVT is determined by the sensitivity of the rapid ELISA D-dimer test and the prevalence of DVT in subgroups of outpatients with suspected DVT. The prevalence of DVT in outpatients with a low, moderate, and high clinical score varies widely from 3 to 10%, 15 to 30% and more than 70%, respectively. A negative rapid ELISA D-dimer and a low clinical score (prevalence DVT 3 to 5%) will have a very high negative predictive value of more than 99.5% to exclude DVT without the need of CUS testing. A negative ELISA D-dimer test and a first-negative CUS safely exclude DVT in patients with a moderate clinical score with a negative predictive value of more than 99.5%, therefore obviating the need to repeat CUS. The use of a rapid ELISA D-dimer testing in patients with a high clinical score is not recommended. A negative CUS, a low clinical score, and a positive ELISA D-dimer, even less than 1000 ng/mL exclude DVT with a nega tive predictive value of more than 99%. Patients with a negative CUS, but a positive ELISA D-dimer, and a moderate or high clinical score have a probability of DVT of 3 to 5% and 20 to 30%, respectively, and are thus candidates for repeated CUS testing. The proposed sequential use of the clinical score assessment, a rapid ELISA D-dimer test, and CUS will be the most cost-effective diagnostic strategy for DVT because of a significant reduction of CUS examinations and gain of time for the patient and physician in charge.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2004

Conformational effects on vibronic spectra and excited state dynamics of 3-fluorobenzoic acid dimer.

Two conformational isomers of 3-fluorobenzoic acid dimer (3-FBA(2)) have been identified in a supersonic jet expansion by use of laser-induced fluorescence excitation (FE), UV-UV hole-burning, and dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectroscopic methods. In the FE spectrum, the S(1) origins of the two isomeric species appear at a frequency gap of only 24 cm(-1), and the vibronic intensities of the redshifted dimer (dimer I) are about two times weaker than those of dimer II. However, ab initio quantum chemistry calculations at the MP2/6-31G(**) level of theory predict that all the isomeric species of 3-FBA(2) have almost the same binding energy (approximately 17 kcal/mol) in the ground state. Furthermore, unlike benzoic acid dimer, the present system shows intense activity for a low-frequency mode in both the FE and DF spectra. With the aid of DFT (B3LYP/6-311G(**)) predicted normal mode frequencies, we have assigned the mode to the in-plane gear (cogwheel) vibration of the cyclic hydrogen-bonded frame of the dimer. The Franck-Condon profiles for vibronic excitation of the mode indicate that the distortion of the cyclic hydrogen bond frame as a result of S(1)<--S(0) excitation is larger for dimer I than dimer II. Moreover, the fluorescence lifetime at the S(1) zero-point level of the former is also significantly smaller than the latter. Using the predictions of configuration interaction singles calculations, we have proposed that the spectral and dynamical differences between the two isomeric species observed in this study are manifestations of the different characteristics of their S(1) surfaces. By measuring FE, DF, and hole-burning spectra of a mixed dimer between 3-fluobenzoic acid and benzoic acid we have shown that the isomeric features in the homodimer spectra are due to two locally excited rotamers of the 3-fluorobenzoic acid moiety.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Properties of permease dimer, a fusion protein containing two lactose permease molecules from Escherichia coli.

An engineered fusion protein containing two tandem lactose permease molecules (permease dimer) exhibits high transport activity and is used to test the phenomenon of negative dominance. Introduction of the mutation Glu-325-->Cys into either the first or the second half of the dimer results in a 50% decrease in activity, whereas introduction of the mutation into both halves of the dimer abolishes transport. Lactose transport by permease dimer is completely inactivated by N-ethylmaleimide; however, 40-45% activity is retained after N-ethylmaleimide treatment when either the first or the second half of the dimer is replaced with a mutant devoid of cysteine residues. The observations demonstrate that both halves of the fusion protein are equally active and suggest that each half may function independently. To test the possibility that oligomerization between dimers might account for the findings, a permease dimer was constructed that contains two different deletion mutants that complement functionally when expressed as untethered molecules. Because this construct does not catalyze lactose transport to any extent whatsoever, it is unlikely that the two halves of the dimer interact or that there is an oligomeric interaction between dimers. The approach is consistent with the contention that the functional unit of lactose permease is a monomer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗