The in vivo effect of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in neutropenic neonates with sepsis

The effects of recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) in neonatal neutropenia with presumed sepsis, which has a poor prognosis, were investigated. The study involved 14 neonates with presumed sepsis and neutropenia. Findings were compared with those from 24 historical controls. rhG-CSF (5 micrograms/ kg/day i.v. for 5 days) was administered immediately following diagnosis. Complete blood counts were obtained before and 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h after initiation of treatment. Neutrophil storage pool (NSP) was assessed (in 4 patients) before and after treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using one way analysis of variance. Treatment led to an increase in absolute neutrophil count (ANC) levels in 13/14 patients. At the end of treatment, the mean ANC was higher than that of controls (P = 0.007). There was a marked increase in the NSP of between 32% and 65% (P = 0.005). There were two clinical failures, one of whom was considered to have died from his underlying condition. There were no reports of clinical or haematological toxicity during treatment or follow up.     

Characteristics of endogenous peptides eluted from the class I MHC molecule HLA-B7 determined by mass spectrometry and computer modeling

Microcapillary HPLC electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to sequence 15 peptides eluted from HLA-B7. Sequence alignment implicated four peptide positions in specific interactions with the class I molecule, and their importance was confirmed using synthetic peptides. Because no crystal structure for HLA-B7 was available, computer-assisted modeling was used to understand novel aspects of peptide binding specificity and to accurately predict the effect of defined changes in peptide structure. The results demonstrate that mass-spectrometric sequencing coupled with computer-assisted modeling can be used in the absence of a crystal structure to make accurate predictions concerning requirements for peptide binding to class I molecules. These techniques may be valuable to predict or engineer T cell epitopes.     

Hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and antioxidant enzymes in diabetic reticulocytes: effects of insulin and vanadate

Growth factors of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily are involved in cutaneous wound healing. In this study we analyze the expression of the bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) gene, a transforming growth factor-beta related gene, in skin wounds. In normal mouse skin high levels of BMP-6 mRNA and protein are expressed by postmitotic keratinocytes of stratified epidermis until day 6 after birth. BMP-6 expression is strongly reduced in adult epidermis with diminished mitotic activity. After skin injury we found large induction of BMP-6-specific RNA and protein in keratinocytes at the wound edge and keratinocytes of the newly formed epithelium as well as in fibroblast shaped cells in the wound bed. BMP-6-specific RNA was induced within 24 h after injury, whereas significant upregulation of BMP-6 on the protein level was detected only 2-3 d after injury. Protein was confined to outermost suprabasal epidermal layers, whereas BMP-6-specific RNA was distributed throughout all epidermal layers including basal keratinocytes and the leading edge of the migrating keratinocytes. We also detected high levels of BMP-6-specific RNA and protein in chronic human wounds of different etiology. In contrast to the overall distribution pattern of BMP-6-specific RNA, the protein was not detected in keratinocytes directly bordering the wound. In order to test the influence of BMP-6 abundance on the progress of wound healing, we analyzed the wound response of transgenic mice overexpressing BMP-6 in the epidermis. In these mice, reepitheliazation of skin wounds was significantly delayed, suggesting that strict spatial and temporal regulation of BMP-6 expression is necessary not only for formation but also for reestablishment of a fully differentiated epidermis.     

Urinary microalbumin and retinol-binding protein assay for verifying children''s nephron development and maturation

The factors influencing appetite in humans are poorly understood. There is a weak relation between appetite and gastric emptying in normal subjects. Recent studies have shown that fasting and postprandial antral areas increase in patients with functional dyspepsia compared with normal subjects. We evaluated the hypothesis that antral area, and hence antral distention, is a significant determinant of postprandial fullness. Fourteen normal subjects had simultaneous measurements of gastric emptying by scintigraphy and antral area by ultrasound after ingestion of 350 mL 20% glucose. Fullness and hunger were assessed by visual analog scales. Measurements of the gastric-emptying half time (t1/2) by scintigraphy and ultrasound were not significantly different (129.6 +/- 11.8 min compared with 115.6 +/- 11.4 min). Fullness increased (P < 0.001) and hunger decreased (P < 0.001) after the drink. Both fullness and the magnitude of the increase in fullness after the drink were related to antral area (r > 0.56, P < 0.05), the increase in antral area (r > 0.59, P < 0.05), and the scintigraphic content of the distal stomach (r > 0.57, P < 0.05), but not to the ultrasound or scintigraphic t1/2 values. In contrast, hunger and the magnitude of the decrease in hunger after the drink were not related to either antral area, the increase in antral area, or the rate of gastric emptying. We conclude that postprandial fullness, but not hunger, was closely related to antral distention in normal subjects.     

Personal Virtual Humans — Inhabiting the TalkZone and beyond

One of the fundamental goals of graphics has always been to visually create a three-dimensional person that is indistinguishable from a real person. This target is only slightly short of being reached, as was demonstrated when Columbia Pictures released Final Fantasy in 2001, an animated science fiction film with high-definition emotive characters. Through what has been a cultural and technological convergence, we are now starting to see software tools and techniques that can generate life-like characters while not sacrificing the human judgement and artistic skills that are needed in character animation. Computer games, films, and the Internet are now starting to use virtual humans, which as our conclusion will show will become more realistic. However, a new challenge has been set — people now do not want to just play a computer game with a visually realistic character, or see a television programme with a vivid computer generated character — they want to see themselves in that computer game or film. The future is towards individuals having their own virtual clones, which they can utilise in computer-generated worlds an applications. This paper will discuss the advantages of having a personal computer-generated character, and also describe several systems that BTexact Technologies have successfully developed and deployed to generate them, as well as some of the applications for which they can be used. The paper will finish by glimpsing into the future of what we can expect to see in the next few years, with the advent of this new exciting technology.     

Analysis of the evolutionarily conserved repeat motifs in the genome of the highly endangered central Indian swamp deer Cervus duvauceli branderi

We have analyzed the genome of central Indian swamp deer Cervus duvauceli branderi, an inhabitant of the Kanha National Park, a wildlife conservatory in Central India, with a view to provide a genetic basis for their extinction. Evolutionarily conserved repeat sequence motifs (GATA)3.75, TA(GATA)4, (GACA)3.75, (TGG)6 and a set of mouse beta-actin primers were used to uncover the sequence variation within and between related species by employing techniques of hybridization and AP-PCR amplification. The oligo probe carrying the GACA and TGG repeat motifs was found to be positive with Cervus genome, whereas (GATA)3.75, TA(GATA)4 and beta-actin probes did not cross-hybridize with the same. AP-PCR amplification with (GACA)3.75, unlike the (TGG)6 primer, generated distinct bands in the range of 0. 37-2.10kb amongst different genomes including Cervus. A comparative genome analysis of other species using the AP-PCR approach with (GACA)3.75 primer revealed the phylogenetic status of Cervus duvauceli branderi. From the analysis of a very limited number of Cervus DNA samples, we observed a high level of genetic homogeneity that may be a prime reason for the extinction of this species. This study has implications in the context of conservation of this endangered Cervus duvauceli branderi species.     

Study on the mortality of injury in elderly population in Hai Dian District, Beijing

We have analyzed the report on data of all deaths among 60 year-olds and above in Hai Dian District from 1987 to 1994. The results showed that the mortality of injuries in aging group had a decreasing trend in the last 8 years. The main reasons of death of injuries in this area are fall, traffic accident, poisoning and suicide. Thus the prevention of injury in elderly population should be considered very important.     

BCL6 gene rearrangement and other cytogenetic abnormalities in diffuse large cell lymphoma

Evidence for rearrangement of the BCL6 gene at 3q27 has been documented in 20-30% diffuse lymphomas with a large cell component (DLLC), and was found to be of prognostic significance at the time of diagnosis. To incorporate these observations into current cytogenetic and clinical prognostic models, 76 cases of DLLC with known BCL6 status were analyzed. Cytogenetic indicators of progression, including trisomy 7, trisomy 12, del(6)(q21q25), and structural alterations of 17p were less frequent in BCL6 rearranged DLLC compared to BCL6 germline tumors. Despite a 93% overall survival at median follow-up of 30 months, a trend for continued relapse resulted in a projected freedom from progression for the BCL6 rearranged cohort of 66% at 4 years, compared to 39% for the BCL6 germline cohort. Six cases among the BCL6 rearranged group lacked additional cytogenetic indicators of progression and remained free of disease at follow-up in excess of 7 years, whereas BCL6 rearranged cases with increasing numbers of cytogenetic aberrations showed decreased intervals free from progression of disease. These results suggest that BCL6 rearrangement should be combined with other known clinical and cytogenetic indicators in prognostic analyses of patients with DLLC.     

An Effective Online Collaborative Training in Developing Listening Comprehension Skills

The COVID-19 outbreak severely affected formal face-to-face classroom teaching and learning. ICT-based online education and training can be a useful measure during the pandemic. In the Pakistani educational context, the use of ICT-based online training is generally sporadic and often unavailable, especially for developing English-language instructors’ listening comprehension skills. The major factors affecting availability include insufficient IT resources and infrastructure, a lack of proper online training for speech and listening, instructors with inadequate academic backgrounds, and an unfavorable environment for ICT-based training for listening comprehension. This study evaluated the effectiveness of ICT-based training for developing secondary-level English-language instructors’ listening comprehension skills. To this end, collaborative online training was undertaken using random sampling. Specifically, 60 private-school instructors in Chakwal District, Pakistan, were randomly selected to receive online-listening training sessions using English dialogs. The experimental group achieved significant scores in the posttest analysis. Specifically, there were substantial improvements in the participants’ listening skills via online training. Given the unavailability of face-to-face learning during COVID-19, this study recommends using ICT-based online training to enhance listening comprehension skills. Education policymakers should revise curricula based on online teaching methods and modules.