Protein microarray platforms for clinical proteomics

Proteomics for clinical applications is presently in a state of transition. It has become clear that the classical approaches based on 2-DE and/or MS need to be complemented by different kinds of technologies. The well-known problems include sample complexity, sensitivity, quantitation, reproducibility, and analysis time. We suggest that the new technologies for clinical proteomics can be supported by antibody-centric protein microarray platforms. These platforms presently include antibody microarrays and lysate, or reverse capture/reverse phase protein microarrays. Other forms of these arrays are in less mature developmental stages, including ORF and self assembling protein microarrays. Bioinformatic support for interpreting these arrays is becoming more available as the whole field of systems biology begins to mature. The present set of applications for these platforms is profoundly focused on certain common cancers, immunology, and cystic fibrosis. However, we predict that many more disease entities will become studied as knowledge of the power and availability of these platforms becomes more widely established. We anticipate that these platforms will eventually evolve to accommodate label-free detection technologies, human genome-scale numbers of analytes, and increases in analytic and bioinformatic speeds.     

The effect of pre‐wetting on liquid penetration performance of surgical gown fabrics

This paper presents the results of a study to explore the effects of pre‐wetting of the inner and outer surface of surgical gown materials on their resistance to subsequent penetration. Two gown fabrics currently in common use, one disposable and one reusable, were tested for liquid penetration following standard procedures specified for categorizing surgical gown protection levels. Synthetic blood, simulated human perspiration, and isopropyl alcohols were used as challenge liquids. Significant results from independent‐samples t‐test analysis indicated that the dry–wet condition of surgical gown fabrics is a significant factor in barrier efficacy. Protection of the wearer may be compromised by gown fabric wetness from blood or other liquids in the surgical environment or by the wearer’s perspiration. Protocols for replacement of surgical gowns may need to take these factors into account.     

Rabeprazole in treatment of acid peptic diseases: results of three placebo-controlled dose-response clinical trials in duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Rabeprazole Study Group

The binding of 125I-factor Xa to human aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) monolayers was studied. At 4 degreesC, 125I-factor Xa bound to a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant value of 3.6+/-0.7 nM and a binding site density of 11,720+/-1,240 sites/cell (n = 9). 125I-factor Xa binding was not affected by factor X, thrombin, or by DX9065, a direct inhibitor of factor Xa, but was inhibited by factor Xa (IC50 = 5.4+/-0.2 nM; n = 9) and by antibodies specific for the effector cell protease receptor 1 (EPR-1), a well-known receptor of factor Xa on various cell types. A factor X peptide duplicating the inter-EGF sequence Leu83-Leu88-(Gly) blocked the binding of 125I-factor Xa to these cells in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 110+/-21 nM). Factor Xa increased phosphoinositide turnover in SMCs and when added to SMCs in culture was a potent mitogen. These effects were inhibited by DX9065 and by antibodies directed against EPR-1 and PDGF. Increased expression of EPR-1 was identified immunohistochemically on SMCs growing in culture and in SMCs from the rabbit carotid artery after vascular injury. When applied locally to air-injured rabbit carotid arteries, antibodies directed against EPR-1 (100 mug/ artery) strongly reduced myointimal proliferation 14 d after vascular injury (65-71% inhibition, P < 0.01). DX9065 (10 mg/kg, subcutaneous) inhibited myointimal proliferation significantly (43% inhibition, P < 0.05). These findings indicate that SMCs express functional high affinity receptors for factor Xa related to EPR-1, which may be of importance in the regulation of homeostasis of the vascular wall and after vascular injury.     

Status of knowledge on stress and deformation analysis at critical locations of steel reactor pressure vessels

The paper presents a review of knowledge on stress and deformation analysis at critical locations of steel reactor pressure vessels such as flanges, nozzles, nozzle-to-cylinder connections and nozzle-to-hemisphere connections. Besides elastic stress analysis, the application of linear-elastic fracture mechanics, plastic limit load analysis, stress analysis in the creep range, and the analysis of problems of dynamic loading are treated in this context.     

Perseverative behavior in Alzheimer's disease and subcortical ischemic vascular dementia.

Perseverative behavior has not been extensively studied in patients with dementia. In this study, perseverative behavior was elicited with the dementia version of the Graphical Sequence Test. A control group and participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (IVD) were studied. A factor analysis revealed a 3-factor model consisting of perseverations related to semantic knowledge, motor functioning, and a third, intermediary factor. IVD participants made more total perseverations than did AD participants. Perseverations made by AD participants were correlated with deficits on tests of semantic knowledge, whereas the perseverations made by IVD participants were correlated with motor and frontal systems tests. Results are consistent with the view that perseverative behavior is hierarchically arranged in terms of specific levels of cognitive complexity and the overall pattern of cognitive deficits associated with each type of dementia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Visuoconstructional problems in dementia: Contribution of executive systems functions.

Visuoconstructional ability was assessed by asking patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD), ischaemic vascular dementia (IVD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) and a normal control group (NC) to copy a modification of the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure (M–ROCF). The drawings of the NC group were superior to all dementia participants. AD patients generally outperformed LVD and PD patients; however, there were few differences between LVD and PD groups. Nonetheless, the drawings of LVD and PD patients were very fragmented and contained numerous perseverations and omissions. Despite these errors, patients with LVD and PD obtained higher delayed recognition memory scores than AD patients. Correlational analyses among dementia patients between neuropsychological tests and the copy of the M–ROCF found that accurate figure copy was most consistently correlated with tests of working memory, that is, tests requiring patients to monitor their behavior and sustain a complex mental set while performing mental manipulations. By contrast, no relationship between executive function tests related to measures of response selection/inhibition or other domains of neuropsychological functioning was found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Constructing Multiple Scene Graphs in Distributed Environment

Scene graph is a infrastructure of the virtual reality system to organize the virtual scene with abstraction, it can provide facility for the rendering engine and should be integrated effectively on demand into a real-time system, where a large quantities of scene objects and resources can be manipulated and managed with high flexibility and reliability. We present a new scheme of multiple scene graphs to accommodate the features of rendering engine and distributed systems. Based upon that, some other functions, e.g. block query, interactive editing, permission management, instance response, ″redo″ and ″undo″, are implemented to satisfy various requirements. At the same time, our design has compatibility to popular C/S architecture with good concurrent performance. Above all, it is convenient to be used for further development. The results of experiments including responding time demonstrate its good performance.     

Mammography use among sociodemographically diverse women: the accuracy of self-report

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the accuracy of self-report of mammography experience among 392 ethnically diverse women aged 50 to 74. METHODS: Subjects were randomized to the telephone or mail condition and surveyed. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of women reported accurately the exact month and year of their most recent mammogram; 54% reported accurately within +/- 3 months, and 83% reported accurately within the year. Greater accuracy was associated with exam recency, White race, and non-Hispanic ethnicity, but not with age, education, or income. Most women could correctly report the reason for, the findings of, and the payor of their mammograms but knew little about how much they or their insurance paid. CONCLUSIONS: For population surveillance of mammography in the past year, self-report data are generally valid. However, clinical studies requiring more precise dates must use such data with caution. The telephone method, as compared with mail, appears to be a better option for some variables.