Pi (antitrypsin) typing methods. A comparison of acid starch-gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing

The Pi typing methods acid starch-gel electrophoresis (ASGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) have been compared by three reference laboratories: 564 samples of phenotypes Pi M, MS and MZ were tested in each of the three laboratories with a 96% agreement on initial typing. The discrepancies are recorded and reasons for disagreement discussed. IEF is a reliable method for Pi typing and gives results comparable to those obtained by ASGE.     

Mutation in the Arabidopsis PASTICCINO1 gene, which encodes a new FK506-binding protein-like protein, has a dramatic effect on plant development

The pasticcino (pas) mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana are a new class of plant developmental mutants; members of this class show ectopic cell proliferation in cotyledons, extra layers of cells in the hypocotyl, and an abnormal apical meristem. This phenotype is correlated with both cell division and cell elongation defects. There are three complementation groups of pas mutants (pas1, pas2, and pas3, with, respectively 2, 1, and 4 alleles). Here we describe in more detail the pas1-1 allele, which was obtained by insertional mutagenesis. The PAS1 gene has been cloned and characterized; it encodes an immunophilin-like protein similar to the p59 FK506-binding protein (FKBP52). PAS1 is characterized by an FKBP-like domain and three tetratricopeptide repeat units. Although the presence of immunophilins in plants has already been demonstrated, the pas1-1 mutant represents the first inactivation of an FKBP-like gene in plants. PAS1 expression is altered in pas1 mutants and in the pas2 and pas3 mutants. The expression of the PAS1 gene is increased in the presence of cytokinins, a class of phytohormones originally discovered because of their ability to stimulate cell division. These results are of particular relevance as they show for the first time that an FKBP-like protein plays an important role in the control of plant development.     

Results of cemented metal-backed acetabular components: a 10-year-average follow-up study

We have developed a computer program for the rapid assessment of the primary structure differences between a protein of unknown sequence and a homologous known protein. Both proteins are reduced, alkylated, and digested with the same hydrolytic agent. The unfractionated peptide mixtures are submitted to automatic sequence analysis. Based on the knowledge of the reference sequence, the program utilizes the analysis data to identify all the potential peptides present in the two mixtures, determining their primary structure, homology degree, and molecular weight calculated both as integer MH+ and average mass variables. These fingerprints allow the user to easily identify the structural differences between the two proteins and clarify possible doubts by a mass spectrometric analysis of the two mixtures. In order to verify the utility of the program, we provide an application example using the already reported data of two homologous proteins.     

Esterified estrogens with and without methyltestosterone decrease arterial LDL metabolism in cynomolgus monkeys

OBJECTIVES: To assess retinal complications and to identify risk factors for retinal complications following aqueous shunt procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of 38 consecutive aqueous shunt procedures that were performed on 36 patients at the Eye Institute of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, from June 1993 to March 1995 (minimum follow-up, 6 months) were reviewed. The mean +/- SD follow-up was 11.4 +/- 5.2 months (median, 10.5 months). RESULTS: Twelve patients (32%) had the following retinal complications: 4 serous choroidal effusions (10%) that required drainage, 3 suprachoroidal hemorrhages (8%), 2 vitreous hemorrhages (5%), 1 rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (3%), 1 endophthalmitis (3%), and 1 scleral buckling extrusion (3%). Surgical procedures for retinal complications were required in 8 (67%) of these 12 patients. Visual acuity decreased 2 lines or more in 9 (75%) of these 12 patients. The median onset of a postoperative retinal complication was 12.5 days, with 10 patients (83%) experiencing complications within 35 days. Serous choroidal effusions developed in 10 other patients (26%), and these effusions resolved spontaneously. Visual acuity decreased 2 lines or more in 2 (20%) of these additional 10 patients. Patients who experienced serious retinal complications were significantly older, had a higher rate of hypertension, and postoperative ocular hypotony. Serious retinal complications were distributed evenly among patients with Krupin valves with discs and Molteno and Baerveldt devices. Experience with the Ahmed glaucoma valve implant was limited. CONCLUSION: Aqueous shunt procedures may be associated with significant retinal complications and subsequent visual loss.     

Photoaffinity labeling of the human erythrocyte nucleoside transporter by N6-(p-Azidobenzyl)adenosine and nitrobenzylthioinosine. Evidence that the transporter is a band 4.5 polypeptide

N6-(p-Azidobenzyl)adenosine (ABA) and nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) were employed as covalent probes of the nucleoside transport mechanism in human erythrocytes. NBMPR, a potent inhibitor of nucleoside transport, binds tightly (KD 0.3-1 nM) to specific sites on nucleoside transporter elements. ABA, a less potent inhibitor of uridine influx, competitively inhibited NBMPR binding (Ki 15 nM). [3H]ABA was bound tightly (KD 13.4 nM) but reversibly to sites on erythrocytes which appeared to be those which bind NBMPR. ABA binding was inhibited by uridine and adenosine. Irradiation with UV light caused site-bound [3H]ABA on erythrocyte membranes to become covalently bound and, similarly, photoactivation resulted in covalent attachment of membrane-bound [3H]NBMPR. In the presence of dithiothreitol, a free radical scavenger, photoactivation of the site-bound 3H-ligand on membranes depleted of extrinsic membrane proteins resulted in selective incorporation of 3H into band 4.5 of the membrane polypeptides which were resolved on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electropherograms. This result, when considered with previous findings, indicates that the NBMPR-binding component of the nucleoside transport mechanism (or the entire mechanism, if the NBMPR site is an integral part) is a band 4.5 polypeptide.     

Cardiovascular and biochemical evidence of stress during major surgery associated with different techniques of anaesthesia

The relative merits of a potent narcotic and a spinal analgesic to affect the stress response to a standard operation have been assessed. Forty-five fit patients scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy were allocated at random to three groups, referred to as standard (i.v. anaesthesia alone), spinal (spinal plus i.v. anaesthesia) and fentanyl (fentanyl plus i.v. anaesthesia) groups. In the doses used, fentanyl produced the most effective attenuation of the cardiovascular, hormonal and metabolic responses to stress, but had the disadvantage of prolonged respiratory depression. Spinal anaesthesia gave only a modified blockade of the response to stress and did not obtund the response to intubation.     

Altered electrodermal responsivity associated with clinical pain

We used certain physiologic maneuvers to perturb the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in an attempt to detect a link between the ANS and pain. In the unperturbed state, we found no difference in the electrodermal response among normal controls, preoperative patients (increased stress without pain) and postoperative patients (increased stress and pain). The electrodermal response elicited by autonomic maneuvers was significantly attenuated in postoperative patients but not in preoperative patients or in normal control subjects.     

Holistic Information Security: ISO 27001 and Due Care

“The only truly secure system is one that is powered off, cast in a block of concrete and sealed in a lead-lined room with armed guards—and even then I have my doubts.”

—Gene Spafford, Professor of Computer Science, Purdue University     

The Bitwise Hashing Trick for Personalized Search

Many real world problems require fast and efficient lexical comparison of large numbers of short text strings. Search personalization is one such domain. We introduce the use of feature bit vectors using the hashing trick for improving relevance in personalized search and other personalization applications. We present results of several lexical hashing and comparison methods. These methods are applied to a user’s historical behavior and are used to predict future behavior. Using a single bit per dimension instead of floating point results in an order of magnitude decrease in data structure size, while preserving or even improving quality. We use real data to simulate a search personalization task. A simple method for combining bit vectors demonstrates an order of magnitude improvement in compute time on the task with only a small decrease in accuracy.