Aortopulmonary fistula in an infected Dacron graft for coarctation of the aorta: an uncommon cause of hemoptysis

Hemoptysis secondary to an aortobronchial fistula is rare and uniformly fatal when left untreated. The authors describe a case of massive hemoptysis caused by an aortopulmonary fistula in an infected Dacron graft used successfully to repair a coarctation of the aorta.     

A new class of tobacco chitinases homologous to bacterial exo-chitinases displays antifungal activity

A novel chitinase gene of tobacco was isolated and characterized by DNA sequence analysis of a genomic clone and a cDNA clone. Comparative sequence analysis of both clones showed an identity of 94%. The proteins encoded by these sequences do not correspond to any of the previously characterized plant chitinases of classes I-IV and are designated as class V chitinases. Comparison of the chitinase class V peptide sequence with sequences in the Swiss Protein databank revealed significant sequence similarity with bacterial exo-chitinases from Bacillus circulans, Serratia marcescens and Streptomyces plicatus. It was demonstrated that class V chitinase gene expression is induced after treatment of tobacco with different forms of stress, like TMV-infection, ethylene treatment, wounding or ultraviolet irradiation. Two related chitinase class V proteins of 41 and 43 kDa were purified from Samsun NN tobacco leaves inoculated with tobacco mosaic virus. The proteins were purified by Chelating Superose chromatography and gel filtration. In vitro assays demonstrated that class V chitinases have endo-chitinase activity and exhibit antifungal activity toward Trichoderma viride and Alternaria radicina. In addition, it was shown that class V chitinase acts synergistically with tobacco class I beta-1,3-glucanase against Fusarium solani germlings.     

Distribution of hepatic glycosaminoglycans during acute schistosomiasis: modulation by IFN gamma treatment

The neuropsychological characteristics of frontal lobe epilepsy have rarely been reported, with neuropsychological indicators usually being related to subjects with other forms of neurological damage. In this study we assessed the performance of 74 subjects with frontal lobe epilepsy (42 with left, 32 with right frontal epileptic foci) on a series of measures thought to be sensitive to frontal lobe dysfunction and compared to 57 subjects with temporal lobe epilepsy (31 with left, 26 with right epileptic foci). The results indicated a number of measures that could be considered sensitive to frontal lobe epileptic dysfunction. However, the pattern of results did not indicate consistent deficits to be associated with frontal lobe epileptic dysfunction. There are a number of unique factors associated with epilepsy that need to be considered, and these may account for the variable pattern of results obtained. In particular, the rapid propagation of frontal lobe seizures both bilaterally and to other cortical regions has to be considered.     

Adrenergic regulation of aqueous outflow

Epinephrine increased outflow facility and cyclic AMP in the in vitro perfused human anterior segment with a maximal facility increase of 44% occurring at approximately 2 x 10(-5) M. Cyclic AMP measured in the perfusate from anterior segments increased by 12-14 fold after administration of 10(-5) M epinephrine. Both the facility increase and cyclic AMP rise were blocked by the beta-2 selective antagonist, ICI118,551. While there was a correlation between the facility increase and elevation in cyclic AMP levels, the rise in cyclic AMP preceded the facility increase by about 1 hour, suggesting that the ultimate effect of epinephrine involved a rather slow event such as synthesis and release of prostaglandins or protein synthesis. Subsequent perfusion studies showed that very large concentrations of indomethacin were necessary to block the outflow facility effect of epinephrine, suggesting that prostaglandin synthesis did not underlie the facility effect in this system. However, 5 x 10(-5) M cyclohexamide blocked the effect on outflow facility of both epinephrine and forskolin, but did not block the rise in cyclic AMP. These studies suggest that protein synthesis may play a role in the epinephrine-induced facility increase at some point beyond the second messenger level.     

Phosphofructokinase from mantle tissue of Mytilus galloprovincialis. Purification and effects of phosphorylation on the enzymatic activity

Phosphofructokinase purified from mantle tissue of the sea mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, was phosphorylated "in vitro" by the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The incorporation of phosphate gave rise to an activation of the enzyme by increasing its affinity for fructose-6-phosphate, by decreasing its sensitivity to the inhibition by ATP and by enhancing the effect of allosteric activators (5'-AMP and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate). In addition, the effects of phosphorylation on the catalytic activity are pH-dependent.     

Cognitive distortions and adolescent affective disorder. Validity of the CNCEQ in an inpatient sample. Children's Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire

Despite a proliferation of recent research examining childhood and adolescent depression, the area still lags behind the adult depression field, particularly in the investigation of cognitive correlates of affective psychopathology. To advance cognitive research with youth, the Children's Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire (CNCEQ) was developed to provide a measure of cognitive distortions or errors in children and adolescents. Yet, few studies have employed the CNCEQ and no evidence exists supporting the validity of its four component cognitive error scales. The purpose of the present study was to examine the construct validity of the CNCEQ and its constituent scales through the use of factor analysis and criterion-group comparisons. Groups of adolescent psychiatric inpatients, diagnosed as affective or disruptive disordered, completed the CNCEQ following admission. Results failed to support the implicit four-factor structure of the CNCEQ, instead suggesting the appropriateness of a single-factor solution labeled "negative thinking." Despite no diagnostic group differences on the CNCEQ total or other scale scores, affective disordered patients evinced more cognitive errors on the Overgeneralizing scale. Findings suggest that the CNCEQ in its current stage of development holds promise, yet requires refinement to produce a valid measure of cognitive functioning in youth.     

Three-year outcome after balloon aortic valvuloplasty. Insights into prognosis of valvular aortic stenosis

BACKGROUND: To identify predictors of long-term outcome after balloon aortic valvuloplasty, we analyzed data on 674 adults (mean age, 78 +/- 9 years; 56% were women) undergoing this procedure at 24 clinical centers who had a mean initial increase in aortic valve area of 0.3 cm2. METHODS AND RESULTS: Baseline data included clinical, echocardiographic, and catheterization variables. Follow-up data included mortality, cause of death, rehospitalization, 6-month echocardiography, and functional status. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to evaluate survival in subgroups. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to identify independent predictors of survival. Overall survival was 55% at 1 year, 35% at 2 years, and 23% at 3 years, with the majority of deaths (70%) classified as cardiac by an independent review committee. Rehospitalization was common (64%), although 61% of survivors at 2 years reported improved symptoms. Echocardiography at 6 months (n = 115) showed restenosis from the postprocedural valve area of 0.78 +/- 0.31 cm2 to 0.65 +/- 0.25 cm2 (P < .0001). With stepwise multivariate analysis, sequentially adding clinical, echocardiographic, and catheterization variables, the overall model identified independent predictors of survival as baseline functional status, baseline cardiac output, renal function, cachexia, female gender, left ventricular systolic function, and mitral regurgitation. Baseline and postprocedural variables were examined to identify which subgroup of patients has the best outcome after aortic valvuloplasty. A "lower-risk" subgroup (28% of the study population), defined by normal left ventricular systolic function and mild clinical functional limitation, had a 3-year survival of 36% compared with 17% in the remainder of the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival after balloon aortic valvuloplasty is poor with 1- and 3-year survival rates of 55% and 23%, respectively. Although survivors report fewer symptoms, early restenosis and recurrent hospitalization are common.     

The expanding small heat-shock protein family, and structure predictions of the conserved "alpha-crystallin domain"

The ever-increasing number of proteins identified as belonging to the family of small heat-shock proteins (shsps) and alpha-crystallins enables us to reassess the phylogeny of this ubiquitous protein family. While the prokaryotic and fungal representatives are not properly resolved, most of the plant and animal shsps and related proteins are clearly grouped in distinct clades, reflecting a history of repeated gene duplications. The members of the shsp family are characterized by the presence of a conserved homologous "alpha-crystallin domain," which sometimes is present in duplicate. Predictions are made of secondary structure and solvent accessibility of this domain, which together with hydropathy profiles and intron positions support the presence of two similar hydrophobic beta-sheet-rich motifs, connected by a hydrophilic alpha-helical region. Together with an overview of the newly characterized members of the shsp family, these data help to define this family as being involved as stable structural proteins and as molecular chaperones during normal development and induced under pathological and stressful conditions.