A comparison of bond strengths of complete crowns using two types of cements and three cleaning agents

In the past, biomechanical investigations on the dorsal pelvic ring have generally been performed on a small number of cadaveric pelves in various non-standardized procedures. Significant differences in stability between different internal fixation methods of unstable pelvic ring fractures were not found. The experimental design presented here was based as closely as possible on the physiological loading of the pelvis in one-leg stance. This method made it possible to carry out standardized, reproducible tests on different osteosytheses of the sacroiliac joint. Furthermore, the suitability of artificial bones for such investigations can be assessed on the basis of a larger number of similar experiments on artificial and human pelves and the number of human pelves required for such studies could be reduced.     

Relaparotomy]

The study of intrarenal and upper urinary tracts urodynamics in the presence of the ureteropelvic obstruction and of the function of the lower urinary tract shows that congenital hydronephrosis was in 42.8% of cases associated with bladder dysfunction presenting with hyperreflex-type dysfunction. Maladapted hyperreflex bladder was diagnosed in 29.4%, adapted--in 13.5% of cases. The hyporeflex dysfunction occurred in 15.9% of cases. The urinary bladder dysfunction in children with congenital hydronephrosis accounts for 58.7%. These aggravate the same defects of the upper urinary tracts and deteriorate the course of chronic obstructive pyelonephritis.     

Resumption of mitosis during post-thaw culture: a key parameter in selecting the right embryos for transfer

A new oxidative pathway for the degradation of caffeine(1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine, I) by a mixed culture consisting of strains belonging to the genera Klebsiella and Rhodococcus is presented. The mixed culture does not initiate degradation by N-demethylation either complete or partial, but instead carries out oxidation at the C-8 position resulting in the formation of 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid (TMU, II) which further gets degraded to 3,6,8-trimethylallantoin (TMA, III). Both TMU and TMA are hitherto not shown to be formed in the microbial system. Further degradation of TMA (III) by caffeine grown cells yields dimethylurea (VII) as one of the metabolites. Oxygen uptake studies indicated that caffeine(I) grown cells oxidized TMU(II), TMA (III), glyoxalic acid (VI), dimethylurea(VII), and monomethylurea(V), but not monomethyl and dimethyluric acids. The mixed culture does not accept theophylline(1,3-dimethylxanthine), theobromine(3,7-dimethylxanthine), and paraxanthine(1,7-dimethylxanthine) as the carbon source.     

Neuroanatomy in Rett syndrome: cerebral cortex and posterior fossa

Rett syndrome (RS), a neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown etiology occurring almost exclusively in females, is characterized by autistic-like behavior, motor dysfunction, loss of language skills, dementia, and microcephaly. This study is a follow-up and extension of a previously reported neuroimaging study of patients with RS. We replicated previously reported findings with a larger patient population, and the volumetric MRI analysis was extended to include an analysis of neuroanatomy of the posterior fossa. Twenty girls with RS were compared with individually age- and gender-matched normal controls. Patients with RS showed global reduction in gray- and white-matter volumes. The prefrontal, posterior-frontal, and anterior-temporal regions showed the largest bilateral decrease in gray-matter volume, whereas white-matter volume was uniformly reduced throughout the brain. We found confirmation for the preferential reduction in caudate nucleus volume. However, we observed no preferential reduction in midbrain volume despite a preferential reduction in the midsagittal area of this region. We also present an individual case comparison between monozygotic twins discordant for RS.     

Lizards as hosts for immature Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in North Carolina

Previously archived museum specimens of lizards collected throughout North Carolina were examined for Ixodes scapularis (Say). Lizards (n = 1,349) collected in 80 of North Carolina's 100 counties were examined. Lizards with ticks were collected in 23 (29%) of the 80 counties from which lizards were examined. I. scapularis was detected on 8.7% (n = 117) of the lizards and was the sole species of tick obtained from lizards. Immature ticks were most frequently found on the southeastern five-lined skink, Eumeces inexpectatus, and the eastern glass lizard, Ophisaurus ventralis. Larvae were most frequently found on the six-lined racerunner, Cnemidophorus sexlineatus. One C. sexlineatus harbored 177 larvae and 2 nymphs. Nymphs were most frequently observed on E. inexpectatus. The majority of counties (chi 2, P < 0.01) where ticks were found on lizards were in the Coastal Plain.     

The possibility of preserving the causative agent of plague in soil in resting (nonculturable) form

The purpose of this study was to find criteria characteristic for patients in need of care and social services. The criteria should serve as a guideline for patients and staff to facilitate care planning before discharge. The sample consisted of 49 patients, born before 1925, in need of emergency inpatient treatment, admitted to medical- or orthopaedic wards. Data of the patient's self care needs were collected by interviews, assessment of self care status and need of treatment. The patients could be divided into three groups depending on type of discharge. Group A (n = 27) discharged home, group B (n = 7) discharged to geriatric clinic and group C (n = 15) discharged and in need of further care and social services. Criteria indicating the patients further assistance from the community were in group C (medical- and orthopaedic wards) deficit in daily living activities and locomotion. Group B had an increased need of support from the physiotherapist and the occupational therapist, in locomotion as well as daily living activities The physician's assessment showed that the criteria behind the decision "no further medical treatment appropriate" and "ready for discharge" were not related to medical impairment but to lack of self care, need of care, rehabilitation and social services.     

Alpha2-macroglobulin complexes with and mediates the endocytosis of beta-amyloid peptide via cell surface low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein

A primary histopathological feature of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of beta-amyloid (A beta) in the brain of afflicted individuals. However, A beta is produced continuously as a soluble protein in healthy individuals where it is detected in serum and CSF, suggesting the existence of cellular clearance mechanisms that normally prevent its accumulation and aggregation. Here, we demonstrate that A beta forms stable complexes with activated alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M*), a physiological ligand for the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) that is abundantly expressed in the CNS. These alpha2M*/125I-A beta complexes are immunoreactive with both anti-A beta and anti-alpha2M IgG and are stable under various pH conditions, sodium dodecyl sulfate, reducing agents, and boiling. We demonstrate that alpha2M*/125I-A beta complexes can be degraded by glioblastoma cells and fibroblasts via LRP, because degradation is partially inhibited by receptor-associated protein (RAP), an antagonist of ligand interactions with LRP. In contrast, the degradation of free 125I-A beta is not inhibited by RAP and thus must be mediated via an LRP-independent pathway. These results suggest that LRP can function as a clearance receptor for A beta via a physiological ligand.     

Differential divalent cation requirements uncouple the assembly and catalytic reactions of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase

Previous in vitro analyses have shown that the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase uses either manganese or magnesium to assemble as a stable complex on the donor substrate and to catalyze strand transfer. We now demonstrate that subsequent to assembly, catalysis of both 3' end processing and strand transfer requires a divalent cation cofactor and that the divalent cation requirements for assembly and catalysis can be functionally distinguished based on the ability to utilize calcium and cobalt, respectively. The different divalent cation requirements manifest by these processes are exploited to uncouple assembly and catalysis, thus staging the reaction. Staged 3' end processing and strand transfer assays are then used in conjunction with exonuclease III protection analysis to investigate the effects of integrase inhibitors on each step in the reaction. Analysis of a series of related inhibitors demonstrates that these types of compounds affect assembly and not either catalytic process, therefore reconciling the apparent disparate results obtained for such inhibitors in assays using isolated preintegration complexes. These studies provide evidence for a distinct role of the divalent cation cofactor in assembly and catalysis and have implications for both the identification and characterization of integrase inhibitors.     

A novel cyclic adenosine monophosphate analog induces hypercalcemia via production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in patients with solid tumors

The treatment of cancer patients with conventional chemotherapy is sometimes associated with severe systemic toxicity and only a minimal survival benefit. Because of this, new less toxic and more efficacious treatments have been sought. 8-Chloro-cAMP (8-Cl-cAMP) is one of a new generation of anticancer drugs that act at the level of signal transduction. In preclinical models, 8-Cl-cAMP modulates protein kinase A (PKA) leading to growth inhibition and increased differentiation of cancer cells. 8-Cl-cAMP was given to 16 patients with advanced cancer as an infusion via an indwelling subclavian venous catheter. We showed that 8-Cl-cAMP had a parathyroid hormone-like effect leading to increased synthesis of renal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [up to 14 times the baseline value, median 3.6 times; P = 0.00001 (Student's paired t test)]. This produced the dose-limiting toxicity of reversible hypercalcemia that could not be controlled by the administration of either pamidronate or dexamethasone. The treatment was otherwise well tolerated, and other cAMP-dependent pathways (cortisol and TSH) were not affected, emphasizing the marked differences between organs in their sensitivity to this cAMP analog. Our results have shown that 8-Cl-cAMP is biologically active, and it is feasible that if the hypercalcemia can be controlled, then this drug may have a role as a single agent, or as a short infusion between cycles of chemotherapy.