Pathological narcissism and sudden suicide-related collapse

The distribution of myosin VIIa, which is defective or absent in Usher syndrome 1B, was studied in a variety of tissues by immunomicroscopy. The primary aim was to determine whether this putative actin-based mechanoenzyme is a common component of cilia. Previously, it has been proposed that defective ciliary function might be the basis of some forms of Usher syndrome. Myosin VIIa was detected in cilia from cochlear hair cells, olfactory neurons, kidney distal tubules, and lung bronchi. It was also found to cofractionate with the axonemal fraction of retinal photoreceptor cells. Immunolabeling appeared most concentrated in the periphery of the transition zone of the cilia. This general presence of a myosin in cilia is surprising, given that cilia are dominated by microtubules, and not actin filaments. In addition to cilia, myosin VIIa was also found in actin-rich microvilli of different types of cell. We conclude that myosin VIIa is a common component of cilia and microvilli.     

Hierarchical Analysis for Discovering Knowledge in Large Databases

This article presents a goal-question-metric paradigm for selecting and implementing metrics for data mining, as well as a case study to illustrate that paradigm. the aim of this technique is to increase customer satisfaction and retention rate. It is especially useful for transaction records that are incomplete and therefore cannot be used as is for data mining. By analyzing the company's goal and strategies, data mining rules can be developed to discover associations within the available data.     

Quantitative nailfold capillaroscopy findings in a population with connective tissue disease and in normal healthy controls

OBJECTIVE: To describe and quantify the morphological characteristics of nailfold capillaries that distinguish different forms of connective tissue disease from healthy controls. METHODS: A CCD video microscope with fibreoptic illumination and PC based image processing was used to visualise nailfold capillaries and to quantify findings in 23 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 22 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 21 patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD), and 38 healthy controls. RESULTS: Capillary density was reduced in SSc (5.2 (SD 1.3) capillaries/mm) compared with other patient groups and controls. The average number of enlarged capillaries/finger was high in all disease groups (5.5-6.6) compared with controls (2). However, giant capillaries were most frequent in SSc (43%) and were not present in controls. Mild and moderate avascular areas were present in all groups (35%-68%), but severe avascularity was most frequent in SSc (44%) compared with other patients (18%-19%) and controls (0%). The greatest frequency of extensive haemorrhage was in SSc (35%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a range of abnormal capillary findings in patients with connective tissue disease and healthy controls. However, certain abnormalities such as a reduced number of capillaries, severe avascularity, giant capillaries, and haemorrhage are most commonly associated with SSc. Videomicroscopy with image processing offers many technical advantages that can be exploited in further studies of nailfold capillaries.     

Identification of a new non-major histocompatibility complex genetic locus on chromosome 2 that controls disease severity in collagen-induced arthritis in rats

OBJECTIVE: To identify novel non-major histocompatibility complex (non-MHC) genetic loci controlling the severity of homologous rat type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: We conducted a genome-wide scan to identify CIA regulatory quantitative trait loci (QTL) in an F2 cross between DA (CIA highly susceptible) and ACI (CIA resistant) inbred rats immunized with homologous rat type II collagen (RII). These strains share the MHC/RT1av1 haplotype required for susceptibility to RII-induced CIA. RESULTS: F2 females had higher median arthritis scores than did males. Relative resistance in the males was determined by inheriting either a DA or an ACI Y chromosome and was independent of the source of the X chromosome. In addition, a major QTL was localized on chromosome 2 (Cia7, logarithm of odds score 4.6). Cia7 is in a region that shows linkage conservation with chromosomal regions that regulate autoimmune diabetes and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice and multiple sclerosis in humans. CONCLUSION: Sex chromosomes and Cia7 play an important role in regulating CIA in response to RII. This rat model should facilitate positional cloning and functional characterization of regulatory genes that may play a role in several forms of autoimmune disease, including rheumatoid arthritis.     

Analysis of the DRPLA triplet repeat in brain tissue and leukocytes from schizophrenics

This study reports our preliminary experience with interstitial radiofrequencies in the treatment of urological malignancies. Bipolar radiofrequency was interstitially delivered in four freshly removed human kidneys in an ex-vivo model. The kidney was perfused ex-vivo with 37 degrees C saline in order to mimic physiological conditions. Large reproducible and controlled lesions (hypereosinophilia and pyknosis) were observed in the parenchyma between the active needles. Further animal and human clinical studies are planned to precise the place of bipolar RF in the treatment or urological malignancies, and especially in kidney tumors.     

The effect of automatic voltage regulation on the bifurcationevolution in power systems

This paper discusses the relationships between types of bifurcations in power systems and their expected occurrence for voltage regulated and unregulated synchronous machines. A time-scale decomposition is performed to identify critical dynamics in the slow and fast subsystems. For single machine systems, the existence of an unstable limit cycle prior to Hopf bifurcation is analysed in the context of the region of attraction     

Characterization of a sustained-release delivery system for combined cytokine/peptide vaccination using a poly-N-acetyl glucosamine-based polymer matrix

Identification of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and their class I MHC-restricted epitopes now allows for the rational design of peptide-based cancer vaccines. A biocompatible system capable of sustained release of biologically relevant levels of cytokine and TAA peptide could provide a more effective microenvironment for antigen presentation. Our goal was to test a sustained-release cytokine/TAA peptide-based formulation using a highly purified polysaccharide [poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (p-GlcNAc)] polymer. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF; 100 microgram) and MART-1(27-35) peptide (128 microgram in DMSO) were formulated into p-GlcNAc. Peptide release was assayed in vitro using interleukin 2 production from previously characterized MART-1(27-35)-specific Jurkat T cells (JRT22). GM-CSF release was assayed via ELISA and proliferation of M-07e (GM-CSF-dependent) cells. Local bioavailability of MART-1(27-35) peptide for uptake and presentation by antigen-presenting cells was demonstrated for up to 6 days (>0.5 microgram/ml). More than 1.0 microgram/ml GM-CSF was concomitantly released over the same period. Biocompatibility and local tissue response to p-GlcNAc releasing murine GM-CSF was determined in C57BL/6 mice via s.c. injection using murine GM-CSF (0. 2 microgram/ml) in 200 microliter of a 2.5% polymer gel. Significant lymphocytic and eosinophilic infiltration was observed 2-7 days after injection with polymer containing murine GM-CSF. The results of our studies show that this biocompatible system is capable of a sustained concomitant release of biologically active peptide and cytokine into the local microenvironment. These findings support further studies to validate a p-GlcNAc delivery system vehicle for a cytokine/TAA peptide-based cancer vaccine.     

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, Ichthyophonus hoferi, and other causes of morbidity in Pacific herring Clupea pallasi spawning in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA

A recently proposed Jovanovic-Freundlich isotherm model for single component adsorption without lateral interactions on heterogeneous surfaces is extended to account for lateral interactions and for competitive adsorption. The model is tested using previously reported single component and competitive adsorption data of 2-phenylethanol and 3-phenylpropanol on ODS-silica with methanol-water as the mobile phase. A comparison is made regarding the ability of the Jovanovic-Freundlich and Langmuir-Freundlich models to predict competitive equilibria using the single component identified parameters. Fair predictions of the competitive data were obtained when using heterogeneous-surface models which do not take into account the possible interactions of phenylalcohols in the adsorbed phase via hydrogen bonding. Markedly improved predictions were obtained with models which account simultaneously for the two main sources of adsorbed phase nonideal behavior, i.e. adsorbate-adsorbate interactions and heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface.     

Intestinal expression of human heat shock protein 90 in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

Heat shock proteins are induced by several stress factors and are potential antigens in autoimmune disorders. Expression of heat shock protein 90 (HSP 90) was investigated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and normal controls. We combined western blot analysis with laser densitometry for quantitation. Localization of HSP 90 was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Western blots showed a significant mucosal expression of HSP 90, which was comparable in patients and controls. There was also no difference between normal and inflamed mucosa in inflammatory bowel disease. In immunohistochemical staining studies, HSP 90 was detected in epithelial cells, mononuclear cells, giant cells, nerve cells, and endothelial cells of small vessels. There was no difference in the intensity of staining or localization in patients with inflammatory bowel disease compared to controls. These findings render a potential protective or immunogenic function of HSP 90 in inflammatory bowel disease unlikely.