The basic principles of the synapses federated healthcare record server

The NIGHTINGALE Project (NIGHTINGALE Project: HC1109 DGXIII Contract and Technical Annex, European Commission, December 1995) which started on the 1st of January, 1996, after the approval of the European Commission, has a 36 month duration. It is essential in planning and implementing a strategy in training the nursing profession in using and applying healthcare information systems. NIGHTINGALE contributes towards the appropriate use of the developed telematics infrastructure across Europe by educating and training nurses in a harmonious way across Europe in the upcoming field of nursing informatics. NIGHTINGALE develops courseware material based on the curriculum development process using multimedia technologies. Computer based training software packages in nursing informatics will be the basis of the training material and the corresponding courses. CD-ROM based training and reference material will also be provided in the courses whereas the traditional booklets, teaching material and textbooks can also play an adequate role in training. NIGHTINGALE will disseminate all information and courseware material freely to all interested parties through the publications of the proceedings of the conferences, through the establishment of the world wide web (WWW) server in nursing informatics for Europe (http://www.dn.uoa.gr/nightingale), which will become a depository of nursing information knowledge across Europe as well as a dissemination node of nursing informatics throughout the European members states for the benefit and welfare of the European citizen.     

TGF-beta knockout and dominant-negative receptor transgenic mice

Use of homologous recombination and transgenic technologies have provided mouse models to study the physiological roles of the three mammalian TGF-beta isoforms, and their regulation in the context of the intact animal. Mice harboring null mutations for TGF-beta isoforms demonstrate that each exerts discrete nonoverlapping functions during development. TGF-beta1 null mice reveal a crucial role for this cytokine in modulation of the immune system, with evidence for altered development, activation and function of various immune cell populations. New approaches to tissue- and cell-restricted disruption of TGF-beta signaling pathways in transgenic mice carrying dominant-negative mutant TGF-beta receptors will be discussed.     

Transitioning to independence: challenges for young people with disabilities and their caregivers

For all teens, the process of moving from childhood to adulthood is challenging. For young people with disabilities, transitioning to independence presents even more challenges. Barriers to successful transition for young people with disabilities include low expectations by parents and other significant people in the community, lack of knowledge of existing career and vocational education services, and lack of self-advocacy skills. This article provides an overview of issues related to transitioning to adult independence and offers suggestions for assessment, planning, and intervention that can help nurses be effective partners with families and other caregivers in transition efforts. Nurses caring for children with disabilities can help families see strengths in their children and develop realistic, developmentally-appropriate expectations for skill development, attitudes, and behaviors that will promote self-sufficiency in adulthood. Nurses can help families think about possibilities for independence and refer families to community resources that can help young people with disabilities pursue postsecondary education, obtain and maintain jobs, and live independently.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester in various food products and formulations

A simple, rapid, and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure is described for the analysis of the chemical sweetener L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (aspartame). Using a strong cation exchange column and pressures less than 1000 psig, an analysis can be performed in less than 15 min. The technique has been applied to a wide range of food products and formulations. No interferences were found in the samples studied. Recoveries are quantitative, and the coefficients of variation for replicate analyses are less than or equal to 2.5%.     

Net transport of cholesterol from cells of the human EA.hy 926 endothelial cell line to high density lipoproteins

EA.hy 926 cells, a human endothelial cell line, show characteristics of differentiated endothelial cells. The cells express saturable binding of apo E-free 125I-high density lipoprotein3 (HDL3). Bmax increased from 71 to 226 ng HDL3 bound/mg cell protein after cholesterol loading of the confluent endothelial cells with cationized low density lipoprotein (LDL). The affinity did not change after cholesterol enrichment (Kd was 37 micrograms HDL3 protein/ml for control cells and 31 micrograms/ml for loaded cells). Incubation of cholesterol-loaded EA.hy 926 cells with native HDL and LDL had different effects on cellular cholesterol levels. Incubation with HDL decreased both esterified and unesterified cellular cholesterol, but LDL did not change total cellular cholesterol. However, LDL tended to increase cellular cholesteryl esters, with a concomitant decrease of unesterified cellular cholesterol. Incubation of endothelial cells with both HDL and LDL also resulted in decreased total cellular cholesterol levels. These data show that cationized LDL-loaded human endothelial EA.hy 926 cells can be used to study the net transport of cellular cholesterol to HDL, the first step in reverse cholesterol transport.     

Structure of the repeating unit of acid polysaccharide from Alteromonas sp. 4MS17

An acidic polysaccharide from Alteromonas sp. 4MC17 is built up of trisaccharide repeating units containing D-glucose, D-mannose and D-galacturonic acid residues. On the basis of methylation studies, 1H and 13C NMR-spectroscopy data, including two-dimensional homonuclear correlation spectroscopy and nuclear Overhauser effects, the following structure was suggested for the polysaccharide repeating unit: -->4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GalpA-(1-->4)-beta-D-Manp-( 1-->.     

Activation of the mouse heart adenosine 5',5"'-P1-P4-tetraphosphate receptor

We have previously demonstrated that mouse brain membrane fractions have a specific, saturable receptor for diadenylated nucleotides. Binding is specific for two adenosines, and the length of the phosphate bridge is critical, with four phosphates being optimal [Hilderman et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 6915-6918]. In this report, we demonstrate that adenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) binding to its receptor is dependent upon an activation step that requires divalent cations and a serine protease. Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) are identified that inhibit Ap4A binding to its membrane receptor. These antibodies recognize a 212-kDa membrane protein. However, SDS-PAGE analysis of Ap4A cross-linked to membrane fractions reveals that Ap4A is not attached to the 212-kDa peptide but to a 30-kDa polypeptide. Appearance of the 30-kDa polypeptide is dependent on the activation step, and one of the inhibitory antibodies blocks its appearance. We suggest that the protease-dependent processing step involves cleavage of the 212-kDa component with the appearance of an active 30-kDa receptor.