Two distinct protein-protein interactions between the NIT2 and NMR regulatory proteins are required to establish nitrogen metabolite repression in Neurospora crassa

Unrecognized and untreated depression occurs frequently in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, adding to the agony already experienced by patient and caregiver. The authors screened AD patients living with a family caregiver for depression. Twelve patients with confirmed depression were treated in an open-label study with antidepressant medication, with dosage adjustment by a psychiatrist at Weeks 2, 4, 8, and 16. Data collection occurred at baseline, Week 4, and Week 16. Depression decreased significantly (p < .01). Contrary to expectations, patient functional capacity declined (p = .045). Cognition remained unchanged (p > .05). Caregiver burden, caregiver depressive symptomatology, and quality of life of patient and caregiver remained unchanged (p > .05). The authors conclude that depression in AD can be detected if a collateral source, such as the caregiver, is available. The depression can and should be treated. More research is needed to determine the impact on patient functioning, caregiver burden, caregiver depressive symptomatology, and quality of life of patient and caregiver.     

How the Listeria monocytogenes ActA protein converts actin polymerization into a motile force

The ActA protein is an essential determinant of pathogenicity that is responsible for the actin-based motility of Listeria monocytogenes in mammalian cells and cell-free extracts. ActA appears to control at least four functions that collectively lead to actin-based motility: (1) initiation of actin polymerization, (2) polarization of ActA function, (3) transformation of actin polymerization into a motile force and (4) acceleration of movement mediated by the host protein profilin.     

Molecular follow-up of disease progression and interferon therapy in chronic myelocytic leukemia

We previously reported that the abl promoter (Pa) undergoes de novo DNA methylation in the course of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). The clinical implications of this finding are the subject of the present study in which samples of CML patients, including a group treated with interferon alpha (IFNalpha) were surveyed. The methylation status of the abl promoter was monitored by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the Pa region after digestion with several site-methylation sensitive restriction enzymes. Some 74% of the DNA samples from blood and marrow drawn in the chronic phase were nonmethylated, similar to control samples from non-CML patients. The remaining 26% were partially methylated in the abl Pa region. The latter samples were derived from patients who were indistinguishable from the others on the basis of clinical presentation. Methylated samples were mostly derived from patients known to have a disease of longer duration (26 months v 7.5 months, P = .01). Samples of 30 IFNalpha-treated patients were sequentially analyzed in the course of treatment. Fifteen patients with no evidence of Pa methylation before treatment remained methylation-free. The remainder, who displayed Pa methylation before treatment, reverted to the methylation-free status. The outcome is attributed to IFNalpha therapy, as the Pa methylation status was not reversed in any of the patients treated with hydroxyurea. Methylation of the abl promoter indicates a disease of long-standing, most likely associated with a higher probability of imminent blastic transformation. It appears to predict the outcome of IFNalpha therapy far better than the cytogenetic response.     

Memory for individual scent in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) as assessed by habituation methods.

The memory of hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) for the flank scent of older male hamsters was investigated in a series of habituation experiments. In 2 types of habituation tasks (Exps 1 and 2), male hamsters habituated to the flank scent of 1 male and then increased their level of investigation to that of a novel male; similar results were obtained when the intervals between trials ranged from 1 sec to 2 days. When the test trial was 10 or 21 days after habituation (Exp 3), males discriminated between familiar and novel flank scents at 10 days but not at 21 days. The results demonstrate recognition of familiar and unfamiliar individual odors and excellent memory for these differences. Habituation techniques yield extremely robust results and may be useful for investigations of other aspects of individual signatures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stereotactic radiosurgery of malignant and benign intracranial lesions utilizing a patient rotator

The objective of this survey was to demonstrate whether a primary care track internal medicine residency program emphasizing community-based health care of the urban sick poor trains physicians who will continue to practice in general internal medicine or similar fields. Thirty-five primary care residents (100% of graduates) who trained from 1976 through 1993 in the Adult Primary Care Track of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at St. Vincent's Hospital, New York were used as participants.     

Resection of the right middle lobe and lingula for mycobacterial infection

BACKGROUND: In a series of 229 patients infected with mycobacterial organisms, we noted a specific female phenotype that involves isolated infections of the middle lobe and lingula. METHODS: Thirteen patients were found to have infections of the middle lobe, lingula, or both. All of them were infected with Mycobacterium other then Mycobacterium tuberculosis, all were women, 12 of the 13 were slender, and most had variable combinations of skeletal abnormalities. All underwent resection of the middle lobe, lingula, or both. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths. Only 2 patients have had reactivation requiring additional antibiotic therapy. All patients have had a decreased number of pulmonary infections in the postoperative period. Anatomic findings at operation included a complete major fissure and at least a partially complete minor fissure with middle lobe resections or an elongated lingula. CONCLUSIONS: Mycobacterial infection of the middle lobe and lingula is primarily a disease of asthenic women and is often associated with skeletal abnormalities and complete fissures or an elongated lingula. We recommend that surgical intervention be performed early once the condition is identified.     

Hepatobiliary cystadenoma. A study of five cases with reference to histogenesis

Hepatobiliary cystadenoma is a rare hepatic lesion characterized by a multiloculated cyst lined by cuboidal or columnar epithelial cells. Four cases of hepatobiliary cystadenoma with mesenchymal stroma (HCMS) and one case of hepatobiliary cystadenoma with intracystic epithelial component were studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemical methods, and electron microscopy. Similar studies were conducted on six fetal gallbladder tissues, representing the biliary tree, and two adult ovarian tissues. By light microscopy, the columnar epithelium of the five cases of hepatobiliary cystadenoma was similar to the epithelium of the developing gallbladder. The spindle cell stroma of the HCMS and the subepithelial spindle cells of the developing gallbladders showed similar reactivity to smooth-muscle actin. Vimentin reactivity was strongly positive in the stroma of the HCMS, and in the fetal gallbladders it was only noted in the subepithelial spindle cells of the 15-week gestation fetal gallbladder tissues. By electron microscopy, the epithelium lining the hepatic lesions showed characteristic gastrointestinal features and was identical to the epithelia lining the embryonic gallbladders. Furthermore, the mesenchymal stroma of the HCMS recapitulated the features found in subepithelial tissues in developing gallbladders. Although the ovarian stroma resembled the stroma of the HCMS by light microscopy, the immunohistochemical reactions and the electron microscopic studies showed dissimilarities. This study supports the hypothesis that the hepatobiliary cystadenomas arise from ectopic embryonic tissues destined to form the adult gallbladder.