Biophysical compensation mechanisms buffering E. coli protein-nucleic acid interactions against changing environments

All diseases related to chronic or intermittent hypoxaemia can be efficaciously treated with the conventional oxygen therapy. The effectiveness of alternative oxygen therapies (oxygen multistep therapy, intravenous oxygen insufflation, haematogen oxidation therapy and ultraviolet blood radiation) has not been proved for any of the alleged numerous indications. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be tried, in single cases, outside of its internationally recognized indications, for the treatment of acute hypoxy of the inner ear.     

Simultaneous analysis of various mutations on the 21-hydroxylase gene by multi-allele specific amplification and capillary gel electrophoresis

A detailed study is presented on the detection of various known point mutations using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based multi-allele specific amplification (MASA) in conjunction with capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) separation. The resulting PCR products, corresponding to the individual mutations, are labeled with ethidium bromide during CGE separation, and detected by laser-induced fluorescence. MASA proved to be a novel, fast and cost-effective method for simultaneous analysis of multiple known mutation sites, employing more than one allele specific primers in a single PCR reaction. It results in coexisting amplification of numerous DNA fragments differing in size, which are subsequently separated by CGE. In the present study, several point mutations were analyzed simultaneously by MASA-CGE on the 21-hydroxylase gene of a patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.     

The ACT Against Violence Training Program: A preliminary investigation of knowledge gained by early childhood professionals.

Given the prevalence of violence in young children's lives and the detrimental effects violence exposure may have on children's development, it is essential that psychologists disseminate information to those in direct contact with young children. One antiviolence program, the Adults and Children Together (ACT) Against Violence Training Program, is aimed specifically at the role models in young children's lives, their parents or caregivers, and teachers and others who work directly with them. This research examined the utility of the ACT program in disseminating knowledge to early childhood professionals. Results revealed that the program is effective in terms of both participants' increase in knowledge and perception of knowledge regarding violence in childhood. Preliminary support for the utility of the ACT training program for psychologists working with young children was provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multichannel Filters Using Chirped Bandgap Structures in Microstrip Technology

We demonstrate two techniques for creating several narrowband transmission channels within the ultra-wide stopband of a chirped electromagnetic bandgap structure in microstrip technology. In contrast to previous demonstrations which inserted defects into single-frequency-tuned bandgap structures using ground-plane etching, we demonstrate the use of local pi phase-shifts (defects) and "Moire"-type superposition in a sinusoidal chirped bandgap structure having a network topology. We demonstrate the design of 4-to-6-channel filters with lower insertion losses (<5 dB) and broader stopbands than previous approaches in microstrip.     

Catheter-tracking FOV MR fluoroscopy

Recent improvements in intravascular magnetic resonance imaging techniques mandate an accurate method of monitoring the introduction of MR catheter probes into the vessel of interest. For this purpose, a novel imaging protocol and a display method have been designed. First, a roadmap 3D image data set with standard pulse sequences is obtained using an external imaging coil. Subsequently, using very narrow rectangular-FOV fast-spoiled gradient recalled (SPGR), a movie of the percutaneous placement procedure of an MR catheter probe is acquired at a rate of 7.3 frames/second. In this protocol, the probe is used to transmit RF pulses and receive MR signal. A computer program was written for image unwrapping and for displaying the unwrapped movie frames on the roadmap image. In an alternative protocol, the movie frames in two projection angles were acquired in an interleaved fashion. Frames were unwrapped and combined with a 3D roadmap and displayed on a Silicon Graphics workstation equipped with stereovision goggles. Using these methods, percutaneous catheter placement in a phantom and a dog was examined. In conclusion, a new visualization technique for MR catheter placement is proposed. Combining this technique with high resolution intravascular MRI techniques may result in a very useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of atherosclerosis and other vessel diseases.     

Nigral glutathione deficiency is not specific for idiopathic Parkinson's disease

The consistent findings of decreased levels of the major antioxidant glutathione in substantia nigra of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) has provided most of the basis for the oxidative stress hypothesis of the etiology of PD. To establish whether a nigral glutathione deficiency is unique to PD, as is generally assumed, or is present in other Parkinsonian conditions associated with nigral damage, we compared levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in postmortem brain of patients with PD to those with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). As compared with the controls, nigral GSH levels were decreased in the PD and PSP patient groups (P < 0.05 for PD [-30%], PSP [-21%]), whereas a similar decrease in the MSA patient group did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.078, MSA [-20%]). GSH levels were normal in all examined normal and degenerating extra-nigral brain areas in PSP and MSA. A trend for decreased levels of uric acid (antioxidant and product of purine catabolism) also was observed in nigra of all patient groups (-19 to -30%). These data suggest that glutathione depletion, possibly consequent to overutilisation in oxidative stress reactions, could play a causal role in nigral degeneration in all nigrostriatal dopamine deficiency disorders, and that antioxidant therapeutic approaches should not be restricted to PD.     

Robust-single-trial delayed backward conditioning.

80 female albino rats, shocked once while eating in the presence of a novel stimulus panel, were exposed to a complex stimulus object after a blackout period of 1-40 sec. 40 other Ss served as controls. The next day Ss were observed in a test for differential avoidance of the shock location, the forward-order conditioned stimulus (CS) and the backward-order CS. On the basis of 5 different classes of behavior, Ss in the 1-, 5-, and 10-sec blackout groups avoided the backward-order CS rather than the shock location or the forward-order CS. The association does not appear to be based primarily on temporal sequence or the signaling relationship involved in Pavlovian conditioning. Instead, it appears that the association is dependent on the specific nature of the stimuli, possibly reflecting an evolved learning capability for associating noxious exteroceptive stimuli with predatorlike objects. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Micropreparative fraction collection in microfluidic devices

Micropreparative fraction collection following microchip-based electrophoretic analysis of biomolecules is of major importance for a variety of biomedical applications. In this paper, we present a microfabricated device-based fraction collection system. Various size DNA fragments were separated and collected by simply redirecting the desired portions of the detected sample zones to corresponding collection wells using appropriate voltage manipulations. The efficiency of sampling and collection of the fractions was enhanced by placing a cross channel at or downstream of the detection point. Following the detection of the band of interest, the potentials were reconfigured to sampling/collection mode, so that the selected sample zone migrated to the appropriate collection well of the microdevice. The potential distribution assured that the rest of the analyte components in the separation column was retarded, stopped, or reversed, increasing in this way the spacing between the sample zone being collected and the immediately following one. By this means, a precise collection of spatially close consecutive bands could be facilitated. Once the target sample fraction reached the corresponding collection well, the potentials were switched back to separation mode. Alternation of the separation/detection and sampling/collection cycles was repeated until all required sample zones were physically isolated. The integrated device consists of a sample introduction, separation, fraction sampling, and fraction collection compartments. The feasibility of the fraction collection technique was tested on a mixture of dsDNA fragments. The amounts of DNA collected in this way were enough for further downstream sample processing, such as conventional PCR-based analysis.