Evaluation of learning and memory dysfunction and histological findings in rats with chronic stage contusion and diffuse axonal injury

Enantiomer separations of various acidic racemates were performed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) using a commercial cationic beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), quaternary ammonium beta-CD (QA-beta-CD), and a commercial amphoteric beta-CD (AM-beta-CD) as chiral selectors. Eleven acidic racemates were successfully separated using QA-beta-CD by changing the CD concentration and the buffer pH. These enantiomer separations were compared with the results using five neutral CD derivatives. Although most racemates were separated with some of the neutral CDs, relatively high CD concentrations were required to obtain baseline separations. In contrast, when QA-beta-CD was employed, the enantiomer separations were successful at low concentrations below 5 mM. Enantiomers of five acidic racemates and ten dansylated amino acids (Dns-amino acids) were separated using AM-beta-CD. Although the baseline separation of racemic 4-chloromandelic acid was not achieved with either QA-beta-CD or five neutral CDs, AM-beta-CD showed complete resolution. Furthermore, the simultaneous enantiomer separation of eight Dns-amino acids was also achieved with AM-beta-CD. Both QA-beta-CD and AM-beta-CD were analyzed by CE and mass spectrometry (MS) in order to identify their compositions because they consisted of a mixture having different degrees of substitution. QA-beta-CD consisted of six components having from one to six quaternary ammonium groups. The composition of AM-beta-CD, however, was very complicated and could not be identified.     

A power flow tracing method focused on reactive power and SC

“Tracing the power flow of electricity” is a concept that has become the focus of attention recently, as the deregulation or the liberalization of the electric power market proceeds. Although a number of methods, such as “tracing method by power flow contribution,” have already been published, reactive power contribution has been little studied to date. However, applying “tracing the power flow of electricity” to ancillary service, for example compensation of reactive power, is very important. In this paper, we focus on line flows and static capacitors in particular, and study how to deal with the problem. We perform a computer simulation using a simple system and show the tracing results. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 156(1): 33–43, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/ eej.20118     

Periodic muscle weakness and cervical ventroflexion caused by hypokalemia in a Burmese cat

A 2-year-old female Burmese cat was referred to the University Hospital of Companion Animals of Utrecht University because of periodic muscle weakness and cervical ventroflexion. Laboratory examinations revealed hypokalemia. The combination of breed, clinical signs and hypokalemia warranted the diagnosis of 'periodic hypokalemic myopathy', a homozygote recessive hereditary disease in Burmese cats. Potassium supplementation resulted in complete disappearance of the signs. Possible causes of hypokalemia in the cat are discussed.     

Culture-positive tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected children

BACKGROUND: Adults infected by HIV have increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and progress more rapidly to disease. HIV and tuberculosis (TB) coinfection in children has been reported but often lacks bacterial confirmation. We report on the clinical picture, special investigations, clinical course and outcome of 14 children with HIV infection and culture-confirmed TB from a developing country. METHODS: The clinical records of all children, from 1992 to 1997, with HIV infection and culture-proved TB were reviewed. RESULTS: Fourteen (10.4%) of 135 children with vertically transmitted HIV infection, 93% <2 years of age, fit the criteria. Nonresolving pneumonia (4) and otorrhoea (6) were common complaints. A Mantoux test was positive (> or =15 mm) in 6 of 11 children. Extrapulmonary TB was present in 5 cases. Ear swabs were the source of M. tuberculosis culture in 3. Chest radiographs were abnormal in all with hilar and paratracheal lymphadenopathy present in 7. A source case with pulmonary TB was identified for 10. Susceptibility tests were done on 9 strains of which 1 was drug-resistant. Four children were culture-positive 4 to 10 months after initiation of TB treatment. Mortality was 21% and 3 were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-infected children the Mantoux skin test remains useful and culture specimens should be obtained from all sources. Response to treatment is unpredictable, and for this reason repeated cultures should be taken during treatment and a 9-month course of treatment considered.     

The lubricating ability of biomembrane models with dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and gamma-globulin

This paper describes the process of involving health professions students in research in rural primary care and how their research has contributed to the development and expansion of a rural community health center. Since 1978 over 400 students have completed rotations at the center, and more than 200 have been health profession students, including medical, nursing, physician assistant, pharmacy, and health administration students. A total of 96 research projects were completed. These projects lie in two main areas: medical services and community outreach. Those related to medical services include measures of access to care, quality of care audits, clinical guideline development, practice patterns, prevalence studies, and qualitative research. Projects focusing on community outreach include community surveys, screening follow-ups, program evaluation, and program development. Principles that guide the selection and conduct of research projects include: Projects should be directly related to important work of the practice and reflect an interest of the student; projects are structured to include some or all of the following: literature search, data analysis, a visual display of quantitative information (table or graph), and application of relevant statistical tools; the student has a project supervisor; the student is a participant rather than an independent investigator; and a research flow sheet is used to orient students and NRHA staff to the larger research effort. Students are expected to present results, conclusions and recommendations to an appropriate group. Student research has made a significant contribution to both practice activities and practice policies.     

PCR amplification of murine immunoglobulin germline V genes: strategies for minimization of recombination artefacts

Murine immunoglobulin germline V genes exist as multiple sequences arranged in tandem in germline DNA. Because members of V gene families are very similar, they can be amplified simultaneously using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a single set of primers designed over regions of sequence similarity. In the present paper, the variables relevant to production of artefacts by recombination between different germline sequences during amplification are investigated. Pfu or Taq DNA polymerases were used to amplify from various DNA template mixtures with varying numbers of amplification cycles. Pfu generated a higher percentage of recombination artefacts than Taq. The number of artefacts and their complexity increased with the number of amplification cycles, becoming a high proportion of the total number of PCR products once the 'plateau phase' of the reaction was reached. Recombination events were located throughout the approximately 1-kb product, with no preferred sites of cross-over. By using the minimally detectable PCR bands (produced by the minimum number of amplification cycles), recombination artefacts can be virtually eliminated from PCR amplifications involving mixtures of very similar sequences. This information is relevant to all studies involving PCR amplification of members of highly homologous multigene families of cellular or viral origin.