Mutations of the cystic fibrosis gene in patients with chronic pancreatitis

BACKGROUND: The pancreatic lesions of cystic fibrosis develop in utero and closely resemble those of chronic pancreatitis. Therefore, we hypothesized that mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene may be more common than expected among patients with chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: We studied 134 consecutive patients with chronic pancreatitis (alcohol-related disease in 71, hyperparathyroidism in 2, hypertriglyceridemia in 1, and idiopathic disease in 60). We examined DNA for 22 mutations of the CFTR gene that together account for 95 percent of all mutations in patients with cystic fibrosis in the northwest of England. We also determined the length of the noncoding sequence of thymidines in intron 8, since the shorter the sequence, the lower the proportion of normal CFTR messenger RNA. RESULTS: The 94 male and 40 female patients ranged in age from 16 to 86 years. None had a mutation on both copies of the CFTR gene. Eighteen patients (13.4 percent), including 12 without alcoholism, had a CFTR mutation on one chromosome, as compared with a frequency of 5.3 percent among 600 local unrelated partners of persons with a family history of cystic fibrosis (P<0.001). A total of 10.4 percent of the patients had the 5T allele in intron 8 (14 of 134), which is twice the expected frequency (P=0.008). Four patients were heterozygous for both a CFTR mutation and the 5T allele. Patients with a CFTR mutation were younger than those with no mutations (P=0.03). None had the combination of sinopulmonary disease, high sweat electrolyte concentrations, and low nasal potential-difference values that are diagnostic of cystic fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations of the CFTR gene and the 5T genotype are associated with chronic pancreatitis.     

Mechanisms for the transendothelial migration of HIV-1-infected monocytes into brain

HIV-1 penetration of the brain is a pivotal event in the neuropathogenesis of AIDS-associated dementia. The establishment of productive viral replication or up-regulation of adhesion molecule expression on brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) could permit entry of HIV into the central nervous system. To investigate the contribution of both, we inoculated primary human BMVEC with high titer macrophage-tropic HIV-1 or cocultured them with virus-infected monocytes. In both instances, BMVEC failed to demonstrate productive viral replication. Cell to cell contact between monocytes and microvascular endothelium resulted in E-selectin expression on BMVEC. BMVEC. cocultured with LPS-activated HIV-infected monocytes expressed even higher levels of E-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Transwell assays supported a role of soluble factors, from virus-infected monocytes, for the induction of adhesion molecules on BMVEC. To verify the in vivo relevance of these findings, levels of adhesion molecules were compared with those of proinflammatory cytokines and HIV-1 gene products in brain tissue of AIDS patients with or without encephalitis and HIV-seronegative controls. E-Selectin, and to a lesser degree VCAM-1, paralleled the levels of HIV-1 gene products and proinflammatory cytokines in brain tissue of subjects with encephalitis. Most importantly, an association between macrophage infiltration and increased endothelial cell adhesion molecules was observed in encephalitic brains. Monocyte binding to encephalitic brain tissue was blocked with Abs to VCAM-1 and E-selectin. These data, taken together, suggest that HIV entry into brain is, in part, a consequence of the ability of virus-infected and immune-activated monocytes to induce adhesion molecules on brain endothelium.     

Applying policy management to reduce support costs for remote and mobile computing

Remote access to networks has become a standard part of corporate networks worldwide, and one that is growing rapidly. How are network managers to respond to this growth without a corresponding increase in resources? © 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Micro-attenuated total reflection spectral imaging in archaeology: application to Maya paint and plaster wall decorations

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) attenuated total reflection (ATR) imaging has been successfully used to identify individual mineral components of ancient Maya paint. The high spatial resolution of a micro FT-IR-ATR system in combination with a focal plane array detector has allowed individual particles in the paint to be resolved and identified from their spectra. This system has been used in combination with micro-Raman spectroscopy to characterize the paint, which was found to be a mixture of hematite and silicate particles with minor amounts of calcite, carbon, and magnetite particles in a sub-micrometer hematite and calcite matrix. The underlying stucco was also investigated and found to be a combination of calcite with fine carbon particles, making a dark sub-ground for the paint.     

HIV-associated brain pathology: a comparative international study

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the use of aides in occupational therapy practice, the supervision and training of aides, and practitioners' attitudes toward the use of aides. METHOD: A questionnaire was mailed to a systematically selected sample of 510 occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. The response rate was 74%. RESULTS: The use of occupational therapy aides is prevalent in a variety of settings. Forty percent of respondents reported that they currently work with aides, whereas 23% reported that they have never worked with aides. Occupational therapy aides perform a variety of tasks and receive various levels and amounts of supervision and training. Of those respondents who delegated specific skilled tasks to aides, 76% reported daily contact for purposes of supervision and training. Nineteen percent who currently work or have worked with aides reported being in a situation where an ethical issue arose related to aide use. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the data, it is suggested that occupational therapy practitioners would benefit from taking a proactive role in determining how aides can be used to maximize service delivery while maintaining quality services. There also appear to be ethical concerns related to appropriate delegation of tasks to aides and to their supervision and training.     

Behavior of high, moderate, and low test anxious students during an actual test situation.

A 3 by 2 by 3 Test Anxiety Level by Level of Past Academic Performance by Point of Assessment factorial design was employed to examine effects on 8 dependent variables: positive thoughts; negative thoughts; evaluation, potency, and activity semantic differentials; history test grade; bodily sensations; and Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale score. Results with 231 college students indicate that low test anxious Ss differed significantly from high test anxious Ss on all 8 dependent variables. Level of test anxiety had a significant effect on each dependent variable. In addition, Ss with high GPAs received significantly higher test grades and reported more bodily sensations indicative of arousal than Ss with low GPAs. Ss assessed toward the end of the test (last 10 min) reported significantly more negative thoughts and bodily sensations than Ss assessed after reading the history test questions for the first time (beginning) or at the middle of the test. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Technical prospects for commercial and residential distribution and utilization of hydrogen

Hydrogen has been suggested as a fuel gas to eventually replace natural gas in commercial and residential heating and cooking applications. After transmission from a production site to a city gate, the delivery of hydrogen would be through the pipelines of conventional (natural gas) distribution systems. It would be combusted in appliances with suitably modified burners. Through a recent technology survey sponsored by NASA (Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama) and through experimental and analytical efforts at the Institute of Gas Technology, we have assembled preliminary technical assessments for the distribution and utilization of hydrogen in this role.

The flow rates and pressures of a gas distribution system using hydrogen probably will be different from those for natural gas. Increased operating pressures are predicted for hydrogen flow conditions of equivalent (to natural gas) energy delivery. Procedures will have to accommodate various safety aspects, but leakage is not considered an especially severe problem with hydrogen.

Operating conditions for appliance burners will be different for hydrogen in terms of primary air and probably delivery pressures. Flashback and noisy operation must be prevented. Replacement of burners for hydrogen operation is possible.     

Hemorrhagic chondroid chordoma mimicking pituitary apoplexy

We describe a hemorrhagic chondroid chordoma involving the sella turcica with suprasellar extension. The CT and MRI appearances mimiked a hemorrhagic pituitary adenoma. Chondroid chordoma is a variant composed of elements of both chordoma and cartilaginous tissue. An uncommon bone neoplasm, located almost exclusively in the spheno-occipital region, it is usually not considered in the differential diagnosis of a tumor with acute hemorrhage in the sellar region. We discuss the clinical and radiological characteristics which may allow one to differentiate chondroid chordoma from other tumors of this area.