Duodenal erosions and ulcers in patients with pancreatobiliary obstruction

The authors compared in a controlled clinical study two groups of patients after a first renal transplantation treated by triple drug immunosuppressive therapy. In a group of 31 patients the triple combination comprised Sandimmune Neoral. In the control group there were 30 patients who received Sandimmune. No differences were found between the two groups as regards the effectiveness of this treatment and the authors did not confirm a lower incidence of rejections described in patients treated with Sandimmune Neoral. They confirmed, however, a lower interindividual variability of Cy-A levels assessed specifically in patients treated with Sandimmune Neoral.     

Confronting mortality: the Iliad''s androktasiai

This article describes the results of a survey of radiography program directors on positioning competencies for entry-level radiographers. The survey asked program directors to classify projections as essential, important, rarely needed or for reference only. The objective of the study was to rank radiographic projections from most to least important in clinical practice. The data are provided for use by educators and employers in determining which projections are essential entry-level competencies.     

Structure and stability of an immunoglobulin superfamily domain from twitchin, a muscle protein of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

The NMR solution structure of an immunoglobulin superfamily module of twitchin (Ig 18') has been determined and the kinetic and equilibrium folding behaviour characterised. Thirty molecular coordinates were calculated using a hybrid distance geometry-simulated annealing protocol based on 1207 distance and 48 dihedral restraints. The atomic rms distributions about the mean coordinate for the ensemble of structures is 0.55( +/- 0.09) A for backbone atoms and 1.10( +/- 0.08) A for all heavy atoms. The protein has a topology very similar to that of telokin and the titin Ig domains and thus it falls into the I set of the immunoglobulin superfamily. The close agreement between the predicted and observed structures of Ig 18' demonstrates clearly that the I set profile can be applied in the structure prediction of immunoglobulin-like domains of diverse modular proteins. Folding studies reveal that the protein has relatively low thermodynamic stability, deltaG(H2O)U-F = 4.0 kcal mol(-1) at physiological pH. Unfolding studies suggest that the protein has considerable kinetic stability, the half life of the unfolding is greater than 40 minutes in the absence of denaturant.     

A DNA-binding element for a steroid receptor-binding factor is flanked by dual nuclear matrix DNA attachment sites in the c-myc gene promoter

The receptor-binding factor (RBF) for the avian oviduct progesterone (Pg) receptor (PR) has previously been shown to be a unique 10-kDa nuclear matrix protein that generates high affinity PR-binding sites on avian DNA. This paper describes the use of Southwestern blot and DNA gel shift analyses with RBF protein to identify a minimal 54-base pair RBF-binding element in the matrix-associated region (MAR) of the Pg-regulated c-myc gene promoter. This element contains a 5'-GC-rich domain and a 3'-AT-rich domain, the latter of which has a homopurine/homopyrimidine structure. The gel shift assays required the generation of an RBF-maltose fusion protein (RBF-MBP), which specifically binds this element and is supershifted when the anti-RBF polyclonal antibody is added. Computer analysis of the full-length amino acid sequence for RBF predicts a DNA-binding motif involving a beta-sheet structure at the N-terminal domain. Southern blot analyses using nuclear matrix DNA suggests that there are dual MAR sites in the c-myc promoter, which flank an intervening domain containing the RBF element. The co-transfection of this MAR sequence, containing the RBF element and cloned into a luciferase reporter vector, together with an RBF expression vector construct, into steroid treated human MCF-7 cells, results in a decrease of the c-myc promoter activity relative to control transfections containing only the parent vector of the RBF expression construct. These data suggest that a unique chromatin/nuclear matrix structure, composed of the RBF-DNA element complex which is flanked by nuclear matrix attachment sites, serves to bind the PR and repress the c-myc promoter.     

Recurrent gains of 1q, 8 and 12 in the Ewing family of tumours by comparative genomic hybridization

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to detect copy number changes of DNA sequences in the Ewing family of tumours (ET). We analysed 20 samples from 17 patients. Fifteen tumours (75%) showed copy number changes. Gains of DNA sequences were much more frequent than losses, the majority of the gains affecting whole chromosomes or whole chromosome arms. Recurrent findings included copy number increases for chromosomes 8 (seven out of 20 samples; 35%), 1q (five samples; 25%) and 12 (five samples; 25%). The minimal common regions of these gains were the whole chromosomes 8 and 12, and 1q21-22. High-level amplifications affected 8q13-24, 1q and 1q21-22, each once. Southern blot analysis of the specimen with high-level amplification at 1q21-22 showed an amplification of FLG and SPRR3, both mapped to this region. All cases with a gain of chromosome 12 simultaneously showed a gain of chromosome 8. Comparison of CGH findings with cytogenetic analysis of the same tumours and previous cytogenetic reports of ET showed, in general, concordant results. In conclusion, our findings confirm that secondary changes, which may have prognostic significance in ET, are trisomy 8, trisomy 12 and a gain of DNA sequences in 1q.     

Reliability and validity of the measurement of position sense in women with osteoarthritis of the knee

OBJECTIVE: We examined the test-retest reliability and the construct validity of the measurement of knee position sense for describing the functional weightbearing performance of women with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. METHODS: For the purpose of this study, position sense was defined as the error occurring when subjects attempted to reproduce a criterion angle in standing with visual cues eliminated. Five such tests were recorded photographically on 3 different occasions. On each occasion the 10 subjects also completed a self-paced walking test over a 13 m indoor walkway. RESULTS: The photographic measurements were reproducible (r = 0.90) and there was no change in positioning accuracy across sessions. There was a significant (p < 0.05) inverse correlation of 0.70 between the standard deviation of the mean individual measurements of position sense (precision of the test) and those of walking speed. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates good measurement reliability and a comparable mean angular error with repeated tests. It also suggests the amplitude of the variability of this error is a strong determinant of an individual OA patient's functional performance in walking.     

Analytical and clinical evaluation of new diagnostic tests for myocardial damage

We tested the hypothesis that preventing cyclic GMP degradation with zaprinast, (a selective cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor) would produce a blunted reduction in myocardial O2 consumption in renal hypertension (One Kidney-One Clip, 1K1C)-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Four groups of anesthetized open-chest New Zealand white rabbits (n = 26) were utilized. Either vehicle or zaprinast (3 x 10(-3) M) was applied topically to the left ventricular surface of control or 1K1C rabbits. Coronary blood flow (radioactive microspheres) and O2 extraction (microspectrophotometry) were used to determine O2 consumption. Myocardial cyclic GMP levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The 1K1C rabbits had a greater heart weight-to-body weight ratio (2.94 +/- 0.08 g/kg) than controls (2.58 +/- 0.17). Systolic blood pressure was higher in 1K1C (102 +/- 9 mm Hg) than in controls (86 +/- 3). Zaprinast significantly and similarly increased cyclic GMP in both control (3.90 +/- 0.47 to 4.66 +/- 0.89 pmol/g) subepicardium (EPI) and (5.08 +/- 0.69 to 7.06 +/- 1.36) subendocardium (ENDO) and 1K1C hearts (5.53 +/- 0.61 to 7.48 +/- 1.51 EPI and 6.48 +/- 0.42 to 8.88 +/- 1.08 ENDO). Myocardial O2 consumption (ml O2/min/ 100 g) was significantly lower in controls treated with zaprinast (EPI: 8.8 +/- 0.1; ENDO: 9.5 +/- 1.9) than in controls treated with vehicle (EPI: 13.6 +/- 1.3; ENDO: 16.2 +/- 2.9). This effect was diminished in 1K1C rabbits treated with zaprinast (EPI: 10.3 +/- 2.4; ENDO: 11.2 +/- 2.6) compared with the vehicle-treated 1K1C group (EPI: 13.3 +/- 1.2; ENDO: 14.5 +/- 2.4). There was a similar increase in myocardial cyclic GMP after treatment with zaprinast, but a greater depression of myocardial O2 consumption in control animals than in 1K1C after treatment with zaprinast. This suggested that the reduction in myocardial O2 consumption, related to increases in cyclic GMP caused by cyclic GMP-phosphodiesterase blockade, was less in 1K1C cardiac hypertrophy.     

Prevalence of movement disorders in institutionalized elderly

The proportion of the population over age 65 years is steadily increasing in Canada and the elderly who are unable to live independently are frequently institutionalized in chronic care facilities. We report our observations on movement disorders (MD) in an institutionalized elderly population of Saskatchewan. A representative sample of 67 subjects aged > or = 65 years had a detailed neurological evaluation on three separate occasions. MD were detected in 13 (19%) cases. The majority, 11 (16%), were females. Seven (10%) had essential tremor, 4 (6%) Parkinson's disease and 2 (3%) had drug-induced parkinsonism.