Differences in the abilities of human tau isoforms to promote microtubule assembly.

Three isoforms of human tau protein were compared for their abilities to induce microtubule assembly. The three isoforms, tau 3 (tau containing three microtubule-binding domains), tau 4 (tau containing four microtubule-binding domains) and tau 4L (tau containing four microtubule binding domains plus a 58-amino-acid insert near the N-terminus) were expressed in E. coli and purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange, and size exclusion chromatography. All three isoforms induced microtubule assembly at micromolar concentrations and showed similar critical concentrations for assembly of 0.4-0.45 microM. However, tau 4 induced microtubule formation at a rate five- to tenfold faster than either tau 3 or tau 4L. The rate of microtubule elongation seen with tau 4 was twofold greater than with tau 3 or tau 4L, suggesting that the faster rate of microtubule assembly seen with tau 4 was due, at least in part, to faster elongation. Tau 4 induced a greater number of microtubules to form at steady state than did tau 3 or tau 4L. The microtubules generated with each tau isoform had similar steady-state length distributions and were equally susceptible to cold-induced disassembly. These results indicate that the additional microtubule-binding domain in tau 4 enhances microtubule assembly, while the 58-amino-acid insert negates the stimulatory effect of the fourth microtubule-binding domain.     

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus during PUVA therapy for psoriasis: case report and review of the literature

Lesions typical of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus developed in an elderly woman after 6 months of PUVA (8-methoxypsoralen and longwave ultraviolet light) therapy for psoriasis. Pancytopenia, antibodies to double-stranded DNA, and hypocomplementemia developed concurrently with the appearance of the cutaneous lesions. With discontinuation of photochemotherapy, the cutaneous lesions disappeared and the pancytopenia improved.     

A selective LC/RIA for dexamethasone and its prodrug dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate in biological fluids.

A combined LC/RIA procedure is described for the selective determination of dexamethasone (DEX) and its prodrug dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate (DIN) in plasma. The low affinity of the employed dexamethasone antiserum for DIN (cross-reactivity less than 0.5%) allowed the direct determination of DEX in plasma extracts. For the determination of DIN, both substances of interest were separated by LC, the DIN containing fraction was collected, hydrolysed and the generated DEX was consequently assayed by radioimmunoassay. The assay detection limits were 0.1 ng ml-1 for DEX and 0.75 ng ml-1 for DIN. For both substances, inter- and intra-day variabilities (RSDs) were 6 and 12%, respectively.     

Analysis of the interbeat interval increment to detect obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea.

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is underestimated and its diagnosis is costly and restricted to specialised sleep laboratories. The frequency component of interbeat interval increment (III) has been proposed as a simple and inexpensive diagnostic tool in OSAHS. In a set of 150 patients with clinically suspected sleep-related breathing disorder, the actual predictive accuracy of the power spectral density of the III of the very low frequencies (%VLFI) was analysed by comparing with the apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI), as assessed by synchronised polysomnography. OSAHS was defined in 100 patients according to an AHI>or=15 events.h(-1). Receiver operator characteristic curves built for %VLFI confirmed that this variable was able to separate OSAHS positive from OSAHS negative with statistical significance. Using an appropriate threshold (>4%), %VLFI demonstrated a positive predictive value of 80%. Misclassification of false-positive subjects occurred when the patient presented significant sleep discontinuity and sleep fragmentation (sleep fragmentation index>or=50 events.h(-1)) related to insomnia or periodic limb movements. A power spectral density of the interbeat interval increment of very low frequencies>4% allowed correct classification of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome when the clinical history suggested sleep-related breathing disorders and when moderate-to-severe cases are considered. Higher power spectral density of the interbeat interval increment of very low frequencies may also indicate disrupted sleep in the absence of clear clinical symptoms of sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome.     

Spatiotemporal modeling of cerebral evoked magnetic fields to median nerve stimulation.

We measured somatosensory evoked magnetic fields during median nerve stimulation in 6 normal subjects. We applied multiple dipole models to study the spatiotemporal structure of early somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs), as well as the number, 3-dimensional location and time activity of their underlying neuronal sources. Two dipole sources were necessary to model the first 40 msec of SEFs explaining 85% of the data variance. Source 1 was located deeper than source 2, showed primarily a tangential orientation, and accounted for a larger part of the variance; source 2 showed no consistent orientation across subjects. Both sources showed biphasic time activities corresponding to the previously described N20-P30 and P25-N35 components. Spatiotemporal modeling could identify sources which could not be modeled consistently above noise by single moving dipoles (P25 component), revealed small latency differences of the two sources in some subjects suggesting parallel activation of these sources, and allowed separation of sources overlapping considerably both in space and time. We conclude that spatiotemporal modeling of SEFs may be useful to study functional anatomy of human sensorimotor cortex non-invasively.     

Infradian biorhythms of enzymuria in man?

The temporal courses of dipeptidyl peptidase IV gamma-glutamyltransferase and alanine aminopeptidase were followed over 70 days in the morning urine of 15 healthy persons. Subsequent to basic statistical analysis a two-step procedure was performed, including spectral analysis and the fit of a cosine function by non-linear regression. The excretion of the 3 enzymes followed an infradian biorhythm with a mean period length of 10.04 for dipeptidyl peptidase IV, 13.34 for gamma-glutamyltransferase and 10.17 for alanine aminopeptidase. In addition to the basic rhythmic process described by the fitted cosine functions, in most of the enzyme patterns steap peaks of very high excretory activity appeared which was verified in repeated measurements. These infradian biorhythms with changes in the range of 100% and more, as well as their interindividual variations, have to be considered in assessing the excretion of enzymes.     

Percutaneous nephrostomy drainage in the management of neonatal anuria secondary to renal candidiasis

We report a case of anuria in a premature neonate secondary to bilateral ureteropelvic junction obstructions related to Candida bezoars. Percutaneous decompression and drainage of both kidneys contributed significantly to the successful management of renal candidiasis in this patient. A review of the literature is presented.     

Functional parameters before and after parathyroidectomy: a prospective, randomized long-term trial on different rat strains.

For clinical controls before and after parathyroidectomy and for evaluation of the function of transplants of parathyroid tissue, it is necessary to establish standard values of relevant laboratory parameters for donor and recipient animals as well as for different types of nutrition. Since no such data are yet available, it was the purpose to define such standards. In a prospective randomized trial on 400 rats of the Dark Agouti (DA) and Lewis strain, different functional laboratory parameters such as total calcium, intact parathyroid hormone, phosphate, 1.25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and alkaline phosphatase were measured under a standard and low calcium diet over a period of 40 weeks. Two hundred of these animals underwent a parathyroidectomy four weeks after the beginning of the study and specimens were evaluated histologically. For all eight different study groups normal values could be defined within tight limits for parameters which describe the function of the parathyroid gland or elements of calcium metabolism under different conditions. The optimal conditions for a transplantation model of parathyroid glands were established. Lewis-rats were identified as the ideal donor and DA rats as the better recipient animals. These data can serve as reference values for future studies on transplantation of the parathyroid without immunosuppression.