Sequence of Echinochloa hoja blanca tenuivirus RNA-5

The sequence is presented of RNA-5 of Echinochloa hoja blanca tenuivirus, a second tenuivirus associated with rice cultivation in Latin America (after rice hoja blanca virus). The RNA is 1334 nucleotides long and contains in the complementary sense RNA a single long open reading frame. The deduced amino acid sequence of this open reading frame shows that it encodes a highly basic and hydrophilic 44 kD protein (pc5) with about 50% similarity to the pc5 protein of maize stripe virus (MStV). This and other features of the RNA are discussed.The GenBank accession number of the sequence reported in this paper is L47430.     

The survey of recent life experiences: A psychometric evaluation

Hitherto, various critics have claimed that the most commonly used measure for daily hassles is confounded with psychological well-being in both content and format. In order to circumvent such contamination, the Survey of Recent Life Experiences (SRLE) was developed by Kohn and MacDonald (1992). In the present study, the SRLE was psychometrically evaluated within a general sample of the Dutch population. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that, with the exception of one item, the original six-factor structure was strongly replicated. For five of six factors, internal consistency reliabilities proved satisfactory. It is argued that the rather low internal consistency reliability of the sixth factor may be improved if additional items are subjoined. In addition, yielded relationships between the SRLE and other variables were in accordance with previous research. It is therefore argued that the results are in support of cross-cultural construct validity of the SRLE. Future use within other Western European societies is recommended.     

Psychometric qualities of the rand 36-item health survey 1.0: A multidimensional measure of general health status

The reliability and validity of the RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0 were investigated in a population sample of 1,063 inhabitants of a Dutch township, all age 17or older. Confirmatory factor analysisonly partly supported the internal structure of the RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0. The internal consistency of the instrument was high. Pointing to high convergent validity, a multitrait-multimelhod matrix revealed that the RAND-36 scales showed higher correlations with corresponding scales from other instruments than with noncorresponding scales. However, indicating low discriminant validity, some of these correlations did not exceed the intercorrelations among the RAND-36 scales. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed significant effects of age for physical functioning, role limitations (physical problem), general health perception and pain, and significant effects of education on physical functioning and general health perception. Significant sex differences were found for mental health only. The results of this study on the psychometric properties of the RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0 seem promising. There is a need for further studies investigating its factor structure and cross-cultural equivalence.     

Characterization of FMR1 proteins isolated from different tissues

FMR1 protein expression was studied in different tissues. Inhuman, monkey and murine tissues, high molecular mass FMR1 proteins(67–80 kDa) are found, as shown in lymphobiastoid celiiines. The identity of these proteins was confirmed by theirabsence in tissues from patients with the fragile X syndromeand a FMR1 knock-out mouse. An IIe367Asn substitution in theFMR1 protein did not aiter the transiation, processing and localizationof FMR1 proteins in lymphoblastoid cells from a patient carryingthis mutation. All the high molecular mass FMR1 proteins isolatedfrom normal lymphoblastoid cells and cells from the patientwith the IIe367Asn substitution were able to bind RNA. However,the FMR1 proteins of the patient had reduced affinity for RNAbinding at high salt concentrations. In some human, monkey andmurine tissues low molecular mass FMR1 proteins (39–41kDa) were found, which had the same N terminus as the 67–90kDa isoforms, but differ in their C terminus and are thereforemost likely the result of carboxy-terminal proteolytic cleavage.These low molecular mass FMR1 proteins did not bind RNA, incontrast with the high molecular mass FMR1 proteins. The significanceof these low molecular mass proteins remains to be studied.     

Molecular interactions of Leishmania promastigote surface protease with human alpha 2-macroglobulin

The interaction of Leishmania promastigote surface protease (PSP) with the plasmatic protease inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) was investigated. In plasma, solubilized PSP forms covalent complexes only with alpha 2M, at the exclusion of other protease inhibitors. The formation of complexes is accompanied by the proteolytic cleavage of the alpha 2M subunit and by the transition from the 'slow' to the 'fast' form of alpha 2M. The proteolytic activity of solubilized PSP on azocasein is inhibited by alpha 2M. In contrast, we found no evidence for a specific interaction of alpha 2M with the surface of promastigotes and PSP proteolytic activity on intact cells was not inhibited by alpha 2M.     

Effect of histamine,acetylcholine and compound 48/80 on bronchoconstriction and release of eicosanoids in the dog

The effects of Hi and ACH aerosol and of intravenous infusion of compound 48/80 on bronchoconstriction and plasma levels of Hi, TXB₂, KH₂PGF₂ and KH₂PGE₂ were investigated in 11 bastard dogs. Administration of Hi and ACH aerosol induced bronchoconstriction accompanied by an increase in the plasma levels of Hi and TXB₂. No effect on the plasma levels of KH₂PGF₂ and KH₂PGE₂ was detected. Release of endogenous Hi by compound 48/80 induced bronchoconstriction and significant increases in the plasma levels of TXB₂ as well as of KH₂PGF₂ and KH₂PGE₂. The effects of a second administration of Hi and ACH aerosols after compound 48/80 did not differ qualitatively from the effects of the first aerosol administration. However, quantitatively, the second Hi aerosol induced significantly less bronchoconstriction and TXB₂ release. Similarly, effects of the second ACH aerosol tended to be decreased as compared to the first ACH aerosol, although the difference was not significant. The diminished effect of the agonists could be due to receptor desensibilization and/or release of adrenaline, which in turn decreases bronchoconstriction and eicosanoid release.     

Functional insights on the polarized redistribution of leukocyte integrins and their ligands during leukocyte migration and immune interactions

Summary:  Cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions are of critical importance in immunobiology. Leukocytes make extensive use of a specialized repertoire of receptors to mediate such processes. Among these receptors, integrins are known to be of crucial importance. This review deals with the central role of integrins and their counterreceptors during the establishment of leukocyte–endothelium contacts, interstitial migration, and final encounter with antigen-presenting cells to develop an appropriate immune response. Particularly, we have addressed the molecular events occurring during these sequential processes, leading to the dynamic subcellular redistribution of adhesion receptors and the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, which is reflected in changes in cytoarchitecture, including leukocyte polarization, endothelial docking structure formation, or immune synapse organization. The roles of signaling and structural actin cytoskeleton-associated proteins and organized membrane microdomains in the regulation of receptor adhesiveness are also discussed.     

Effects of the Ebbinghaus figure on grasping are not only due to misjudged size

It is not evident how the small effects of the flankers of the Ebbinghaus figure on peak grip aperture (PGA) should be interpreted. One interpretation is that the flankers influence the estimated size, which in turn influences the grasp. If this interpretation is correct, then only the size-dependent aspects of the grasping movement should depend on the spatial positions of the flankers. An alternative interpretation is that the effect on grip aperture is caused by a change in judgement of the required precision, in which case various aspects of the grasping movement could be influenced by the size and position of the flankers. We presented subjects with a display consisting of a central disk surrounded by four large or small flankers. The array of circular flankers could be rotated by 45°. There were two tasks: to reproduce the perceived size of the central disk, and to grasp the central disk. As in other studies, the reproduced size and the PGA were both influenced by the size of the flankers. The effect on reproduced size settings was independent of the flankers spatial position. Nevertheless, the flankers position did influence the final grip aperture and the grip orientation at PGA and at movement offset. Because the flankers changed more than only the PGA, we conclude that the effect of the flankers on prehension cannot only be because of misjudgement of the size of the central disk.     

Superior cycle control with a contraceptive vaginal ring compared with an oral contraceptive containing 30 microg ethinylestradiol and 150 microg levonorgestrel: a randomized trial

BACKGROUND: This trial was conducted to compare cycle control with vaginal ring a combined contraceptive vaginal ring, and a combined oral contraceptive (COC) delivering 30 mug ethinylestradiol (EE) and 150 mug levonorgestrel. METHODS: This open-label, randomized, multi-centre, Phase III study involved adult women from 11 countries. Subjects were treated with either vaginal ring or a COC for 13 cycles (12 months). RESULTS: A total of 1030 subjects (vaginal ring, n=512; COC, n=518) comprised the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. The percentage of women in the ITT population who completed the trial was 70.9% for vaginal ring and 71.2% for the COC group. The incidence of breakthrough bleeding and spotting over cycles 2-13, the primary efficacy parameter, was lower with vaginal ring (range 2.0-6.4%) than the COC (range 3.5-12.6%), and for cycles 2 and 9 the lower incidence with vaginal ring was confirmed as statistically significant (P=0.003 and P=0.002 respectively). The incidence of intended bleeding was significantly higher over all cycles with vaginal ring (58.8-72.8%) than with the COC (43.4-57.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Cycle control with vaginal ring was excellent and superior to that of a COC containing 30 mug EE.