Local induction of an insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 degrading protease activity in the course of wound healing

Proteases that reduce insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 affinity for insulin-like growth factor-I have been found in various biological fluids from human beings and rats. The aim of this study was to assess the local and systemic role of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 proteases in the course of wound healing. Six rats had polyvinyl alcohol sponges implanted subcutaneously. Wound fluid and serum were collected 3 days after wounding. Gel filtration experiments showed that insulin-like growth factor-I was present as a 150 kDa complex in both serum and wound fluid. However, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 measured by Western ligand blotting was virtually absent in wound fluid. Co-incubation of serum and wound fluid resulted in an ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid-inhibitable degradation of serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, suggesting the presence of an insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 degrading activity in wound fluid. Incubation of ((125)I)-labeled insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in wound fluid and serum showed a rapid and time-dependent proteolysis of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in wound fluid with metabolites similar to those generated by human term pregnant serum. No sign of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 degrading activity was observed in rat-serum. In conclusion, there is an insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 proteolytic activity in wound fluid, and it is hypothesized that this activity results in a localized increase in insulin-like growth factor-I bioactivity.     

Rapid isolation and characterization of 118 novel C2H2-type zinc finger cDNAs expressed in human brain

C2H2-type zinc finger genes comprise one of the largest genefamilies in the human genome. These proteins are involved ingenetic regulation and development and are quite conserved throughoutevolution. The finger domains commonly contain the small linkerpeptide TGEKP between some finger units. Here, we report theisolation of 133 human zinc finger cDNAs, of which 118 are novel.These clones were isolated from human brain cDNA libraries usingoligonucleotide hybridization followed by expressed sequencetag (EST) analysis, sequencing from the conserved linker regionusing degenerate oligonucleotide primers. This directed partialsequencing approach to cDNA isolation and characterization,signature sequencing, combines the speed of EST automatic sequencingwith the focus of specific cDNA family analysis. Signature sequencingminimizes the generation of less informative random EST sequencesand provides a unique relative position for sequence comparison.We also show that there is an even distribution of these RNA5from this brain cDNA library, and that these cDNAs contain N-terminaldomains found in other zinc finger genes. This rapid focusedsequencing approach should be applicable to any family of cDNAscontaining short conserved signature peptide sequences.     

Implementing a parent involvement/parent education program in a children's residential treatment center

Two prominent trends in contemporary child welfare, permanency planning and the family-centered model of care, are old theoretical ideas that have had great difficulty in finding corresponding practice methodologies. This article presents a practical model and discussion of the strategy and tactics involved in the process of developing and implementing a family-centered model by providing an effective parent involvement program in the residential treatment setting. Both didactic and experiential components are suggested, with emphasis on the latter in the context of planned change and the needs of children, parents, staff, and agency administration.     

Interaction of Heparin With Antiphospholipid Antibodies (APA) From the Sera of Women With Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL)

PROBLEM: To determine if heparin may act directly with antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). METHOD: Patients were seen at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Twenty women with a history of RPL (≥3 miscarriages), positive APA, and an otherwise normal evaluation were treated with heparin in two daily subcutaneous dosages during a successful pregnancy. APA levels were obtained prior to conception and again at 6, 20, and 30 weeks. RESULTS: Heparin reduced APA binding to cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine in a dose-dependent fashion in ELISA. Heparin affinity chromatography absorbed over 80% of the IgG anticardiolipin antibody in serum from women with high levels of APA. Women treated with increasing dosages of heparin during pregnancy had inversely decreasing levels of IgG anticardiolipin antibody. CONCLUSION: Heparin may act by directly binding APA in vivo, thereby decreasing the adverse effects of APA in women with APA associated RPL.     

A treadmill test of sprint running

Anaerobic power is characterized by a high degree of specificity regarding both the recruited muscles as well as the recruitment pattern. The popular Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) is a cycling test that does not satisfy the need for a running-specific anaerobic test. We describe such a test, using a novel type of a commercially available treadmill (BRL 1800, Gymrol, France). The ergometer is equipped with a torque motor to neutralize the frictional resistance of the treadmill belt, and a hip-belt harness connected to a horizontal rod. Force applied to the harness is monitored by a strain gauge mounted on the rod, while vertical movement is monitored by a potentiometer at the posterior fixed end of the rod. These, in conjunction with the treadmill belt speed, enable the computation of horizontal and vertical power as well as the combined total output. Power is calculated both as 'peak' power (highest 2.5 s segment) and 'mean' power (20 s duration). Preliminary results of young athletes were generally consistent with the expected age-related changes in anaerobic power. Values obtained on the anaerobic treadmill were always higher than the corresponding WAnT values previously obtained in comparable age groups. The higher values were probably due to the larger muscle mass involved and the shorter peak and mean power durations (2.5 and 20 s versus 5 and 30 s in the WAnT, respectively). This test should enable not only running-specific anaerobic power monitoring but also the characterization of the relationship between the horizontal and vertical components of that power.