Cellulose acetate electrophoresis of creatine phosphokinase isoenzymes in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

A method for rapid separation and visualization of creatine phosphokinase (EC 2.7.3.2 ATP: creatine phosphotransferase) isoenzymes on cellulose acetate has been developed. The technic uses the Beckman microzone electrophoresis system, and is applicable to other cellulose acetate systems. Incubation is with a commercially available substrate solution, and the isoenzyme bands are visualized by fluorescence using a long-wavelength ultraviolet light. An intermediate migrating isoenzyme band (CPK-MB) was detected in sera of 67 of 68 patients with myocardial infarction, and was not present in patients with other disorders that might clinically be confused with myocardial infarction.     

Innovations in curriculum design: A multi-disciplinary approach to teaching statistics to undergraduate medical students

Background  

Statistics is relevant to students and practitioners in medicine and health sciences and is increasingly taught as part of the medical curriculum. However, it is common for students to dislike and under-perform in statistics. We sought to address these issues by redesigning the way that statistics is taught.     

DicomWorks: Software for Reviewing DICOM Studies and Promoting Low-cost Teleradiology

DicomWorks is freeware software for reading and working on medical images [digital imaging and communication in medicine (DICOM)]. It was jointly developed by two research laboratories, with the feedback of more than 35,000 registered users throughout the world who provided information to guide its development. We detail their occupations (50% radiologists, 20% engineers, 9% medical physicists, 7% cardiologists, 6% neurologists, and 8% others), geographic origins, and main interests in the software. The viewer’s interface is similar to that of a picture archiving and communication system viewing station. It provides basic but efficient tools for opening DICOM images and reviewing and exporting them to teaching files or digital presentations. E-mail, FTP, or DICOM protocols are supported for transmitting images through a local network or the Internet. Thanks to its wide compatibility, a localized (15 languages) and user-friendly interface, and its opened architecture, DicomWorks helps quick development of non proprietary, low-cost image review or teleradiology solutions in developed and emerging countries.     

Interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are expressed by different subsets of microglia and macrophages after ischemic stroke in mice

Background  

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are expressed by microglia and infiltrating macrophages following ischemic stroke. Whereas IL-1β is primarily neurotoxic in ischemic stroke, TNF-α may have neurotoxic and/or neuroprotective effects. We investigated whether IL-1β and TNF-α are synthesized by overlapping or segregated populations of cells after ischemic stroke in mice.     

Shuttle vectors for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida albicans</Emphasis>: control of plasmid copy number and elevated expression of cloned genes

Plasmids containing the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase gene CaIMH3 from Candida albicans strain ATCC 32354 transform their host to resistance against mycophenolic acid (MPA). The transformants maintain the plasmids at a high copy number (20–40 per cell) and express the CaIMH3 gene at very high levels relative to untransformed controls. The plasmid copy number can be controlled by the concentration of MPA in the media. The transformation procedure is reproducible and the efficiency of transformation is high, up to 15,000 per microgram. Unrearranged plasmids are readily recovered by transforming total DNA from transformants back into Escherichia coli. C. albicans genes cloned into the plasmid are expressed at elevated levels relative to untransformed controls. A derivative vector containing the CaMAL2 promoter and termination sequences expresses the CaERG11 ORF at high levels and confers moderate resistance to fluconazole. These shuttle vectors should facilitate global genomics approaches in C. albicans that have been hampered by its diploid genome.     

Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated smooth muscle tumor (SMT) is a recognized but uncommon disease that is found to occur in patients with immunocompromised conditions such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These tumors may be multifocal and located at unusual sites, such as the brain and liver. This report describes the case of 2 AIDS patients with EBV-associated SMT and highlights the features and outcome of this rare but potentially important tumor in human immunodeficiency virus management.     

Bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II C-terminus interacts with c-Src: implication for a role in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Mutations of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPR-II) have been associated with familial and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). BMPR-II is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta receptor superfamily. It consists of extracellular, transmembrane, and kinase domains, and a unique C-terminus with mostly unknown function. However, a number of PAH-causing mutations are predicted to truncate the C-terminus, suggesting that this domain plays an important role in the homeostasis of pulmonary vessels. In this study, we sought to elucidate the functional role of this C-terminus by seeking its interacting partners. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified c-Src tyrosine kinase as a binding partner of this C-terminus. In vitro co-immunoprecipitation confirmed their interaction. Mutations truncating the C-terminus disrupted their interaction, while missense mutation within kinase domain reduced their interaction. In addition, BMPR-II and c-Src tyrosine kinase colocalized within intracellular aggregates when overexpressed in HEK293 cells. Moreover, mutations truncating the C-terminus disrupted their colocalization, whereas missense mutation within kinase domain had no effect on their colocalization. Furthermore, BMP ligand stimulation decreased c-Src-activating phosphorylation at Tyrosine 418 in pulmonary smooth muscle cells in both time- and concentration-dependent manners. Mutations that truncated the C-terminus abolished this response. Taken together, these results suggest a model in which proliferative effect of c-Src by vasoactive molecules is balanced by opposing effect of BMP signaling in basal state, and the loss of this balance due to BMPR2 mutations leads to increased c-Src activity and subsequently cell growth.