Antiviral biflavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Radix Wikstroemiae</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Liaogewanggen</Emphasis>)

Background  

Radix Wikstroemiae is a common Chinese herbal medicine. The ethyl acetate fraction of the ethanolic extract of W. indica possesses potent in vitro antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This study aims to identify the antiviral components of the active fraction.     

Group treatments for sensitive health care problems: a randomised controlled trial of group versus individual physiotherapy sessions for female urinary incontinence

Background  

The aim was to compare effectiveness of group versus individual sessions of physiotherapy in terms of symptoms, quality of life, and costs, and to investigate the effect of patient preference on uptake and outcome of treatment.     

Salivary gland gene expression atlas identifies a new regulator of branching morphogenesis

During organ development, local changes in gene expression govern morphogenesis and cell fate. We have generated a microanatomical atlas of epithelial gene expression of embryonic salivary glands. The mouse submandibular salivary gland first appears as a single mass of epithelial cells surrounded by mesenchyme, and it undergoes rapid branching morphogenesis to form a complex secretory organ with acini connected to an extensive ductal system. Using laser capture microdissection, we collected samples from 14 distinct epithelial locations at embryonic days 12.5, 13.5, 14, and 15, and characterized their gene expression by microarray analysis. These microarray results were evaluated by qPCR of biological replicates and by comparisons of the gene expression dataset with published expression data. Using this gene expression atlas to search for novel regulators of branching morphogenesis, we found a substantial reduction in mRNA levels of GSK3β at the base of forming clefts. This unexpected finding was confirmed by immunostaining, and inhibition of GSK3β activity enhanced salivary gland branching. This first microanatomical expression atlas of a developing gland characterizes changes in local gene expression during salivary gland development and differentiation, which should facilitate the identification of key genes involved in tissue morphogenesis.     

Feeling trapped and being torn: Physicians' narratives about ethical dilemmas in hemodialysis care that evoke a troubled conscience

Background  

This study is part of a major study about difficulties in communicating ethical problems within and among professional groups working in hemodialysis care. Describing experiences of ethically difficult situations that induce a troubled conscience may raise consciousness about ethical problems and thereby open the way to further reflection.     

Qualitatively differential regulation of T cell activation and apoptosis by T cell receptor zeta chain ITAMs and their tyrosine residues

The issue of whether three ITAMs in the TCR zeta chain can transmit qualitatively distinct signals or redundantly amplify TCR-mediated activation signals was extensively investigated using stable hCD8-zeta Jurkat transfectants which contain stepwise deletions of each ITAM or mutations of tyrosine residues in each ITAM of TCR zeta chain. The influence of mutations of each tyrosine residue on reduction of the amount and species of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins recruited to zeta chain was quite distinctive, but they were roughly proportional to the number of functionally intact ITAMs. However, the first N-terminal ITAM had a signaling potential to trigger most intracellular signaling events for T cell activation and apoptosis similar to wild-type CD8-zeta, but this level was substantially reduced in the presence of the first and second N-terminal ITAM together. Mutations of tyrosine residues in first and second N-terminal ITAM significantly impaired most signaling events leading to T cell activation and activation-induced cell death, but phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was differentially impaired in each mutant. The mutation of the first tyrosine residue in C-terminal ITAM did not show any impairment in induction of surface antigens and cell death, but rather increased IL-2 secretion and MAPK phosphorylation. Therefore, in this study we demonstrated that the ITAMs and their tyrosine residues of TCR zeta chain can transmit qualitatively differential intracellular signals upon TCR stimulation through distinctive regulation of recruitment of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins to zeta chain and activation of various MAPKs.