Identification of a gene from Xp21 with similarity to the tctex-1 gene of the murine t complex

Long range physical mapping within the p21 region of the X chromosomeIdentified a CpG rich Island approximately 180 kb centromericto the chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) locus. The segmentsadjacent to the CpG Island hybridized to discrete bands In DNAsof several species and when used to screen retinal cDNA librariesled to the Identification of cDNAs that detected a mRNA of 2.1kb in many tissues. Molecular characterization of correspondinggenomic clones of this novel human gene confirmed the originof the cDNA clones and Indicated a genomic structure with fiveexons spanning a total of 9 kb. The complete cDNA sequence revealedthat this gene contained a putative open reading frame of 116amino acids with a 3' untranslated region of 1.74 kb. The aminoacid sequence shows a high degree of similarity to the predictedproduct of the tctex-1 gene of the mouse t complex. As linkagestudies and patients with deletions have Implicated the Xp21region as containing the retInltls plgmentosa defect (RP3),the gene was assessed as a candidate disease gene In RP3 families.A single base pair polymorphism was Identified within the codingregion but no disease associated changes were found by singlestrand conformational polymorphism and sequencing analysis ofamplified exons of 20 RP patients. Analysis of a dinucleotiderepeat polymorphism within this gene In families affected withRP3 suggested refinement of the RP3 region.     

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in pigeons.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a well-studied syndrome in domestic animals. EPI occurs when severe progressive loss of tubulo-acinar tissue from atrophy or inflammatory destruction results in insufficient secretion of digestive enzymes and clinical signs of malabsorption. However, the literature on EPI in birds is limited. The syndrome has been previously described in several cases where the diagnosis was based on clinical signs due to malabsorption-like light-coloured voluminous faeces, voracious appetite, coprophagia and weight loss, and on the response to treatment with pancreatic enzyme formulas. To enable a more scientific approach to the diagnosis of pancreatic functional disorders in pigeons, reference values of plasma amylase (382 to 556 IU/l), lipase (0 to 5 IU/l), and faecal activities of amylase (13 to 16 IU/l) and trypsin (11 to 14 IU/l) were determined in 24 adult pigeons. A case of EPI in a racing pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is reported, based on the clinical signs and the measurement of faecal amylase and trypsin activity.     

Recirculating and germinal center B cells differentiate into cells responsive to polysaccharide antigens

Antibodies against bacterial capsular polysaccharides play a critical protective role. Responses to these antigens can occur without the help or control of T cells and are associated with marginal zone (MZ) B cells. Capsular antigens are diverse and some cross-react with self-carbohydrate epitopes. This diversity may explain the recruitment of non-autoreactive recirculating B cells and memory B cells to the MZ in addition to other B cells, some of which are weakly autoreactive cells, that are recruited to the MZ without entering the recirculating pool. To test whether memory B cells respond to polysaccharide-based antigens, mice with hapten-specific memory B cells were challenged with hapten-polysaccharide. Hapten-specific plasma cells producing high affinity antibody with Ig V-region mutations were induced. To test whether naive recirculating B cells can form MZ cells that respond to polysaccharide, recirculating B cells from lymph nodes were transferred into Rag-1-deficient mice. MZ cells differentiated from the donor cells without proliferation or T cell help and responded to polysaccharide-based antigen. The differentiation of B cells both from germinal centers and the recirculating pool to the MZ phenotype is likely to make an important contribution to the repertoire of B cells that respond to polysaccharide antigens.     

Smoking and Drinking Behavior in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: Effects of Behavioral Self-Blame and Perceived Control

Patients who continue to use tobacco or alcohol following treatment for head and neck cancers are at greater risk for cancer recurrence and mortality. The present study examined the effects of behavioral self-blame and perceived control over health on smoking and alcohol use in a sample of 55 patients with cancers of the head and neck. Measures of self-blame, perceived control, and depression were administered and an assessment of past and current smoking and drinking behavior was obtained. As anticipated, continued smoking after completion of oncologic treatment was predicted by the interaction of behavior specific self-blame and perceived control. Patients who attributed the cause of their cancer to their past substance use exhibited a lower likelihood of smoking only if they also held the expectancy that their future cancer-related health was contingent on their own behavior. Among patients not holding the belief that cancer recurrence was contingent on their own actions, self-blame was associated with a higher probability of continued smoking. Self-blame and perceived control had no effect on continued alcohol use.     

A comparison between digital images viewed on a Picture Archiving and Communication System diagnostic workstation and on a PC-based remote viewing system by emergency physicians

Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) make possible the viewing of radiographic images on computer workstations located where clinical care is delivered. By the nature of their work this feature is particularly useful for emergency physicians who view radiographic studies for information and use them to explain results to patients and their families. However, the high cost of PACS diagnostic workstations with fuller functionality places limits on the number of and therefore the accessibility to workstations in the emergency department. This study was undertaken to establish how well less expensive personal computer-based workstations would work to support these needs of emergency physicians. The study compared the outcome of observations by 5 emergency physicians on a series of radiographic studies containing subtle abnormalities displayed on both a PACS diagnostic workstation and on a PC-based workstation. The 73 digitized radiographic studies were randomly arranged on both types of workstation over four separate viewing sessions for each emergency physician. There was no statistical difference between a PACS diagnostic workstation and a PC-based workstation in this trial. The mean correct ratings were 59% on the PACS diagnostic workstations and 61% on the PC-based workstations. These findings also emphasize the need for prompt reporting by a radiologist.