Vector competence of Mexican and Honduran mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for enzootic (IE) and epizootic (IC) strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus

Experimental studies evaluated the vector competence of Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann), Culex cancer Theobald, Culex pseudes (Dyar and Knab), Culex taeniopus Dyar and Knab, and a Culex (Culex) species, probably Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Culex nigripalpus Theobald from Chiapas, Mexico, and Tocoa, Honduras, for epizootic (IC) and enzootic (IE) strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus. Culex pseudes was highly susceptible to infection with both the IC and IE strains of VEE (infection rates >78%). Patterns of susceptibility to VEE were similar for Oc. taeniorhynchus collected in Mexico and Honduras. Although Oc. taeniorhynchus was highly susceptible to the epizootic IC strains (infection rates > or = 95%, n = 190), this species was less susceptible to the enzootic IE strain (infection rates < or = 35%, n = 233). The Culex (Culex) species were refractory to both subtypes of VEE, and none of 166 contained evidence of a disseminated infection. Virus-exposed Cx. pseudes that refed on susceptible hamsters readily transmitted virus, confirming that this species was an efficient vector of VEE. Although Oc. taeniorhynchus that fed on hamsters infected with the epizootic IC strain transmitted VEE efficiently, only one of six of those with a disseminated infection with the enzootic IE virus that fed on hamsters transmitted virus by bite. These data indicate that Cx. pseudes is an efficient laboratory vector of both epizootic and enzootic strains of VEE and that Oc. taeniorhynchus could be an important vector of epizootic subtypes of VEE.     

COMP mutation screening as an aid for the clinical diagnosis and counselling of patients with a suspected diagnosis of pseudoachondroplasia or multiple epiphyseal dysplasia

The skeletal dysplasias are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of conditions affecting the development of the osseous skeleton and fall into the category of rare genetic diseases in which the diagnosis can be difficult for the nonexpert. Two such diseases are pseudoachondroplasia (PSACH) and multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED), which result in varying degrees of short stature, joint pain and stiffness and often resulting in early onset osteoarthritis. PSACH and some forms of MED result from mutations in the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) gene and to aid the clinical diagnosis and counselling of patients with a suspected diagnosis of PSACH or MED, we developed an efficient and accurate molecular diagnostic service for the COMP gene. In a 36-month period, 100 families were screened for a mutation in COMP and we identified disease-causing mutations in 78% of PSACH families and 36% of MED families. Furthermore, in several of these families, the identification of a disease-causing mutation provided information that was immediately used to direct reproductive decision-making.     

TRIO amplification and abundant mRNA expression is associated with invasive tumor growth and rapid tumor cell proliferation in urinary bladder cancer

Studies by comparative genome hybridization have suggested that 5p amplification is related to tumor progression in urinary bladder cancer. In this study seven genes (TAS2R, ADCY2, DNAH5, CTNND2, TRIO, ANKH, and MYO10) located to 5p15.31-5p15.1 were analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization using a tissue microarray containing samples from tumors and cell lines with known 5p amplification by comparative genome hybridization. Amplification frequency was highest for TRIO, which maps to 5p15.2 and encodes a protein with a putative role in cell-cycle regulation. To further investigate the role of TRIO amplification in bladder cancer, a tissue microarray containing samples from 2317 bladder tumors was used for fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. TRIO amplification was strongly associated with invasive tumor phenotype, high tumor grade, and rapid tumor cell proliferation (Ki67 LI) (P < 0.0001 each). Only 7 of 456 pTaG1/G2 tumors (1.5%) but 62 of 485 pT1-4 carcinomas (12.8%) had TRIO amplification. TRIO amplification was not associated with poor prognosis. Using a frozen bladder tumor tissue microarray RNA in situ hybridization confirmed that TRIO is up-regulated in amplified tumors. It is concluded that TRIO up-regulation through amplification has a potential role in bladder cancer progression.     

Shb null allele is inherited with a transmission ratio distortion and causes reduced viability in utero.

SHB is an Src homology 2 domain-containing adapter protein that has been found to be involved in numerous cellular responses. We have generated an Shb knockout mouse. No Shb-/- pups or embryos were obtained on the C57Bl6 background, indicating an early defect as a consequence of Shb- gene inactivation on this genetic background. Breeding heterozygotes for Shb gene inactivation (Shb+/-) on a mixed genetic background (FVB/C57Bl6/129Sv) reveals a distorted transmission ratio of the null allele with reduced numbers of Shb+/+ and Shb-/- animals, but increased number of Shb+/- animals. The Shb- allele is associated with various forms of malformations, explaining the relative reduction in the number of Shb-/- offspring. Shb-/- animals that were born were viable, fertile, and showed no obvious defects. However, Shb+/- female mice ovulated preferentially Shb- oocytes explaining the reduced frequency of Shb+/+ mice. Our study suggests a role of SHB during reproduction and development.     

Post traumatic brain perfusion SPECT analysis using reconstructed ROI maps of radioactive microsphere derived cerebral blood flow and statistical parametric mapping

Background  

Assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) by SPECT could be important in the management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) because changes in regional CBF can affect outcome by promoting edema formation and intracranial pressure elevation (with cerebral hyperemia), or by causing secondary ischemic injury including post-traumatic stroke. The purpose of this study was to establish an improved method for evaluating regional CBF changes after TBI in piglets.     

Estimation of body fat from skinfold thicknesses in middle-aged and older men and women: A multiple component approach

The relationship of skinfold thicknesses and body density to body fatness was assessed, and skinfold prediction equations were developed for the estimation of body fatness determined from measures of body density, total body water, and bone mineral in a sample of 91 males and 116 females aged 34–84 years. For a given skinfold thickness, adjustment for individual deviations in the water and bone mineral fractions of the fat-free body assumed constant by traditional body composition models resulted in absolute reductions in overstimates of body fatness from 4.5 to 1.9% in females and from 2.8 to 1.7% in males for every 15 year increase in age. Percentage fat from density, water, and bone was estimated from skinfold thicknesses with SEEs of 2.9% in males and 3.8% in females. When compared to percentage fat from our multicomponent-derived criterion, percentage fat from body density and a two-component model resulted in individual errors ranging from underestimates of 5.6% fat to overestimates of 14.0% fat. The multicomponent prediction equations presented herein should produce more valid estimates of body composition in middle-aged and older men and women than equations based on two-component models. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The yeast type II myosin heavy chain: Analysis of its predicted polypeptide sequence

Summary We have completed the nucleotide sequence of the yeastMYO1 gene and deduced its amino acid sequence. The gene is 5553 bp long and contains no introns. Analysis of the sequence, as well as its comparison with other myosins, demonstrate that the yeast protein is a type II myosin heavy chain with characteristic head and tail regions. The latter domain contains six proline residues in two clusters of three, at approximately two thirds from the start of the gene.     

Novel KChIP2 isoforms increase functional diversity of transient outward potassium currents

Kv4.3 channels conduct transient outward K⁺ currents in the human heart and brain where they mediate the early phase of action potential repolarization. KChIP2 proteins are members of a new class of calcium sensors that modulate the surface expression and biophysical properties of Kv4 K⁺ channels. Here we describe three novel isoforms of KChIP2 with an alternatively spliced C-terminus (KChIP2e, KChIP2f) or N-terminus (KChIP2g). KChIP2e and KChIP2f are expressed in the human atrium, whereas KChIP2g is predominantly expressed in the brain. The KChIP2 isoforms were coexpressed with Kv4.3 channels in Xenopus oocytes and currents recorded with two-microelectrode voltage-clamp techniques. KChIP2e caused a reduction in current amplitude, an acceleration of inactivation and a slowing of the recovery from inactivation of Kv4.3 currents. KChIP2f increased the current amplitude and slowed the rate of inactivation, but did not alter the recovery from inactivation or the voltage of half-maximal inactivation of Kv4.3 channels. KChIP2g increased current amplitudes, slowed the rate of inactivation and shifted the voltage of half-maximal inactivation to more negative potentials. The biophysical changes induced by these alternatively spliced KChIP2 proteins differ markedly from previously described KChIP2 proteins and would be expected to increase the diversity of native transient outward K⁺ currents.     

Predictability of Individual Differences in Activation Processes in a Field Setting Based on Laboratory Measures

The predictability of individual differences in activation processes was investigated in a multi-method laboratory-field study. Male students of physical education (N=58) were examined under various emotionally activating and physically demanding conditions (mental arithmetic, reaction time, free speech, cold pressor test, bicycle ergometer). The assessment included multi-channel recordings of pre-start phases in an athletic stadium and performance on a 1000 m run. Basal heart rate was also recorded during sleep. This multi-situational assessment was repeated after three weeks, three months, and, for most (N=42) subjects, after one year. Significant relationships exist between scores from corresponding conditions of relaxation, anticipation, and performance of physical exercise. However, with the exception of heart rate, correlation coefficients are rather small and seem to be of questionable predictive validity. A generalizability study further supports the general conclusion: To increase the practical relevance in psychophysiological investigations of stress/strain phenomena, such studies should directly assess individual differences in the criterion situations themselves.