Expanded trans-pedicular spongiosa grafting--dorsal approach to filling of the intervertebral spaces with cancellous bone

Internal fixation of dorsolumbar spinal fractures can be accomplished by dorsal plating or internal fixator. So far, the technique of transpedicular grafting has been applied to fill the vertebral body with cancellous bone. In this paper, we present a new technique of extended transpedicular bone grafting to fill the intervertebral space also. By this means, the disadvantage of secondary loss of height after removal of the metal implants can be prevented.     

Splenocyte response to T cell-derived cytokines in thymectomized Xenopus.

A miniaturized, “hanging-drop” bioassay reveals that splenocytes from earlythymectomized (Tx) Xenopus can respond (by enhanced thymidine incorporation) to thymicdependent “cytokines” generated in PHA- or alloantigen-stimulated cultures. Preliminary evidence, using fluorescence activated cell sorting, indicates that surface IgM⁻ splenocytes, rather than sIgM⁺ cells, from Tx toads are sensitive to the crude, splenocyte-derived, active supernatants. Although these responsive cells display residual, but low, reactivity to PHA, their thymus independence is suggested by flow cytometric observations using the anti-T cell monoclonal antibody XT-1. The development of “T-like” cells in Tx Xenopus is discussed.     

Identification and characterization of a single-stranded DNA-binding protein from the archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii

Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) play essential roles in DNA replication, recombination, and repair in bacteria and eukarya. We report here the identification and characterization of the SSB of an archaeon, Methanococcus jannaschii. The M. jannaschii SSB (mjaSSB) has significant amino acid sequence similarity to the eukaryotic SSB, replication protein A (RPA), and contains four tandem repeats of the core single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding domain originally defined by structural studies of RPA. Homologous SSBs are encoded by the genomes of other archaeal species, including Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum and Archaeoglobus fulgidus. The purified mjaSSB binds to ssDNA with high affinity and selectivity. The apparent association constant for binding to ssDNA is similar to that of RPA under comparable experimental conditions, and the affinity for ssDNA exceeds that for double-stranded DNA by at least two orders of magnitude. The binding site size for mjaSSB is ≈20 nucleotides. Given that RPA is related to mjaSSB at the sequence level and to Escherichia coli SSB at the structural level, we conclude that the SSBs of archaea, eukarya, and bacteria share a common core ssDNA-binding domain. This ssDNA-binding domain was presumably present in the common ancestor to all three major branches of life.     

Corticosteroids for the Enhancement of Fetal Lung Maturity: Impact on the Gravida with Preeclampsia and the HELLP Syndrome

Summary: This study was undertaken to determine maternal impact of corticosteroids administered for the promotion of fetal lung maturity in mothers with the HELLP syndrome. Twenty-seven of 427 women with the HELLP syndrome treated between 1980–1991 received a full course of steroids prior to preterm delivery. This group was compared to 27 matched control patients with the HELLP syndrome who received no corticosteroids. Subjects were matched for maternal age, race, sex of the fetus, and severity of the HELLP syndrome. The antepartum platelet count stabilized or increased in 25 of 27 steroid-treated women in contrast to 0 of 15 control women (p <0.00001). In comparison to control patients, LDH serum concentrations in steroid-treated patients stabilized or decreased and the SGOT/AST and SGPT/ALT stabilized or decreased during therapy (p < 0.005). The interval from delivery to platelet nadir in patients with Class III HELLP syndrome was shorter in the steroid-treated group (p<0.008) than in untreated patients.     

Impaired spatial working and reference memory in segmental trisomy (Ts65Dn) mice

To evaluate the cognitive phenotype of the segmental trisomy 16 (Ts65Dn) mouse, a model of Down Syndrome (DS, trisomy 21), we assessed spatial working and reference memory using a 12-arm radial maze (RAM). Ts65Dn mice made a greater number of reference memory errors across trials compared to control mice. Both genotypes showed improvement across trials, although improvement was slower in Ts65Dn mice. Ts65Dn mice also made a greater number of working memory errors on the RAM, and in contrast to control mice, did not improve across trials, always performing at near-chance levels. These results provide evidence for both spatial working and reference memory deficits in Ts65Dn mice, characteristics of cognitive dysfunction.     

A behavioral group procedure for parents of severely troubled and troubling youth in out-of-home care: Alternative to conventional parent training

Many youth, their parents, and social services regard the unification of the family as the most desirable outcome for youth in out-of-home placements. This goal is often difficult to achieve because the families of these troubled/troubling youths are often severely dysfunctional, with multiple problems. A group process model for serving natural parents of youth in placement is described which, in conjunction with one-on-one interactions with professionals, appears to have a positive impact on these families and on youths' return home. Group components that seem particularly important are described, including attendance by invitation only, public commitment to attend and participate, reminder prompts, transportation support, babysitting support, refreshments, opportunity to visit with their child, defined staff roles, an empowering approach, and starting where the parent is. The group process maintained a relatively high level of both attendance and participation by the targeted parents. Participants tended to achieve most goals that they set in the group. Our experience indicates that interventions with natural parents of troubled youth can enable even a very dysfunctional family to improve enough to receive youth back into their home.The authors are grateful for the assistance of Sharon Estill, Jim Bernardo, Anita Mentzer, Dave Walker, and Suni Dague-Lyman for assistance in collecting the data reported here. Debbie Buchanan and others have been a great assistance in transporting families.     

Generation and comparative analysis of approximately 3.3 Mb of mouse genomic sequence orthologous to the region of human chromosome 7q11.23 implicated in Williams syndrome.

Williams syndrome is a complex developmental disorder that results from the heterozygous deletion of a approximately 1.6-Mb segment of human chromosome 7q11.23. These deletions are mediated by large (approximately 300 kb) duplicated blocks of DNA of near-identical sequence. Previously, we showed that the orthologous region of the mouse genome is devoid of such duplicated segments. Here, we extend our studies to include the generation of approximately 3.3 Mb of genomic sequence from the mouse Williams syndrome region, of which just over 1.4 Mb is finished to high accuracy. Comparative analyses of the mouse and human sequences within and immediately flanking the interval commonly deleted in Williams syndrome have facilitated the identification of nine previously unreported genes, provided detailed sequence-based information regarding 30 genes residing in the region, and revealed a number of potentially interesting conserved noncoding sequences. Finally, to facilitate comparative sequence analysis, we implemented several enhancements to the program, including the addition of links from annotated features within a generated percent-identity plot to specific records in public databases. Taken together, the results reported here provide an important comparative sequence resource that should catalyze additional studies of Williams syndrome, including those that aim to characterize genes within the commonly deleted interval and to develop mouse models of the disorder.     

Socioeconomic position and cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses following cognitive challenge in old age

Social disparities in health persist into old age, and differences in psychophysiological responsivity may contribute to this pattern. We assessed whether higher socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with attenuated cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responses elicited by cognitive tasks in old age. We tested 132 community-dwelling men and women aged 65-80 years, divided on the basis of educational attainment into higher and lower SES groups, and compared them with 26 higher educated participants aged 27-42 years. Blood pressure, hemodynamic variables and salivary cortisol were assessed in response to the performance of three cognitive tasks, and then during recovery. Older groups showed smaller heart rate and larger cortisol changes than younger participants. Post-task recovery in heart rate, stroke volume, pre-ejection period, and systolic blood pressure was greatest in the younger group, least in the older/lower education group, and intermediate in the older/higher education group. SES did not influence the increased cortisol responsivity of older participants. The results are consistent with the notion that higher SES protects against age-related changes in cardiovascular response profiles, particularly during recovery.