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Selected AbstractsExpression, functional, and structural analysis of proteins critical for otoconia developmentDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 10 2010Yinfang Xu Abstract Otoconia, developed during late gestation and perinatal stages, couple mechanic force to the sensory hair cells in the vestibule for motion detection and bodily balance. In the present work, we have investigated whether compensatory deposition of another protein(s) may have taken place to partially alleviate the detrimental effects of Oc90 deletion by analyzing a comprehensive list of plausible candidates, and have found a drastic increase in the deposition of Sparc-like 1 (aka Sc1 or hevin) in Oc90 null versus wt otoconia. We show that such up-regulation is specific to Sc1, and that stable transfection of Oc90 and Sc1 full-length expression constructs in NIH/3T3 cells indeed promotes matrix calcification. Analysis and modeling of Oc90 and Sc1 protein structures show common features that may be critical requirements for the otoconial matrix backbone protein. Such information will serve as the foundation for future regenerative purposes. Developmental Dynamics 239:2659,2673, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Estimating the Costs of Epilepsy: An International Comparison of Epilepsy Cost StudiesEPILEPSIA, Issue 5 2001Irene A. W. Kotsopoulos Summary: ,Purpose: To compare systematically the national and per capita estimates of the cost of epilepsy in different countries. Methods: Studies for this literature review were selected by conducting a Medline literature search from January 1966 to March 2000. Key methodologic, country-related, and monetary issues of the selected epilepsy cost studies were evaluated to compare their direct cost estimates and to explore their distribution. The results of the selected studies were made comparable by converting them with different types of conversion factors and expressing them as a proportion of the national expenditure on health care. Results: Ten epilepsy cost studies were reviewed. The proportion of national health care expenditure on epilepsy shows a range of 0.12,1.12% or 0.12,1.05% depending on the type of conversion factor. The list of cost components included in the estimation of the direct costs of epilepsy differs from study to study. A comprehensive list is associated with a decrease in the contribution of drug and hospital costs to the total direct costs of epilepsy. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of studying the economic consequences of epilepsy and of interpreting the results on the international level. The results of epilepsy cost studies can provide insight into the distribution of the costs of epilepsy and the impact of epilepsy on the national expenditure on health care. [source] The structure of perceived qualities of situationsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2005John A. Edwards Situations can be seen as having attributes or qualities in much the same way as people have traits. The structure of people's perceptions of these situation qualities was explored. A comprehensive list of adjectives that might describe situations was generated, and people rated situations using samples of the words. Across several samples of words and participants and several analytic methods, four factors show up regularly (positivity, negativity, productivity, and ease of negotiation). In a second study, it was shown that these factors predict the way in which people freely sort situations. The conceptual nature of these factors and of situation qualities is discussed, with particular emphasis on how people's goals and perceived outcomes influence their perceptions of situations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A comparative proteome analysis of human metaphase chromosomes isolated from two different cell lines reveals a set of conserved chromosome-associated proteinsGENES TO CELLS, Issue 3 2007Hideaki Takata A comparative proteome analysis of human metaphase chromosomes between a typical epithelial-like cell, HeLa S3, and a lymphoma-type cell, BALL-1, was performed. One-dimensional (1-D) SDS-PAGE and radical-free and highly reducing two-dimensional electrophoresis (RFHR 2-DE) detected more than 200 proteins from chromosomes isolated from HeLa S3 cells, among which 189 proteins were identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Consistent with our recent four-layer structural model of a metaphase chromosome, all the identified proteins were grouped into four distinct levels of abundance. Both HeLa S3 and BALL-1 chromosomes contained specific sets of abundant chromosome structural and peripheral proteins in addition to less abundant chromosome coating proteins (CCPs). Furthermore, titin array analysis and a proteome analysis of the ultra-high molecular mass region indicated an absence of titin with their molecular weight (MW) more than 1000 kDa. Consequently, the present proteome analyses together with previous information on chromosome proteins provide the comprehensive list of proteins essential for the metaphase chromosome architecture. [source] How different are luminal A and basal breast cancers?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 6 2009François Bertucci Abstract Heterogeneity of breast cancer makes its evolution difficult to predict, and its treatment far from being optimal. At least 5 main molecular subtypes exist. Two major subtypes are luminal A and basal subtypes, which have opposite features, notably survival. To characterize these 2 subtypes better, with the hope of better understanding their different biology and clinical outcome, we have profiled a series of 138 tumours (80 luminal A and 58 basal) using Affymetrix whole-genome DNA microarrays. We have identified 5,621 probe sets as differentially expressed between the 2 subtypes in our series. These differences were validated in 6 independent public series (more than 600 tumours) profiled using different DNA microarrays platforms. Analysis of functions and pathways related to these probe sets, and the extent of the observed differences, confirmed that the 2 subtypes represent very distinct entities. Genes associated with proliferation, cell cycle, cell motility, angiogenesis, and NFkB signalling were overexpressed in basal tumours. Genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, TGFB signalling, and oestrogen receptor (ER) signalling were overexpressed in luminal A samples. Half of the genes overexpressed in luminal tumours contained ER-binding sites. The number of differentially expressed genes was as high as the set of genes discriminating 2 cancers of different anatomical origin (breast and colon) or discriminating acute myeloid and lymphoid leukaemia. We provide a comprehensive list of genes/pathways that define potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets for these 2 subtypes, which should be treated differently given the profound differences observed at the molecular level. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The transcriptional programme of contact-inhibitionJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 5 2010Monika Küppers Abstract Proliferation of non-transformed cells is regulated by cell,cell contacts, which are referred to as contact-inhibition. Vice versa, transformed cells are characterised by a loss of contact-inhibition. Despite its generally accepted importance for cell-cycle control, little is known about the intracellular signalling pathways involved in contact-inhibition. Unravelling the molecular mechanisms of contact-inhibition and its loss during tumourigenesis will be an important step towards the identification of novel target genes in tumour diagnosis and treatment. To better understand the underlying molecular mechanisms we identified the transcriptional programme of contact-inhibition in NIH3T3 fibroblast using high-density microarrays. Setting the cut off: ,1.5-fold, P,,,0.05, 853 genes and 73 cDNA sequences were differentially expressed in confluent compared to exponentially growing cultures. Importing these data into GenMAPP software revealed a comprehensive list of cell-cycle regulatory genes mediating G0/G1 arrest, which was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot. In a narrow analysis (cut off: ,2-fold, P,,,0.002), we found 110 transcripts to be differentially expressed representing 107 genes and 3 cDNA sequences involved, for example, in proliferation, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, cell adhesion and communication. Interestingly, the majority of genes was upregulated indicating that contact-inhibition is not a passive state, but actively induced. Furthermore, we confirmed differential expression of eight genes by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and identified the potential tumour suppressor transforming growth factor-, (TGF-,)-1-induced clone 22 (TSC-22; tgfb1i4) as a novel protein to be induced in contact-inhibited cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 110: 1234,1243, 2010. Published 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The WRKY Gene Family in Rice (Oryza sativa)JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Christian A. Ross Abstract WRKY genes encode transcription factors that are involved in the regulation of various biological processes. These zinc-finger proteins, especially those members mediating stress responses, are uniquely expanded in plants. To facilitate the study of the evolutionary history and functions of this supergene family, we performed an exhaustive search for WRKY genes using HMMER and a Hidden Markov Model that was specifically trained for rice. This work resulted in a comprehensive list of WRKY gene models in Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica and L. ssp. japonica. Mapping of these genes to individual chromosomes facilitated elimination of the redundant, leading to the identification of 98 WRKY genes in japonica and 102 in indica rice. These genes were further categorized according to the number and structure of their zinc-finger domains. Based on a phylogenetic tree of the conserved WRKY domains and the graphic display of WRKY loci on corresponding indica and japonica chromosomes, we identified possible WRKY gene duplications within, and losses between the two closely related rice subspecies. Also reviewed are the roles of WRKY genes in disease resistance and responses to salicylic acid and jasmonic acid, seed development and germination mediated by gibberellins, other developmental processes including senescence, and responses to abiotic stresses and abscisic acid in rice and other plants. The signaling pathways mediating WRKY gene expression are also discussed. [source] What is the enabling state?JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2004The views of textiles, garments entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe This paper summarizes the approach and findings of a piece of research sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID) in the UK and carried out in 1998 and 1999 mainly in Harare and Bulawayo. The primary aim of the work was to contribute to an improvement in facilitating an enabling environment for the private sector in Zimbabwe. It aimed to achieve this objective by developing and testing a participative methodology based on the use of historical profiles, checklists, Venn diagrams, master charts, workshops and other participative methodologies. These processes were introduced and developed with a group of 40 entrepreneurs and managers and several representatives from trade unions, government, and agencies. The design aimed to allow participants to express their own agendas, ideas and approaches instead of reacting to a more rigid approach reflecting the agendas of the research team. The research team adopted a broad structure based around three main areas affecting firms: the policy, agency and firm environments. The use of semi-structured interviews and workshops allowed a detailed exploration of these issues and produced a comprehensive list of problems identified and proposed solutions. The importance of the research is in its ability to construct a firm level, rather than government or donor level view of the enabling environment. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Survey of the year 2000 commercial optical biosensor literatureJOURNAL OF MOLECULAR RECOGNITION, Issue 5 2001Rebecca L. Rich Abstract We have compiled a comprehensive list of the articles published in the year 2000 that describe work employing commercial optical biosensors. Selected reviews of interest for the general biosensor user are highlighted. Emerging applications in areas of drug discovery, clinical support, food and environment monitoring, and cell membrane biology are emphasized. In addition, the experimental design and data processing steps necessary to achieve high-quality biosensor data are described and examples of well-performed kinetic analysis are provided. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Review of the ethnobotany, chemistry, biological activity and safety of the botanical dietary supplement Morinda citrifolia (noni)*JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 12 2007Alison D. Pawlus Morinda citrifolia, commonly called noni, has a long history as a medicinal plant and its use as a botanical dietary supplement has grown tremendously in recent years. This has prompted a concomitant increase in research on the phytochemical constituents and biological activity of noni. A relatively large number of scientific publications on noni have been published in recent years, including a number of review articles. The goals of this review are to provide an updated categorization of the phytochemical constituents found in noni and to provide perspective for its extensive utilization as a major botanical dietary supplement. Included herein are a comprehensive list of known ethno-botanical uses and common names of M. citrifolia, a brief summary of relevant biological studies and a discussion of the safety of noni as a supplement. [source] The double helix of activity and scholarship: building a medical education career with limited resourcesMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2008Page S Morahan Context, Creating respected scholarship from educational and clinical activities is challenging for medical school faculty members. In the USA and Europe, criteria for ,scholarship' has broadened and enriched. However, in developing countries, promotion systems generally continue to emphasise traditional laboratory or clinical research. Objective, This paper sets forth a broad conception of scholarship and provides international distribution venues that reinforce the importance of scholarly activity corresponding to clinical and educational work. Methods, Information sources about non-traditional scholarship included 50 medical school faculty from 20 economically developing nations plus senior faculty from throughout the USA. Resources for distribution venues were drawn from a citation index search, a literature search and Google. Results, The authors provide resources for faculty advancement, including examples of non-traditional scholarship that meet rigorous criteria, and a comprehensive list of venues for the dissemination of educational materials and studies. They give a relative value process for academic work to assist faculty in developing educational scholarship. Finally, they propose a double helix model for academic advancement, consisting of 2 congruent helices with the same axis, 1 representing educational, service or clinical activity and the other scholarly achievement. Conclusions, These materials and the double helix model will support faculty and promotion committees, especially those from schools that have not yet broadened their view of scholarship, to envisage a realistic starting point and see how educational and clinical activities can generate internationally recognised, high-quality scholarship. [source] Relevant behavioural and social science for medical undergraduates: a comparison of specialist and non-specialist educatorsMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 10 2006Sarah Peters Aim, To compare what medical educators who are specialists in the behavioural and social sciences and their non-specialist counterparts consider to be core concepts that medical graduates should understand. Background, Previously perceived as ,nice to know' rather than ,need to know', the General Medical Council (GMC) now places behavioural and social sciences on the same need-to-know basis as clinical and basic sciences. Attempts have been made to identify what components of these topics medical students need to know; however, it remains unknown if decisions over programme content differ depending on whether or not educationalists have specialist knowledge of the behavioural and social sciences. Methods, In a survey of medical educationalists within all UK medical schools, respondents were asked to indicate from a comprehensive list of psychological, sociological and anthropological concepts what they considered a minimally competent graduate should understand. Comparisons were made between the concepts identified by specialist behavioural and social science (BSS) educators and those without such training. Results, Despite different disciplinary backgrounds, non-specialist educators largely concurred with BSS specialist educators in the concepts they considered tomorrow's doctors should know about. However, among BSS specialists there remained disagreement on what BSS content was relevant for graduates. Differences reflect specialist knowledge and recognition of the role of theoretical underpinning of BSS and reveal gaps in non-specialists knowledge. Conclusions, Educationalists with formal training in the full range of behavioural and social sciences should be involved in the development of BSS curriculum content at both national and school levels. [source] Straight to the bar: Molecular nanostructures, graphene, nanotubes.PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI - RAPID RESEARCH LETTERS, Issue 3 200717 March 200, Austria, Kirchberg, XXIst International Winterschool on Electronic Properties of Novel Materials (IWEPNM 2007) Conference Reports are meant to offer an authoritative view on a recently held scientific meeting rather than a comprehensive list of the conference presentations. Authors are invited to describe what they feel were the most interesting contributions. The Kirchberg Winterschool provided a platform for reviewing and discussing new developments in the field of electronic properties of molecular nanostructures and their applications such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and single molecules. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Making sense of cilia in disease: The human ciliopathies,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS, Issue 4 2009Kate Baker Abstract Ubiquitous in nature, cilia and flagella comprise nearly identical structures with similar functions. The most obvious example of the latter is motility: driving movement of the organism or particle flow across the epithelial surface in fixed structures. In vertebrates, such motile cilia are evident in the respiratory epithelia, ependyma, and oviducts. For over a century, non-motile cilia have been observed on the surface of most vertebrate cells but until recently their function has eluded us. Gathering evidence now points to critical roles for the mono-cilium in sensing the extracellular environment, and perturbation of this function gives rise to a predictable panoply of clinical problems. We review the common clinical phenotypes associated with ciliopathies and interrogate Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) to compile a comprehensive list of putative disorders in which ciliary dysfunction may play a role. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Transgenic mouse models of dopamine deficiencyANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue S6 2003Linan Chen PhD The dopamine system is implicated in several neurological and psychiatric disorders. Genetic mutations or variations that affect dopamine system functions either directly cause or contribute to these disorders, even though other genetic and environmental factors may contribute significantly to some of these disorders as well. Transgenic mice increasingly become important tools in revealing functions of genes that are essential components of the dopamine system as well as in modeling human genetic disorders. We have reviewed a comprehensive list of those genes and compared genetic mutations/variations in humans and transgenic mouse models. The significance and limitations of these animal models as well as future directions are discussed. Ann Neurol 2003;54 (suppl 6):S91,S102 [source] | |||||||||||||