Life Sciences Commons^™

A Polymorphic Dna Marker Linked To Cystic Fibrosis Is Located On Chromosome 7, Robert Knowlton, Odile Cohen-Haguenauer, Nguyen Van Cong, Jean Frézal, Valerie Brown, David Barker, Jeffrey Braman, James Schumm, Lap-Chee Tsui, Manuel Buchwald, Helen Donis-Keller

Helen Donis-Keller

Although cystic fibrosis (CF) is among the most common inherited diseases in Caucasian populations, the basic biochemical defect is not yet known. CF is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait apparently due to mutations in a single gene, whence the efforts made to identify the genetic locus responsible by linkage studies. Two markers have recently been identified that are genetically linked to CF: one is a genetic variation in serum level of activity of the enzyme paraoxonase, and the other is a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) identified with a randomly isolated DNA probe. We report here that the genetic …

Chromosomal Bar Codes Produced By Multicolor Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization With Multiple Yac Clones And Whole Chromosome Painting Probes, Christoph Lengauer, Michael Speicher, Susanne Popp, Anna Jauch, Masafumi Taniwaki, Ramaiah Nagaraja, Harold Riethman, Helen Donis-Keller, Michele D'Urso, David Schelssinger, Thomas Cremer

Helen Donis-Keller

Colored chromosome staining patterns, termed chromosomal ‘bar codes’ (CBCs), were obtained on human chromosomes by fluorescence in situhybridization (FISH) with pools of Alu-PCR products from YAC dones containing human DNA inserts ranging from 100 kbp to 1 Mbp. In contrast to conventional G- or R-bands, the chromosomal position, extent, Individual color and relative signal intensity of each ‘bar’ could be modified depending on probe selection and labeling procedures. Alu-PCR amplification products were generated from 31 YAC clones which mapped to 37 different chromosome bands. For multiple color FISH, Alu-PCR amplification products from various clones were either biotinylated or labeled …

Predictive Dna Testing And Prophylactic Thyroidectomy In Patients At Risk For Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a, Samuel Wells, David Chi, Koi Toshima, Louis Dehner, Cheryl Coffin, S. Dowton, Jennifer Ivanovich, Mary Debenedettl, William Dilley, Jeffrey Moley, Jeffrey Norton, Helen Donis-Keller

Helen Donis-Keller

Background: Missense germ-line mutations in the RET protooncogene are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A). Detection of these mutant alleles in kindred members predicts disease inheritance and provides the basis for preventative thyroidectomy. Methods: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based genetic test for the 19 known RET mutations was designed to study 132 members of 7 kindreds with MEN 2A. Haplotypes also were constructed using genetic markers flanking the MEN 2A locus. Plasma calcitonin (CT) concentrations were determined before and after provocative testing. Results: Direct DNA testing and haplotype analysis showed that 21 of 58 kindred members at …

Immune Responses In Cystic Fibrosis: Are They Intrinsically Defective?, Dmitry Ratner, Christian Mueller

Christian Mueller

Cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal single-gene disorder affecting Northern Europeans and North Americans, is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Cftr is a chloride channel and a regulator of other ion channels, and many aspects of the CF phenotype are directly related to ion channel abnormalities attributable to CFTR mutation. Lung disease is the most common limitation to the quantity and quality of life for patients with CF. One aspect that continues to be enigmatic is the observed alterations in innate and adaptive immune responses to certain pathogens. Altered responses to Pseudomonas …

The Mycoplasma Genitalium Mg_454 Gene Product Resists Killing By Organic Hydroperoxides, Sankaralingam Saikolappan, Smitha Sasindran, Hongwei Yu, Joel Basema, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

Hongwei Yu

Mycoplasma genitalium is the smallest self-replicating organism and a successful human pathogen associated with a range of genitourinary maladies. As a consequence of its restricted genome size, genes that are highly conserved in other bacteria are absent in M. genitalium. Significantly, genes that encode antioxidants like superoxide dismutase and catalase-peroxidase are lacking. Nevertheless, comparative genomics has revealed that MG_454 of M. genitalium encodes a protein with putative function as an organic hydroperoxide reductase (Ohr). In this study, we found that an M. genitalium transposon mutant that lacks expression of MG_454 was sensitive to killing by t-butyl hydroperoxide and cumene hydroperoxide. …

Lipotoxin F Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Is An Algu-Dependent And Alginate-Independent Outer Membrane Protein Involved In Resistance To Oxidative Stress And Adhesion To A549 Human Lung Epithelia, F. Damron, Jennifer Napper, M. Teter, Hongwei Yu

Hongwei Yu

Chronic lung infection with P. aeruginosa and excessive neutrophil-associated inflammation are major causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Overproduction of an exopolysaccharide known as alginate leads to the formation of mucoid biofilms that are resistant to antibiotics and host defences. Alginate overproduction or mucoidy is controlled by a stress-related ECF sigma factor AlgU/T. Mutation in the anti-sigma factor MucA is a known mechanism for conversion to mucoidy. Recently, we showed that inactivation of a kinase (KinB) in nonmucoid strain PAO1 results in overproduction of alginate. Here, we report the initial characterization of lipotoxin F (LptF, …

An In Vitro Investigation Of Herbs Traditionally Used For Kidney And Urinary System Disorders: Potential Therapeutic And Toxic Effects, Ken Wojcikowski, Hans Wohlmuth, David Johnson, Margaret Rolfe, Glenda Gobe

Dr Hans Wohlmuth

Aim: Renal fibrosis is central to progression of most chronic renal pathologies. Antioxidants that protect the tubular epithelium and anti-fibrotics that induce apoptosis of pro-fibrotic myofibroblasts without adversely affecting tubular epithelium may slow progression of renal fibrosis, while toxic substances may exacerbate renal scarring. We investigated 47 herbs for their in vitro toxic or antioxidant effects on normal renal mammalian fibroblasts (NRK49F) and tubular epithelial cells (NRK52E) to determine their potential value as therapeutic agents in renal fibrosis involving oxidative stress. Methods: Herbs were chosen because of their traditional use in kidney or urinary system disorders, or because of recent …

Gene Transfer In The Lung Using Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus, Alisha Gruntman, Christian Mueller, Terence Flotte, Guangping Gao

Christian Mueller

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a small replication-deficient DNA virus belonging to the Parvovirinae family. It has a single-stranded ∼4.7-kb genome. Recombinant AAV (rAAV) is created by replacing the viral rep and cap genes with the transgene of interest along with promoter and polyadenylation sequences. The short viral inverted terminal repeats must remain intact for replication and packaging in production, as well as vector genome processing and persistence in the transduction process. The AAV capsid (serotype) determines the tissue tropism of the rAAV vector. In this unit we will discuss serotype selection for lung targeting along with the factors effecting efficient …

A Healthy Mania For The Macabre, Stephen Asma

Stephen T Asma

The article discusses the fascination with death in art in response to several exhibits which display preserved human bodies, such as the "Body Worlds" traveling exhibit which features human bodies preserved with silicon after an acetone bath, a technique discovered by medical scientist Gunther von Hagens. The author looks at human curiosity with morbidity and artists such as Damien Hirst that use it as the focus of their work. Topics include comments by Richard Harris, creator of "Morbid Curiosity" exhibition in Chicago, Illinois, art historian Paul Koudounaris, and the beauty of death and morbidity according to New York artist and …

Metabolic Parameters And Emotionality Are Little Affected In G-Protein Coupled Receptor 12 (Gpr12) Mutant Mice, Elisabeth Frank, Yizhen Wu, Naomi Piyaratna, William Body, Peta Snikeris, Timothy South, Anna-Karin Gerdin, Mikael Bjursell, Mohammad Bohlooly-Y, Leonard H. Storlien, Xu-Feng Huang

Yizhen Wu

Background: G-protein coupled receptors (GPR) bear the potential to serve as yet unidentified drug targets for psychiatric and metabolic disorders. GPR12 is of major interest given its putative role in metabolic function and its unique brain distribution, which suggests a role in emotionality and affect. We tested Gpr12 deficient mice in a series of metabolic and behavioural tests and subjected them to a well-established high-fat diet feeding protocol. Methodology/Principal Findings: Comparing the mutant mice with wild type littermates, no significant differences were seen in body weight, fatness or weight gain induced by a high-fat diet. The Gpr12 mutant mice displayed …

Approaches To Development Of A User-Friendly Community Based Arsenic/Iron Removal Unit In Bangladesh, Khondoker Mahabub Hassan, Farooque Ahmed, Faisal Hai, Saleh Faraj Magram

Faisal I Hai

The present stydy focuses on the strategies to modify the design of a community based Arsenic - Iron Removal Unit (AIRU) based on the field performance of the AIRU and the feedback from the users. The ultimate aim was to offer a user-friendly and sustainable system. Appropriate modifications in the design of the developed unit reduced the propensities of water head-loss and media clogging, thereby yielding sustained flow rate. Introduction of a simple cleaning procerdure (98% flow-recovery with three successive backwashing sequences) successfully reduced the frequency of requirement of labor-intensive replacement of the whole filter media. Raw water with arsenic …

Spirituality And The Treatment Of Substance Use Disorders: An Exploration Of Forgiveness, Resentment And Purpose In Life, Geoffrey Lyons, Frank Deane, Peter Caputi, Peter Kelly

Peter Kelly

Faith-based treatment programs are a viable treatment option for many individuals with substance use disorders; however, the psychological mechanisms that explain the relationship between spirituality and a recovery from substance use disorders have not been established. The Spirituality, Forgiveness, and Purpose (SFP) model of recovery proposes that forgiveness and purpose in life may mediate the spirituality–recovery relationship. As a preliminary step in exploring this theory, a cross-sectional investigation of 277 clients of the Australian Salvation Army Rehabilitation Service Centres was performed. A multiple regression found that forgiveness of others, forgiveness of self, receiving forgiveness from others, and receiving forgiveness from …

Case Managers' Attitudes Toward The Use Of Homework For People Diagnosed With A Severe Psychiatric Disability, Peter Kelly, Frank Deane, Nikolaos Kazantzis, Trevor Crowe

Peter Kelly

The study examined mental health case managers' attitudes toward the use of homework and explored the relationship between clinician attitudes and systematic homework administration practices. A survey examining attitudes toward the use of homework was completed by 122 Australian mental health case managers. Case managers who held more positive attitudes reported better client responses to homework. Systematic homework administration was predicted by the degree to which case managers felt that homework enhanced client outcomes and the importance that case managers placed on the use of homework for severe psychiatric disabilities. The use of training and supervision programs to promote systematic …

Five Personality Factors And Sex: Preliminary Findings, Patrick Heaven, Jean Fitzpatrick, Fiona Craig, Peter Kelly, Gareth Sebar

Peter Kelly

This study assessed the relationships between the Big Five personality domains, attitudes to sex, and three specific sexual behaviours. Respondents were 123 undergraduate students (51 males; 72 females). Men were found to score significantly higher than women on measures of sexual curiosity and sexual excitement, while women were higher on sexual satisfaction. Neuroticism (N) and Extraversion (E) appeared to be the most important predictors of attitudes to sex, although Conscientiousness (C) and Openness to experience (O) were also implicated. N, C, and Agreeableness (A) were implicated in sexual behaviours. Some suggestions for future research are made.

Exploring Outcomes Of Employing A Multiple Complex Needs Nurse In A Residential Aod Therapeutic Community Treatment Setting, Jo Lunn, Peter Kelly

Peter Kelly

No abstract provided.

Examining Cancer And Cardiovascular Risk Behaviours In People Attending Residential Substance Abuse Treatment, Peter Kelly, A Baker, Frances Kay-Lambkin, Frank Deane, Billie Bonevski

Peter Kelly

No abstract provided.

Do Spirituality And Religiosity Help In The Management Of Cravings In Substance Abuse Treatment?, Sarah Mason, Frank Deane, Peter Kelly, Trevor Crowe

Peter Kelly

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of spirituality, religiosity and self-efficacy with drug and/or alcohol cravings. A cross-sectional survey was completed by 77 male participants at an Australian Salvation Army residential rehabilitation service in 2007. The survey included questions relating to the participants’ drug and/or alcohol use and also measures for spirituality, religiosity, cravings, and self-efficacy. The sample included participants aged between 19 and 74 years, with more than 57% reporting a diagnosis for a mental disorder and 78% reporting polysubstance misuse with alcohol most frequently endorsed as the primary drug of concern (71%). Seventy-five percent …

Forgiveness And Purpose In Life As Spiritual Mechanisms Of Recovery From Substance Use Disorders, Geoffrey Lyons, Frank Deane, Peter Kelly

Peter Kelly

Spirituality has often been associated with recovery from substance use disorders through its emphasis in faith-based rehabilitation programs. The purpose of this article is to describe some psychological dynamics that may explain how spirituality aids in the treatment of substance abuse and dependence. Forgiveness and purpose in life are proposed as ‘‘spiritual mechanisms’’ that partially mediate a spiritually directed recovery. Recent empirical studies on spirituality and recovery from substance use disorders are discussed in relation to 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Christian principles in order to describe how forgiveness and purpose in life interact with spiritual development in substance use …

Quality Of Systematic Therapeutic Homework Administration Procedures Facilitates Homework Completion In Patients With Severe And Persistent Mental Disorders, Peter Kelly, Frank Deane

Peter Kelly

Most clinicians who work with individuals diagnosed with psychotic disorders requiring long term treatment indicate that they use therapeutic homework regularly in treatment. However, research indicates that only 15% of clinicians consistently use a systematic approach to homework administration that involves specifying details such as where, when, how long and how often the assignment should be completed. It has been theorised that systematic implementation of homework leads to improved homework performance. Systematic homework administration procedures were part of a study evaluating the effects of the Collaborative Recovery training program. Clinicians who completed the training implemented the methods they had learned …

Therapeutic Homework To Support Recovery From Severe Mental Illness, Peter Kelly, Frank Deane

Peter Kelly

Therapeutic homework refers to activities that clients complete between their visits with mental health workers. The aim of such homework is to facilitate progress toward h'eatment goals. There is an increasing body of research indicating that homework completion is associated with improved outcomes of psychotherapy across a wide range of clinical disorders (such as depression and anxiety). However, there is limited research into the role of homework in mental health case management for people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Discordant Timing Between Antennae Disrupts Sun Compass Orientation In Migratory Monarch Butterflies, Robert Gegear, Patrick Guerra, Christine Merlin, Steven Reppert

Robert J. Gegear

To navigate during their long-distance migration, monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) use a time-compensated sun compass. The sun compass timing elements reside in light-entrained circadian clocks in the antennae. Here we show that either antenna is sufficient for proper time compensation. However, migrants with either antenna painted black (to block light entrainment) and the other painted clear (to permit light entrainment) display disoriented group flight. Remarkably, when the black-painted antenna is removed, re-flown migrants with a single, clear-painted antenna exhibit proper orientation behaviour. Molecular correlates of clock function reveal that period and timeless expression is highly rhythmic in brains and clear-painted …

Manufacturing On The Move? Beyond The High Dollar In The Debate About Making Things In Australia - The Case Of The Australian Surfboard Industry - Ausccer Discussion Paper No. 2012/2, Andrew Warren, Chris Gibson

Chris Gibson

In October 2011 surfboard manufacturer BASE abruptly closed its factory on the Gold Coast resulting in the direct loss of 50 jobs. A few days later, nearby D’Arcy Surfboards also announced it was shedding workers and downsizing from a state-of-the art purpose built factory into a backyard workshop. Each business exported surfboards internationally and employed some of Australia’s best known surfboard-makers. The troubles facing these workshops added to those brewing at the very same in Australia’s steel, aluminium, automotive and garment industries. With renewed public debate and media commentary on the future of manufacturing, we now face a crisis in …

An Assessment Of Behavioural Syndromes In Rangeland-Raised Beef Cattle, Robert Wesley, Andrés Cibils, J. Mulliniks, Emily Pollak, Mark Petersen, Ed Frederickson

Ed L. Frederickson

Individuals in most animal groups exhibit consistent behavioural differences across situations or over time known as behavioural syndromes. We conducted a study with a herd of young rangeland-raised cows to determine whether animals exhibited consistent differences in foraging behaviours across contexts (confinement vs. rangeland pasture) and could be clustered into behavioural type groups on the basis of a suite of correlated behaviours. We also investigated whether cows with different behavioural types performed differently in this environment. Supplement consumption rate (SCR) in confinement was used to select two groups of cows (fast eaters vs. slow eaters). This classification was validated by …

Open Access To Stm Information: Trends, Models, And Strategies For Libraries (Review), Steven Van Tuyl

Steven I Van Tuyl

No abstract provided.

Star Rna-Binding Protein Quaking Suppresses Cancer Via Stabilization Of Specific Mirna, Natalie Farny, An-Jou Chen, Ji-Hye Paik, Hailei Zhang, Sachet Shukla, Richard Mortensen, Jian Hu, Haoqiang Ying, Baoli Hu, Jessica Hurt, Caroline Dong, Yonghong Xiao, Y. Wang, Pamela Silver, Lynda Chin, Shobha Vasudevan, Ronald Depinho

Natalie G. Farny

Multidimensional cancer genome analysis and validation has defined Quaking (QKI), a member of the signal transduction and activation of RNA (STAR) family of RNA-binding proteins, as a novel glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor suppressor. Here, we establish that p53 directly regulates QKI gene expression, and QKI protein associates with and leads to the stabilization of miR-20a; miR-20a, in turn, regulates TGFβR2 and the TGFβ signaling network. This pathway circuitry is substantiated by in silico epistasis analysis of its components in the human GBM TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas Project) collection and by their gain- and loss-of-function interactions in in vitro and …

What Can We Learn From Confusing Olivella Columellaris And O. Semistriata, Two Key Species In Panamic Sandy Beach Ecosystems?, Alison Troost, Samantha Rupert, Ariel Cyrus, Frank Paladino, Benjamin Dattilo, Winfried Peters

Winfried S. Peters

Review And Critique Of The Quality Of Exercise Recommendations For Cancer Patients And Survivors, Nancy Humpel, Donald Iverson

Don C. Iverson

The benefit of exercise for cancer patients is starting to become recognized. The purposes of this paper were to review the literature to examine whether research findings are being converted into guidelines for patients and survivors and to examine the quality of evidence on which they were based. A computer search of major health databases was conducted for peer-reviewed literature and books on exercise and cancer, and an Internet search was conducted for cancer websites reporting any exercise guidelines/recommendations for cancer patients. Seven peer-reviewed articles, eight books and eight cancer websites were identified that suggested exercise guidelines for cancer patients …

Analysis Of The Costs Of A Large Prevention Trial, Nicole Urban, Steven Self, Larry Kessler, Ross Prentice, Maureen Henderson, Donald Iverson, Donovan Thompson, David Byar, William Insull, Sherwood Gorbach, C Clifford, Susan Goldman

Don C. Iverson

Total direct costs of the Women's Health Trial (WHT), alarge multicenter preventiontrial, were reduced by more than 50% by means of research costanalysis conducted during the trial design phase. The unit costs of specific trial activities were estimated so that total direct costs of the trial could be predicted from design parameters. The relative costs of screening, treatment, and follow-up, and the fixed costs associated with each clinical center in a multicenter preventiontrial were taken into account. Direct costs of the WHT were reduced from $195 million to $95 million by refinement of the trial protocol, selection of an efficient …

Research In School Health Education: A Needs Assessment, Lloyd Kolbe, Donald Iverson

Don C. Iverson

No abstract provided.

Federal Data Bases For Health Education Research, Ronald Wilson, Donald Iverson

Don C. Iverson

Described are some of the national health related databases which are useful in conducting health education research. Among areas covered by the projects are hypertension, myocardial infarction, neighborhood health centers, alcoholism, and over the counter drugs.