The Mouse Genome Database (MGD) is one component of the Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) system (http://www.informatics.jax.org), a community database resource for the laboratory mouse. MGD strives to ...provide a comprehensive knowledgebase about the mouse with experiments and data annotated from both literature and online sources. MGD curates and presents consensus and experimental data representations of genetic, genotype (sequence) and phenotype information including highly detailed reports about genes and gene products. Primary foci of integration are through representations of relationships between genes, sequences and phenotypes. MGD collaborates with other bioinformatics groups to curate a definitive set of information about the laboratory mouse and to build and implement the data and semantic standards that are essential for comparative genome analysis. Recent developments in MGD discussed here include an extensive integration of the mouse sequence data and substantial revisions in the presentation, query and visualization of sequence data.
Behavioral therapy has proved benefit for children with daytime wetting but most studies have used biofeedback techniques and provide no long-term assessment of results. We previously reported ...similar results using simple behavioral therapy without biofeedback. We report the long-term efficacy of behavioral therapy for daytime wetting.
Our program of behavioral therapy included timed voiding, modification of fluid intake, positive reinforcement techniques and pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises to promote pelvic floor strengthening and relaxation. Questionnaires to assess therapeutic efficacy were mailed to patients who had completed therapy more than 1 year previously.
A total of 48 patients responded. Mean ages at the time of the initial clinic visit and questionnaire were 8.2 and 12.9 years, respectively. Improvement in symptoms was noted in approximately 74% of the cases during the first year following therapy. At a mean of 4.7 years after treatment 59.4% of the patients had improved daytime urinary control, 51.1% improved daytime urinary frequency and 45.6% improved daytime urinary urgency. The frequency of urinary tract infections decreased in 56.4% of the cases. Measures of psychological well-being were also noted to be improved in a majority of patients. A total of 77.3% of the patients stated that they would recommend the program to others.
Simple behavioral therapy without biofeedback techniques is an effective and durable first line therapy for children with daytime wetting.
The objectives were two-fold: (1) determine whether the use of hydralazine as antihypertensive therapy during obesity development exacerbated obesity-related cardioacceleration and hormonal ...abnormalities; (2) determine whether the absence of hypertension in obesity attenuated obesity-related abnormalities in hemodynamics, cardiac hypertrophy, and hormonal profile.
Female New Zealand White rabbits were divided into lean control (n=12), lean hydralazine-treated (n=9), obese control (n=11), and obese hydralazine-treated (n=8) groups. Pretreatment mean blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were determined using telemetry. Pretreatment BP was maintained during 12 weeks of obesity development using hydralazine.
Chronically measured BP and HR; plasma/blood volume; wet and dry ventricular weights; body fat/water; and hormonal profile (plasma renin activity, aldosterone, cortisol, atrial natriuretic peptide, adrenaline, and noradrenaline).
Hydralazine treatment in obese animals attenuated obesity-related renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation. In contrast, RAS was activated in lean hydralazine, as indicated by increased plasma aldosterone. The absence of hypertension in obese hydralazine did not result in attenuation of cardioacceleration, cardiac hypertrophy, or intravascular volumes.
Hydralazine treatment in obese rabbits did not exacerbate obesity-related cardiovascular and hormonal alterations. Cardioacceleration and cardiac hypertrophy persisted in obese hydralazine despite BP control, suggesting hypertension-independent effects of obesity on these variables. Hydralazine's effects on RAS activation differed in lean and obese rabbits, suggesting that the systemic effects of hydralazine as a control therapy in evaluation of antihypertensive medications may differ depending on the underlying pathology.
The Asia-Pacific Sexual Health and Overall Wellness (AP SHOW) survey assessed sexual satisfaction and health and the association with erection hardness in 13 Asia-Pacific countries/regions. Adults ...aged 25-74 years who had sexual intercourse > 1 time in the past 12 months answered Internet surveys or participated in street-intercept interviews. Data were weighted by demographics and country/region size. Of 3957 (men, n=2016 and women, n=1941) respondents, 41% of men and 34% of women were completely or very satisfied with sex. Satisfaction with sex was linked to satisfaction with life priorities and overall health. Few respondents (men, 38% and women, 26%) were very or completely satisfied with erection hardness. Optimal erection hardness was reported by 45% of men (48% of women regarding their partners' erections). Erection hardness was associated with increased frequency of sex and importance of and satisfaction with erection-related elements of men's sexual performance. Approximately half of respondents (men, 57% and women, 47%) were at least moderately interested in improving the sexual experience. Most Asia-Pacific respondents were less than very satisfied with sex. Satisfaction with sex was associated with satisfaction with life priorities. Erection hardness was associated with sexual satisfaction and activity, satisfaction with life priorities and overall health.
The Fischer−Tropsch and higher oxygenate syntheses by hydrogenation of CO were two of the most intensively studied catalytic reactions of the last century, yet a complete understanding of their ...underlying mechanisms remains elusive. Promotion of the reactions by alkali metal coadsorption is often regarded as being due to enhanced CO dissociation, but a recent experimentally determined surface structure for Co{101̄0}/(K + CO) indicates that more subtle processes may also be involved. This highly unusual structure, having no analogue in three-dimensional chemistry, is now reproduced using first-principles density functional theory. Our analysis of mixed-orbital bonding states demonstrates not only the importance of synergic processes in promoting CO dissociation, but also the existence of a remarkably strong alkali-induced polarization of the C−O bond itself. This polarized bond would be highly reactive in the presence of H2. The implications for heterogeneous catalysis in general are profound, since the importance of promoter-induced molecular polarization has hitherto been largely ignored.
To assess the stability of different measures of receptor occupancy from 11Craclopride (a D2 antagonist) studies with positron emission tomography, we analyze data from five test/retest studies in ...normal volunteers in terms of individual model parameters from a three-compartment model, the distribution volume (DV) and the ratio of DVs from a receptor-containing region of interest to a non-receptor-containing region. Large variations were found in the individual model parameters, limiting their usefulness as an indicator of change in receptor systems. The DV ratio showed the smallest variation. Individual differences were reflected in the greater intersubject variation in DV than intrasubject variation. The potential effects of blood flow on these measurements were addressed both experimentally and by simulation studies using three models that explicitly incorporate blood flow into a compartmental model that also includes receptor-ligand binding. None of the models showed any variation in the DV with changes in blood flow as long as flow was held constant during the simulation. Experimentally, blood flow was significantly reduced by hyperventilation in a human subject. The DV was found to be reduced relative to baseline in the hyperventilation study, but the DV ratio remained unchanged. The effect of elevated and reduced flow was also tested in two baboon experiments in which PCO2 was varied. Some variability in the DV ratio was observed but was not correlated with changes in blood flow. This raises the possibility that other factors indirectly related to changes in blood flow (or PCO2) may cause changes in DV, and these effects need to be considered when evaluating experimental results.
In previous hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment studies, Black patients not only had a lower sustained viral response (SVR) rate to interferon and ribavirin (RBV) than non‐Black patients but also a ...higher frequency of HCV genotype 1 (GT‐1) infection. The aim of this community‐based study was to determine whether Black patients have a lower SVR rate independent of genotype. We prospectively enrolled 785 patients (24.8% Black, 71.5% White, 3.7% others) who received interferon alpha‐2b 3 MU three times weekly + RBV 1000–1200 mg/day for 24 weeks (GT‐2/3) or 48 weeks (GT‐1). Black patients were more commonly infected with GT‐1 (86.8%vs 64.8%, P < 0.001) and less frequently had an SVR compared with non‐Black patients (8.4%vs 21.6%, P < 0.001). Within GT‐1, Black patients had a lower SVR rate than non‐Black patients (6.1%vs 14.1%, P = 0.004) but not within GT‐2/3 (50.0%vs 36.5%, P = 0.47). Black patients had lower baseline haemoglobin levels (14.8 vs 15.3 g/dL, P < 0.001) and neutrophil counts (2900 vs 4100/mm3, P < 0.001) and required more frequent dose reductions of RBV (29.8%vs 18.5%, P < 0.001) and interferon (4.7%vs 1.6%, P = 0.012). However, dose reductions were not associated with lower SVR rates while early treatment discontinuations were (2.9%vs 25.7%, P < 0.001). Independent predictors of SVR were GT‐1 odds ratio (OR) 0.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20–0.55; P < 0.001, Black race (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.22–0.93; P = 0.030), and advanced fibrosis, stages 3 + 4 (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.31–0.92; P = 0.023). In conclusion, Black patients infected with HCV GT‐1 (but not GT‐2/3) have a lower SVR rate than non‐Black patients. This is not explained by their lower baseline haemoglobin levels and neutrophil counts that lead to higher rates of ribavirin and interferon dose reductions.
The nucleotide sequences of either the hemagglutinin or nucleoprotein genes from wild type measles viruses isolated in the United States between 1989 and 1992 differed by <0.5%. This suggests that ...the majority of viruses associated with resurgence of measles in the United States belonged to a single indigenous genotype. In contrast, wild type viruses isolated from sporadic outbreaks of measles in the United States during 1994 were genetically heterogeneous. These viruses were more closely related to wild type viruses previously circulating in Europe, Africa, or Japan and were epidemiologically linked to importations or no known source. In addition to demonstrating the utility of genetic analysis in understanding the epidemiology of measles, these data suggest that the transmission of the indigenous virus was interrupted after the 1989–1992 epidemic. Measures to further reduce the incidence of measles in the United States should include efforts to control importation and subsequent spread of measles.
Locations of light atoms in C6D6 on Ru0001 have been determined by low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and density functional theory (DFT). For the favored site/orientation in the p(square root of ...7 x square root of 7)-R19 degrees phase, we find alternating outward bowing of the C-D bonds of 24 degrees and 9 degrees via LEED, and 22 degrees and 14 degrees via DFT. This remarkable agreement gives important cross confirmation of the validity of these techniques in describing the subtle contributions of light atoms to adsorbate scattering and energetics. The buckling is explained as a consequence of decreased aromaticity induced by the bonding to the substrate.
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