The spliceosome is a multi‐megadalton ribonucleoprotein complex that catalyzes the removal of non‐coding introns and the ligation of coding exons from pre‐messenger RNA. This process is crucial in ...the transformation of pre‐messenger RNA into messenger RNA, a template that is readable by the ribosome and allows for the production of a functional protein. Significantly, the spliceosome is constructed anew on every pre‐mRNA. This construction entails over 140 protein factors that associate and dissociate throughout the splicing cycle, causing the conformational rearrangements and transesterification reactions necessary to yield the mature RNA template. Therefore, rather than a singular composition of proteins and RNAs being known as “the spliceosome,” this term actually refers to several different complexes which are distinct in their makeup and their role within the splicing cycle. Construction of a catalytic splicing complex occurs after a series of early assembly steps. Amongst the proteins involved in these early assembly steps is a 16.8 kDa protein, Dib1, that is present in the pre‐catalytic spliceosome but absent from the catalytically active conformation. The loss of Dib1 at this critical juncture hints at a potential role helping to facilitate the transition from pre‐catalytic to catalytic. Previous work on Dib1 has revealed that not only is it required for splicing, but the human ortholog, hDim1, has been shown to possess autocleavage activity in vitro where the last 14 amino acids are cleaved from its C‐terminal tail. Thus, we are interested in whether the C‐terminus impacts the function of the protein as it pertains to its role in splicing. In order to elucidate the importance of this region, we have constructed a series of C‐terminal truncations of varying lengths within Dib1 in order to assess any resulting splicing defects. These defects have been monitored through the use of growth assays and splicing assays to ascertain not only the overall importance of this region, but also the specific length required to ensure splicing abilities similar to wildtype Dib1 within the model organism S. cerevisiae. Overall, we observe that Dib1 can tolerate a large deletion before affecting cell growth and splicing.
Principles of rectal wound management, including routine diversion, injury repair, presacral drainage and distal washout, evolved from World War II and the Vietnam conflict and have been questioned ...in recent years. We believe significant confusion arises because of imprecise definition of injury location relative to retroperitoneal involvement. Our 5-year experience with penetrating rectal injuries at a Level I trauma center was analyzed. Injuries to the anterior and lateral surfaces of the upper two-thirds of the rectum were classified as intraperitoneal (IP, serosalized), and those of the posterior surface extraperitoneal (EP, no serosa); injuries to the lower one-third were EP. A total of 58 injuries were managed (92% gunshot wounds). Of these, 16 were IP, and 42 had some EP component. Ten patients underwent repair without diversion (6 IP, 4 EP); there were no leaks. Ten septic complications occurred in the remaining population: 2 necrotizing fasciitis, 5 abdominal abscess, and 3 presacral infections (PIs) (2 presacral abscesses and 1 wound tract infection). PI is the only complication that can be specifically associated with EP rectal injuries relative to management; as associated injury confounds interpretation of the other complications. The operative management in the 38 patients with diverted EP wounds with respect to presacral infection (PI) demonstrated the following: repair injury (n = 10), 0 PI versus no repair (n = 28), 3 PI (P = 0.55); washout (n = 33), 2 PI versus no washout (n = 5), 1 PI (P = 0.35); presacral drain (n = 30), 1 PI versus no drain (n = 8), 2 PI (P = 0.11). We conclude that most IP injuries can be managed with primary repair. EP wounds to the upper two-thirds of the rectum should usually be repaired. EP wounds to the lower one-third, which are explored and repaired, do not require drainage. EP wounds that are not explored should be managed with presacral drainage to minimize the incidence of presacral abscess.
Evolution of the laparoscopic gastric bypass McGrath, Virginia; Needleman, Bradley J; Melvin, W Scott
Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A,
08/2003, Volume:
13, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Obesity is recognized as a health problem of epidemic proportions. Surgical intervention for the treatment of obesity is a well-studied and effective method. Various procedures have been utilized ...over the past decades. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has emerged over the last 20 years and is currently the most commonly offered surgical treatment. Within the last decade, advances in laparoscopic technology and surgical experience have allowed the application of laparoscopic techniques to the surgical treatment of obesity. Many centers and individuals have developed excellent techniques through experience over time as well as improvements in instrumentation. Hand-assisted laparoscopy was reported as a technique, but has mostly fallen out of favor. Currently, laparoscopic application of adjustable gastric band and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are widely used throughout the United States. Data have been generated to demonstrate the improvement in surgical outcomes associated with minimally invasive surgical techniques for the surgical treatment of obesity. Further advances will allow continued improvement in patient outcomes utilizing a variety of minimally invasive surgical approaches to the treatment of this difficult disease.
Thesis (M.L.A.)--Ohio State University, 1995.
Advisor: Norman Booth, Dept. of Landscape Architecture. Text made available in compliance with Section 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. ...Includes bibliographical references (leaves 256-272). Online version of print reproduction.
Although visual analysis has been the primary method of analysis in single-case designs (SCD), numerous statistical analyses have been developed to quantify SCD intervention effects and enable SCDs ...to be included in evidence-based practice reviews. This study investigated the correspondence between expert visual analysis and three effect sizes for SCDs. Editorial board members (n=52) of journals that primarily publish SCDs judged whether 31 published, multiple baseline design graphs depicted a functional relation. The percentage of experts declaring that a functional relation was present was compared to two non-overlap statistics and a standardized effect size. While positive associations between measures were found, dichotomous classification of functional relation presence revealed differences between analytic methods, which warrants further investigation of data patterns producing disagreement.
Bipolar, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorders are common, highly heritable psychiatric disorders, for which familial coaggregation, as well as epidemiological and genetic evidence, suggests ...overlapping etiologies. No definitive susceptibility genes have yet been identified for any of these disorders. Genetic heterogeneity, combined with phenotypic imprecision and poor marker coverage, has contributed to the difficulty in defining risk variants. We focused on families of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, to reduce genetic heterogeneity, and, as a precursor to genomewide association studies, we undertook a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping screen of 64 candidate genes (440 SNPs) chosen on the basis of previous linkage or of association and/or biological relevance. We genotyped an average of 6.9 SNPs per gene, with an average density of 1 SNP per 11.9 kb in 323 bipolar I disorder and 274 schizophrenia or schizoaffective Ashkenazi case-parent trios. Using single-SNP and haplotype-based transmission/disequilibrium tests, we ranked genes on the basis of strength of association (
P<.01). Six genes (
DAO, GRM3, GRM4, GRIN2B, IL2RB, and
TUBA8) met this criterion for bipolar I disorder; only
DAO has been previously associated with bipolar disorder. Six genes (
RGS4, SCA1, GRM4, DPYSL2, NOS1, and
GRID1) met this criterion for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder; five replicate previous associations, and one,
GRID1, shows a novel association with schizophrenia. In addition, six genes (
DPYSL2, DTNBP1, G30/G72, GRID1, GRM4, and
NOS1) showed overlapping suggestive evidence of association in both disorders. These results may help to prioritize candidate genes for future study from among the many suspected/proposed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. They provide further support for shared genetic susceptibility between these two disorders that involve glutamate-signaling pathways.
Aim:
To assess and compare the oral health status of preschool children with and without autism spectrum disorders.
Methods:
A random sample of 347 preschool children with autism spectrum disorder ...was recruited from 19 Special Child Care Centres in Hong Kong. An age- and gender-matched sample was recruited from mainstream preschools as the control group. Dental caries status, gingival health status, tooth wear, malocclusion, dental trauma and oral mucosal health were assessed and compared between the two groups.
Results:
It was feasible to conduct a comprehensive oral health screening among 74.1% (257) of the children with autism spectrum disorder. The mean age was 59 ± 10 months (range from 32 to 77 months), of whom 84.4% were males. Children with autism spectrum disorder had better gingival health than children without autism spectrum disorder (mean plaque score and gingival score p < 0.001). Children with autism spectrum disorder had less caries experiences than children without autism spectrum disorder (mean decayed, missing and filled surfaces and decayed surfaces, p < 0.05). Children with and without autism spectrum disorder had similar prevalence of tooth wear, malocclusion, dental trauma experience and oral mucosal lesions (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Differences in oral health status exist among preschool children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Preschool children with autism spectrum disorder exhibited lower caries experiences and better gingival health than children without autism spectrum disorder.
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