Findings from the Hvidøre Study Group on Childhood Diabetes: metabolic control and quality of life

The study involved 2,101 adolescents, aged 10-18 years, from 21 centres in 17 countries in Europe, Japan and North America. Adolescent quality of life (QOL) was assessed by a previously developed Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire for adolescents (DQOL), measuring impact of diabetes, worries about diabetes, satisfaction with life and health perception. Parents and health professionals assessed 'family burden' using newly constructed questionnaires. Mean HbA1c was 8.7% (range 4.8-17.4%). Lower HbA1c was associated with lower impact (p < 0.0001), fewer worries (p < 0.05), greater satisfaction (p < 0.0001) and better health perception (p < 0.0001) for adolescents. Girls showed increased worries (p < 0.01), less satisfaction and poorer health perception (p < 0.01) earlier than boys. Parent and health professional perceptions of burden decreased with age of adolescent (p < 0.0001). Lower HbA(1c) was significantly associated with better adolescent-rated QOL on all four subscales and with lower perceived family burden as assessed by parents and health professionals.     

Announcement of new partnership with the Nature Publishing Group

In a new collaboration with the Nature Publishing Group （NPG）, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences （SIBS）, and Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology （IBCB）, Chinese Academy of Sciences （CAS）, are pleased to announce a new publishing partnership.     

Announcement of new partnership with the Nature Publishing Group

In a new collaboration with the Nature Publishing Group (NPG), Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS), and Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBCB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), are pleased to announce a new publishing partnersh…     

Announcement of new partnership with the Nature Publishing Group

In a new collaboration with the Nature Publishing Group （NPG）, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences （SIBS）, and Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology （IBCB）, Chinese Academy of Sciences （CAS）, are pleased to announce a new publishing partnership. SIBS will partner with NPG from 2006 to publish Cell Research worldwide.     

Determination of the Group Electronegativity of CF3 Group in 3′-O-CF3-Thymidine by 1-NMR

Abstract

The interplay of enthalpy of the gauche effect (ΔH°_GE) of the [X3′-C3′-C4′-O4′] fragment in various 3′-substituted (X) 2′,3′-dideoxythymidine derivatives 1–7 and the inherent anomeric effect drives the two-state North ? South equilibrium in the constituent sugar moiety. The group electronegativity of 3′-OCF₃ substituent in Marriott's, Inamoto's and Mullay's scales has been determined from simple calibration graphs correlating the group electronegativity of various 3′-substituents (X) in 2′,3′-dideoxythymidine derivatives 1–7 with the experimental strength (ΔH°_GE) of the [X3′-C3′-C4′-O4′] gauche effect. ΔH°_GE has been experimentally determined from pseudorotational analyses of temperature-dependent ³J_HH coupling constants, and can be used as an unambiguous tool for direct experimental estimation of the group electronegativity of a specific substituent covalently attached to 3′-carbon of 2′,3′-dideoxythymidine, which can be compared, in turn, with the theoretical estimation carried out according to Marriott's or Inamoto's procedure. Inconsistency found between theoretical values in Marriott's and Inamoto's scales, on the one hand, and between our experimental estimate and the theoretical value in Marriott's scale, on the other, have been solved by refining the electronegativity scale using our experimental data for 1–7.     

Location of the 5-Methylcytosine Group on the Bacteriophage φX174 Genome

Bacteriophage phiX174 DNA was labeled in vivo with [methyl-(3)H]methionine. The methyl-labeled progeny DNA was extracted from purified bacteriophage phiX174 particles and was used as template for in vitro synthesis of the complementary strand in the presence of the nucleoside triphosphates and Escherichia coli polymerase I. The resultant replicative form DNA was then cleaved, in separate experiments, with restriction endonucleases from Haemophilus influenzae and H. aegyptius. The DNA fragments were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It is concluded that the single methylcytosine in the viral DNA is located in a specific region of the phiX174 genome, very likely in gene H.     

Understanding the Role of Three-Dimensional Topology in Determining the?Folding Intermediates of Group I Introns

Many RNA molecules exert their biological function only after folding to unique three-dimensional structures. For long, noncoding RNA molecules, the complexity of finding the native topology can be a major impediment to correct folding to the biologically active structure. An RNA molecule may fold to a near-native structure but not be able to continue to the correct structure due to a topological barrier such as crossed strands or incorrectly stacked helices. Achieving the native conformation thus requires unfolding and refolding, resulting in a long-lived intermediate. We investigate the role of topology in the folding of two phylogenetically related catalytic group I introns, the Twort and Azoarcus group I ribozymes. The kinetic models describing the Mg²⁺-mediated folding of these ribozymes were previously determined by time-resolved hydroxyl (⋅OH) radical footprinting. Two intermediates formed by parallel intermediates were resolved for each RNA. These data and analytical ultracentrifugation compaction analyses are used herein to constrain coarse-grained models of these folding intermediates as we investigate the role of nonnative topology in dictating the lifetime of the intermediates. Starting from an ensemble of unfolded conformations, we folded the RNA molecules by progressively adding native constraints to subdomains of the RNA defined by the ⋅OH time-progress curves to simulate folding through the different kinetic pathways. We find that nonnative topologies (arrangement of helices) occur frequently in the folding simulations despite using only native constraints to drive the reaction, and that the initial conformation, rather than the folding pathway, is the major determinant of whether the RNA adopts nonnative topology during folding. From these analyses we conclude that biases in the initial conformation likely determine the relative flux through parallel RNA folding pathways.     

BRAIN-DAMAGED CHILDREN—The Problem of Relations in the Family Group

Children with minimal brain damage show a characteristic pattern of behavior.Often there are no physical signs of abnormality, but the diagnosis can be made from the history, electroencephalographic tracings, psychologic tests and repeated observations.The behavior is a composite of the effects of the brain damage and the response of the child to his environment. The behavior of the brain-damaged child is frequently so frustrating to parents that attitudes of rejection, withdrawal or excessive punitive measures occur.In the present study, when drugs were given and the child''s behavior improved, the parents were better able to understand the needs of the child and create a better home environment in which there was less frustration and emotional pressure.     

The Dual Role of the 2′-OH Group of A76 tRNATyr in the Prevention of d-tyrosine Mistranslation

Aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetases are crucial enzymes for initiation step of translation. Possessing editing activity, they protect living cells from misincorporation of non-cognate and non-proteinogenic amino acids into proteins. Tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) does not have such editing properties, but it shares weak stereospecificity in recognition of d-/l-tyrosine (Tyr). Nevertheless, an additional enzyme, d-aminoacyl-tRNA-deacylase (DTD), exists to overcome these deficiencies. The precise catalytic role of hydroxyl groups of the tRNA^Tyr A76 in the catalysis by TyrRS and DTD remained unknown. To address this issue, [³²P]-labeled tRNA^Tyr substrates have been tested in aminoacylation and deacylation assays. TyrRS demonstrates similar activity in charging the 2′ and 3′-OH groups of A76 with l-Tyr. This synthetase can effectively use both OH groups as primary sites for aminoacylation with l-Tyr, but demonstrates severe preference toward 2′-OH, in charging with d-Tyr. In both cases, the catalysis is not substrate-assisted: neither the 2′-OH nor the 3′-OH group assists catalysis. In contrast, DTD catalyzes deacylation of d-Tyr-tRNA^Tyr specifically from the 3′-OH group, while the 2′-OH assists in this hydrolysis.     

Study of neuronal organization of the “gastric” region in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve

The peculiarities of neuronal electrical activity in the dorsal motor nucleus (0.5–2.0 mm rostrally to the obex) were investigated in acute experiments on cats, using the microelectrode technique, under conditions of stimulation of the gastric vagal branches. In the gastric region of the nucleus, two groups of cells responding to nerve stimulation were identified: preganglionic parasympathetic neurons antidromically activated by such stimulation, and cells excited orthodromically with the involvement of afferent fibers of the vagus nerve.Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 190–196, May-June, 1993.     

Functional Characterization of the Group Ⅰ Alphabaculovirus Specific Gene ac73

Baculoviridae is a family of large DNA viruses that specifically infect insects. It contains four genera, Alpha-, Beta-,Gamma-, and Deltabaculovirus. Alphabaculovirus is further divided into Group I and II, and Group I appears to be emerged most recently among all baculoviruses. Interestingly, there are 12 Group I specific genes that are only found in this lineage. Studying these genes is helpful to understand how baculoviruses evolved. Here, we reported the functional analyzing results of ac73, a function unknown Group I specific gene of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus(Ac MNPV) which is the type species of baculovirus. The AC73 protein encoded by ac73 was found to be expressed during the late stage of infection and incorporated into the nucleocapsids of budded virus(BV) and occlusionderived virus(ODV). In infected cells, AC73 resided mainly in the ring zone region of the nucleus, and appeared to be assembled into occlusion bodies(OBs). The ac73 knockout and repaired viruses were constructed and studied by in vitro and in vivo infection. Although ac73 was not essential for BV and ODV or OB formation, the BV titer and viral infectivity in insect larvae of ac73 knockout Ac MNPV decreased by about 5–8 and 3–4 fold compared to those of wild type virus,respectively, suggesting ac73 contributed to infectious BV production and viral infectivity in vivo. This research provides new insight into the function of this Group I specific gene.     

Preformulation Study of the Inclusion Complex Irbesartan-β-Cyclodextrin

The aim of the present work was to improve the solubility and dissolution profile of Irbesartan (IRB), a poorly water-soluble drug by formation of inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin (βCD). Phase solubility studies revealed increase in solubility of the drug upon cyclodextrin addition, showing A_L—type of graph with slope less than one indicating formation of 1:1 stoichiometry inclusion complex. The stability constant (K _s) was found to be 104.39 M⁻¹. IRB–βCD binary systems were prepared by cogrinding, kneading using alcohol, kneading using aqueous alcohol, and coevaporation methods. Characterization of the binary systems were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The dissolution profiles of inclusion complexes were determined and compared with those of IRB alone and physical mixture. Among the various methods, coevaporation was the best in which the solubility was increased and dissolution rate of the drug was the highest. The study indicated the usefulness of cyclodextrin technology to overcome the solubility problem of IRB.     

On the Application of t-Butyldimethylsilyl Group in Chemical RNA Synthesis. Part I. 31P NMR Study of 2′-O-t-BDMSi Group Migration During Nucleoside 3′-OH Phosphorylation and Phosphitylation Reactions

Abstract

³¹P NMR spectroscopy has been used for evaluation of 2′-O-t-BDMSi group migration during reactions of suitably protected 3′-OH ribonucleosides with P(V) and P(III) reagents used in major methodologies for oligoribonucleotide synthesis.     

Animal Welfare at the Group Level: More Than the Sum of Individual Welfare?

Currently assessment and management of animal welfare are based on the supposition that welfare status is something experienced identically by each individual animal when exposed to the same conditions. However, many authors argue that individual welfare cannot be seen as an ‘objective’ state, but is based on the animal’s own self-perception; such perception might vary significantly between individuals which appear to be exposed to exactly the same challenges. We argue that this has two implications: (1) actual perceived welfare status of individuals in a population may vary over a wide range even under identical environmental conditions; (2) animals that appear to an external observer to be in better or poorer welfare condition may all in fact perceive their own individual status as the same. This would imply that optimum welfare of a social group might be achieved in situations where individual group members differ markedly in apparent welfare status and perceive their own welfare as being optimal under differing circumstances. Welfare phenotypes may also vary along a continuum between self-regarding and other-regarding behaviour; a variety of situations exist where (social) individuals appear to invest in the welfare of other individuals instead of maximising their own welfare; in such a case it is necessary to re-evaluate individual welfare within the context of a social group and recognise that there may be consequences for the welfare of individuals, of decisions made at the group level or by other group members.     

Does the Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Depend on the Shape of the Nanoparticle? A Study of the Gram-Negative Bacterium Escherichia coli

In this work we investigated the antibacterial properties of differently shaped silver nanoparticles against the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, both in liquid systems and on agar plates. Energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy images revealed considerable changes in the cell membranes upon treatment, resulting in cell death. Truncated triangular silver nanoplates with a {111} lattice plane as the basal plane displayed the strongest biocidal action, compared with spherical and rod-shaped nanoparticles and with Ag⁺ (in the form of AgNO₃). It is proposed that nanoscale size and the presence of a {111} plane combine to promote this biocidal property. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative study on the bactericidal properties of silver nanoparticles of different shapes, and our results demonstrate that silver nanoparticles undergo a shape-dependent interaction with the gram-negative organism E. coli.     

Differential Scanning Calorimetrie Study of the Thermal Denaturation of Almond β-Glucosidase

The thermal denaturation of almond β-glucosidase [EC 3.2.1.21] was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The shape of the DSC trace was highly dependent on pH; two peaks were observed between pH 6–8, but only one peak between pH 4–5. All of the DSC curves were resolved into three components according to the model of independent two-state processes, and the thermodynamic parameters for the denaturation were evaluated. The dependence of the shape of DSC curves was accounted for mainly by the rapid changes of denaturation enthalpy and denaturation temperature of the third component in the acidic pH region.