Expression of DFak56, a Drosophila homolog of vertebrate focal adhesion kinase, supports a role in cell migration in vivo.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a highly conserved, cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that has been implicated in promoting cell migration and transmission of antiapoptotic signals in vertebrate cells. In cultured cells, integrin engagement with the extracellular matrix promotes the recruitment of FAK to focal contacts and increases in its phosphotyrosine content and kinase activity, suggesting FAK is an intracellular mediator of integrin signaling. We have identified a Drosophila FAK homolog, DFak56, that is 33% identical to vertebrate FAK, with the highest degree of homology in domains critical for FAK function, including the kinase and focal adhesion targeting domains, and several protein-protein interaction motifs. Furthermore, when expressed in NIH 3T3 cells, DFak56 both localizes to focal contacts and displays the characteristic elevation of phosphotyrosine content in response to plating the cells on fibronectin. During embryogenesis, DFak56 is broadly expressed, and it becomes elevated in the gut and central nervous system at later stages. Consistent with a role in cell migration, we also observe that DFak56 is abundant in the border cells of developing egg chambers before the onset of, and during, their migration.

Arabidopsis homeotic gene APETALA3 ectopic expression: transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation determine floral organ identity.

APETALA3 (AP3) specifies the development of petals and stamens in the Arabidopsis flower. We constructed a transgenic line, 35S-AP3, that ectopically expresses AP3 under the control of a constitutive promoter. The resulting flowers exhibit a replacement of carpels by stamens and resemble flowers homozygous for the previously described Arabidopsis mutation superman. Although AP3 RNA is detected at high levels throughout the flower and stem in 35S-AP3, AP3 protein is detected at high levels only in the second, third, and fourth floral whorls, demonstrating that AP3 is posttranscriptionally regulated. Ectopic expression of AP3 causes a second floral homeotic gene, PISTILLATA (PI), to function in the fourth whorl of 35S-AP3 flowers. AP3 and PI also activate an AP3 promoter-reporter gene fusion, demonstrating that AP3 positively autoregulates.

Maternal influence on the sexual behavior of teen-age daughters.

PIP: 449 girls in Detroit between the ages of 14 and 16 years, and their mothers were interviewed. Sampling took into account factors of race and social class. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between the type of maternal involvement in the sexual socialization of daughters and the sexual behaviour of these girls during adolescence. Measures of early and current communication between mother and daughter regarding sexual issues were based on daughter's reports. Information regarding the mother's role as a supervisor of the daughter's social life was obtained from reports of the mothers. The 2 other major variables were quality of mother-daughter relationship (MDREL) measured by a 9-item summed index reflective of the daughter's assessment of the relationship; and the nonmarital sexual history of the mother as an indicator of the mother's role as a modeling agent. The criterion variable was the daughter's sexual behavior measured by whether or not she had ever had sexual intercourse (yes or no). 5 background variables (race, head of household, daughter's age, relative family income, and family religiosity) were also measured. After controlling for background variables, mother's presence as a role model was found to be significantly related to the sexual status of the daughter. MDREL was the strongest predictor of sexual experience, with a more favorable relationship corresponding to lack of sexual experience. Early and recent sexual communication and mother's supervisory role were not found to be significantly related to the criterion variable. Implications of these findings are discussed.^ieng

The family's influence on adolescent sexual behavior.

PIP: Review of studies on adolescent sexuality and the sources of information available to adolescents. The main conclusions are that parents are seldom the predominant source of sex education, but that the mother is cited as the more involved parent by both daughters and sons--the father is almost completely absent as a source of sex education. Noting that research in the area of communication about sex is limited, and that any cause and effect relationship between communication within the family and the sexual behavior of its young members is not clear or well established, the author concludes that parental communication about sex may forestall or postpone a child's sexual activity and that, among sexually active daughters, parental communication appears related to more effective contraceptive practice on the part of the child.^ieng

Sex-role attitudes as predictors of contraceptive use among unmarried university students.

PIP: A survey of the literature led to 3 propositions: 1) the most usual response of young women when deciding whether to use a contraceptive is to avoid the decision by not using any or by leaving it to the male, 2) contraceptive inertia is reinforced by the joint operation of external locus of control and traditional sex-role attitudes, and 3) contraceptive use is facilitated by nontraditional sex-role attitudes in conjunction with a positive sense of personal control. A stratified random sample of 1009 male and female students at a large Midwestern university provided survey research data. Findings indicate a majority of students do not use contraceptive protection at 1st intercourse but increase usage. 22% of the females and 31% of the males did not use contraceptives at their last sexual encounter. The results suggest that nontraditional sex-role-related attitudes in conjunction with an internal locus of control orientation are predictive of effective contraception for women respondents. Neither variable alone or jointly explained contraceptive behavior of men respondents.^ieng

Mandibular retrognathia: a review of the literature and selected cases.

Many techniques have been developed since the first osteotomy for correction of retrognathism was performed in 1905. These techniques have been in two groups--those that are performed in the mandibular body and those that are performed in the mandibular ramus. Ramus procedures are more favored because there is less morbidity in comparison to body procedures. Regardless of the procedure used, an adequate preoperative evaluation based on oral and radiographic examinations, study models, cephalometric analysis, and photographs is mandatory to achieve satisfactory results. A more satisfactory result can almost always be attained if a cooperative effort is made by the oral surgeon and orthodontist in the treatment of retrognathism.

Eminectomy for the treatment of recurrent temporomandibular joint dislocation.

Several techniques have been used to treat chronic dislocation of the mandible. Most of these techniques represent attempts at reducing the mobility of the TMJ. The eminectomy procedure is an attempt at restoring normal joint function without reducing mobility of the joint. We have presented two cases of chronic dislocation of the mandible that were treated successfully by removal of the articular tubercle and the lateral portion of the temporal bone. Although surgery of the TMJ area may be hazardous if approached without caution, we feel that the complications associated with this procedure are minimized if adequate care is taken in flap design and tissue dissection. On the basis of the excellent results of the eminectomy procedures reported in the literature and of our own experience with this procedure, we feel that this is the preferred treatment for chronic dislocation of the mandible.