NMR structure of the sterol carrier protein-2: implications for the biological role.

The determination of the NMR structure of the sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP2), analysis of backbone (15)N spin relaxation parameters and NMR studies of nitroxide spin-labeled substrate binding are presented as a new basis for investigations of the mode of action of SCP2. The SCP2 fold is formed by a five-stranded beta-sheet and four alpha-helices. Fatty acid binding to a hydrophobic surface area formed by amino acid residues of the first and third helices, and the beta-sheet, which are all located in the polypeptide segment 8-102, was identified with the use of the spin-labeled substrate 16-doxylstearic acid. In the free protein, the lipid-binding site is covered by the C-terminal segment 105-123, suggesting that this polypeptide segment, which carries the peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS1), might be involved in the regulation of ligand binding.

Jarcho-Levin syndrome: a new case report with unusual unexplained aortic root dilatation.

Since Jarcho and Levin described a condition involving extensive vertebral malformations and early death in 1938, many cases have been reported using multiple synonyms. Later, Solomon (3) proposed a subtype classification system to improve counseling concerning risk of recurrence, management, and prognosis. This is a report of a new Hispanic case with findings of spondylothoracic dysostosis and unusual aortic root dilatation.

Accuracy of intraoperative cultures in primary total hip arthroplasty.

The aim of this investigation was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative cultures for the early identification of patients who are at risk of infection after primary total hip arthroplasty.Four or six swabs were obtained immediately before the wound closure in 263 primary total hip replacements. Patients with a maximum of one positive culture were denoted as patients with a normal profile and did not receive any treatment. Patients with two or more positive cultures, with the same organism identified, were denoted as patients with a risk profile and received treatment with a specific antibiotic as determined by the antibiogram for six weeks. The follow-up ranged from a minimum of one year to five years and eleven months, concentrating on the presence or absence of infection, which was defined as discharge of pus through the surgical wound or as a fistula at any time after surgery. The accuracy of this procedure (number of cases correctly identified in relation to the total number of cases) in the group of 152 arthroplasties in which 4 swabs per patient were collected was 96%. In the group of 111 arthroplasties in which 6 swabs per patient were collected the accuracy was 95.5%.We conclude that the collection of swabs under the conditions described is a method of high accuracy (above 95%) for the evaluation of risk of infection after primary total hip arthroplasty.

Angiogenesis in fatal acute Kawasaki disease coronary artery and myocardium.

Angiogenesis has been shown to be dysregulated in coronary artery (CA) aneurysms in the chronic phase of Kawasaki disease (KD). Neovascularization may occur in inflammatory-related vascular diseases because many angiogenesis mediators are secreted by inflammatory cells. We hypothesized that inflammation of the acute KD CA aneurysm could lead to dysregulation of angiogenesis mediators and subsequent neovascularization. To investigate this hypothesis, acute fatal KD cardiac tissues were immunostained for angiogenic inducers and inhibitors. Microvessel density was determined and the degree of inflammation assessed. Marked inflammation and angiogenesis were found in acute KD CA aneurysms and myocardium, with the highest microvessel density seen in patients who died 2-3 weeks after onset of the disease. Expression of proangiogenic proteins was higher than expression of inhibitors in KD CA aneurysms and myocardium. Angiogenesis mediators were localized to inflammatory cells in the myointima, adventitia, and myocardium. We conclude that significant neovascularization occurs in acute KD CA aneurysms and myocardium much sooner after onset of the disease than has been previously reported, that multiple angiogenesis factors are involved, and that dysregulation of angiogenesis likely contributes to KD vasculopathy.

Jarcho-Levin syndrome: a new case report with unusual unexplained aortic root dilatation

Since Jarcho and Levin described a condition involving extensive vertebral malformations and early death in 1938, many cases have been reported using multiple synonyms. Later, Solomon (3) proposed a subtype classification system to improve counseling concerning risk of recurrence, management, and prognosis. This is a report of a new Hispanic case with findings of spondylothoracic dysostosis and unusual aortic root dilatation