Ozone formation related to power plant emissions.

A curious and unambiguous event of excess ozone formation downwind of a power plant has been analyzed. A kinetic model used to simulate the event indicates that the excess ozone can be reconciled entirely on the basis of excess nitrogen oxides in the polluted air.

NF-κB-HOTAIR axis links DNA damage response, chemoresistance and cellular senescence in ovarian cancer.

The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense RNA) have diverse functional roles in cancer. In this study, we show that upregulation of HOTAIR induced platinum resistance in ovarian cancer, and increased HOTAIR levels were observed in recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian tumors vs primary ovarian tumors. To investigate the role of HOTAIR during DNA damage induced by platinum, we monitored double-strand breaks and show that HOTAIR expression results in sustained activation of DNA damage response (DDR) after platinum treatment. We demonstrate that ectopic expression of HOTAIR induces NF-κB activation during DDR and interleukin-6 and interleukin-6 expression, both key NF-κB target genes. We show that HOTAIR regulates activation of NF-κB by decreasing Iκ-Bα (NF-κB inhibitor) and establish that by inducing prolonged NF-κB activation and expression of NF-κB target genes during DNA damage, HOTAIR has a critical role in cellular senescence and platinum sensitivity. Our findings suggest that an NF-κB-HOTAIR axis drives a positive-feedback loop cascade during DDR and contributes to cellular senescence and chemotherapy resistance in ovarian and other cancers.

Homeotic Complex (Hox) gene regulation and homeosis in the mesoderm of the Drosophila melanogaster embryo: the roles of signal transduction and cell autonomous regulation.

In this paper we evaluate homeosis and Homeotic Complex (Hox) regulatory hierarchies in the somatic and visceral mesoderm. We demonstrate that both Hox control of signal transduction and cell autonomous regulation are critical for establishing normal Hox expression patterns and the specification of segmental identity and morphology. We present data identifying novel regulatory interactions associated with the segmental register shift in Hox expression domains between the epidermis/somatic mesoderm and visceral mesoderm. A proposed mechanism for the gap between the expression domains of Sex combs reduced (Scr) and Antennapedia (Antp) in the visceral mesoderm is provided. Previously, Hox gene interactions have been shown to occur on multiple levels: direct cross-regulation, competition for binding sites at downstream targets and through indirect feedback involving signal transduction. We find that extrinsic specification of cell fate by signaling can be overridden by Hox protein expression in mesodermal cells and propose the term autonomic dominance for this phenomenon.

Cross-regulation of Hox genes in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo.

Cross-regulation of Homeotic Complex (Hox) genes by ectopic Hox proteins during the embryonic development of Drosophila melanogaster was examined using Gal4 directed transcriptional regulation. The expression patterns of the endogenous Hox genes were analyzed to identify cross-regulation while ectopic expression patterns and timing were altered using different Gal4 drivers. We provide evidence for tissue specific interactions between various Hox genes and demonstrate the induction of endodermal labial (lab) by ectopically expressed Ultrabithorax outside the visceral mesoderm (VMS). Similarly, activation and repression of Hox genes in the VMS from outside tissues seems to be mediated by decapentaplegic (dpp) gene activation. Additionally, we find that proboscipedia (pb) is activated in the epidermis by ectopically driven Sex combs reduced (Scr) and Deformed (Dfd); however, mesodermal pb expression is repressed by ectopic Scr in this tissue. Mutant analyses demonstrate that Scr and Dfd regulate pb in their normal domains of expression during embryogenesis. Ectopic Ultrabithorax and Abdominal-A repress only lab and Scr in the central nervous system (CNS) in a timing dependent manner; otherwise, overlapping expression in the CNS in tolerated. A summary of Hox gene cross-regulation by ectopically driven Hox proteins is tabulated for embryogenesis.

Mental health and the teacher.

The emotional atmosphere in a classroom setting is important to the experiences of all students. That atmosphere is affeected by the emotional stability of the teacher. A teacher with personal mental health problems can have a detrimental effect upon all of those students who are associated with him or her. There are a variety of courses and contributing factors of mental health problems. Certain signs and symptoms, at times, can be identified that relate to emotional difficulties. It is important that measures be identified to help teachers with emotional problems. This is not always an easy task, yet it is necessary if the teaching-learning environment is to be of a positive nature. School administrators, teacher preparation programs, teaching peers, and self-analysis all should play a role in identifying one's teaching. This is a task that no one person or agency can accomplish alone. Though often felt to be an uncomfortable issue with which to deal, all educators must become increasingly aware of the problem and be willing to work toward greater emotional health of all teachers.

International students at an American university: health problems and status.

Eighty-eight international students enrolled at the University of Toledo were surveyed in order to ascertain their health care needs since arriving at the university. This study of the health status of international students indicated that the four leading problems experienced since arriving at the university were fatigue, homesickness, headaches and colds. Fatigue and colds were more commonly reported by students from Latin America than those from Asia or the Middle East. Both community health services and the university health service are not used by a majority of international students. Friends and the telephone book yellow pages are the most commonly used sources for finding a physician if one becomes sick. The drug store was indicated as being the place the international students would go for medicine if they became sick. The findings of this study suggest that international students must be oriented to the health services available in the community and at the university health service. A health education program needs to be conducted to inform these students about personal health practices and available services.

Total clinical laboratory test volume in Connecticut, 1994-1995.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the volume of clinical laboratory testing in Connecticut during a one-year period. To explore the potential value of such data. DESIGN: Summary and analysis of federal and state clinical laboratory registration/licensure/inspection forms. SETTING: 2,333 clinical laboratory test facilities registered in Connecticut. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The total clinical laboratory output for Connecticut by type of facility and category of technology over a 12-month period. RESULTS: During 1995, 2,333 registered clinical laboratory test facilities performed approximately 65,427,103 analyses in Connecticut. This represents approximately 20 tests per person per year. Thirty-five acute care hospitals performed 59.4%, nine large commercial laboratories 33.2%, 30 small commercial laboratories 1.7%, 1,491 physicians' offices 3.9%, and a miscellaneous group 1% of the tests. Test volumes are further segregated into eight major categories of technology: chemistry 59%, hematology 23.3%, microbiology 5.6%, blood banking 2.9%, coagulation 2.8%, waived tests 2.7%, urine analysis 1.8%, cytology 0.9%, and histology 0.8%. CONCLUSION: For the first time mechanisms are in place to measure essentially all clinical testing for a given area. With minor changes the data collection system could be greatly improved. The possible uses for such a data bank are discussed.

A collaborative program for international education.

A collaborative educational program for Japanese nurses was developed, which merged the resources of the practice and education settings at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the MGH Institute of Health Professions. Two concurrent programs were developed--Adult Health and Maternal-Child Health. These concurrent programs focused on content reflecting key areas in the realm of nursing practice and education in both Japan and the United States. Complementary clinical tours were an integral part of the program. This dyad of lecture and clinical experiences provided a forum to focus on issues relevant to nursing worldwide.

Synchronous and early metachronous carcinomas of the colon and rectum.

Over a five-year period, 201 patients were admitted to Hairmyres Hospital with a colorectal carcinoma. Eight (4%) patients had a synchronous carcinoma and one (0.5%) patient had an early metachronous carcinoma. Synchronous neoplasms were detected in only one (12.5%) patient pre-operatively, six per-operatively, and one was found in a panproctocolectomy specimen at pathological examination. Four (50%) synchronous neoplasms occurred in relative close proximity to the index neoplasm. We suggest that some 'missed' synchronous carcinomas may manifest themselves as apparent anastomotic recurrences rather than early metachronous lesions. We conclude that greater effort is required to detect synchronous tumors peri-operatively and endoscopic colonic follow-up is necessary to detect 'missed' synchronous lesions and recurrences.