Value in health care: what providers and employers say.

Earlier this year, two surveys were conducted among healthcare providers and employers seeking their opinions regarding strategies they would employ to deal with current and expected cost pressures of the healthcare marketplace as well as healthcare value. The results of the surveys suggest that providers and employers may not be seeing the issues the same way. Providers that partner with employers will be the organizations best able to improve the quality of the care delivered--and boost their competitive positions--while the employers will receive greater value for their healthcare dollars.

Characteristics of a Latent Potyvirus Seedborne in Guar and of Guar Green-Sterile Virus.

A symptomless, seedborne potyvirus was isolated from guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) germ plasm in Griffin, Georgia. The host range and serology were similar to those reported for guar green-sterile virus (GGSV) and guar symptomless virus. Biological, serological, and molecular comparisons of the Georgia isolate and the South African GGSV indicate they are similar and are closely related to bean common mosaic potyvirus (BCMV). The Georgia isolate is seed-transmitted at a rate of up to 94% in guar line PI 340385. Sequence analysis of the capsid protein (CP) gene and the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) showed that both isolates are 96% homologous. GenBank searches indicate that both are related to various strains of BCMV. The highest CP nucleotide sequence and 3'-UTR identities of 91 and 93%, respectively, were with those of BCMV-NL4. On this basis, both isolates from guar should be considered as strains of BCMV.

Characteristics of a Potyvirus of the Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus Subgroup in Sesbania speciosa Germ Plasm.

A plant of Sesbania speciosa with leaf mosaic and distortion symptoms was identified in a germ plasm regeneration plot at Griffin, Georgia. The Sesbania virus produced mild or moderate mosaic symptoms on Glycine max cvs. Bragg and Tracy M, Lupinus albus, Nicotiana benthamiana, Pisum sativum cv. Perfected Wales, Phaseolus vulgaris cvs. Black Turtle, Bountiful, and Pinto, and did not infect N. tabacum. Bean yellow mosaic potyvirus (BYMV) and pea mosaic potyvirus (PMV) do not infect Perfected Wales pea and they produce mosaic, distortion, and necrosis on white lupine. The PMV strain tested produced much more severe symptoms on the three green beans, with top necrosis on Pinto. BYMV produced local latent infection of N. tabacum and BYMV and PMV produced mosaic with distortion on N. benthamiana. The Sesbania virus was seed-transmitted at a low rate in S. speciosa. Indirect-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests with a general potyvirus monoclonal antibody and BYMV and white lupine mosaic virus (WLMV) polyclonal antisera were strongly positive. Tests of the Sesbania virus against a monoclonal antibody panel suggests that it is not BYMV or any of the previously described subgroup members, but is a member of the BYMV subgroup. This is the first report of a seedborne BYMV-like virus of Sesbania spp.

Multiple methods for the identification of polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench].

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs), also known as microsatellites, are highly variable DNA sequences that can be used as markers for the genetic analysis of plants. Three approaches were followed for the development of PCR primers for the amplification of DNA fragments containing SSRs from sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]: a search for sorghum SSRs in public DNA databases; the use of SSR-specific primers developed in the Poaceae species maize (Zea mays L.) and seashore paspalum grass (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz); and the screening of sorghum genomic libraries by hybridization with SSR oligonucleotides. A total of 49 sorghum SSR-specific PCR primer pairs (two designed from GenBank SSR-containing sequences and 47 from the sequences of genomic clones) were screened on a panel of 17 sorghum and one maize accession. Ten primer pairs from paspalum and 90 from maize were also screened for polymorphism in sorghum. Length polymorphisms among amplification products were detected with 15 of these primer pairs, yielding diversity values ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 with an average diversity of 0.56. These primer pairs are now available for use as markers in crop improvement and conservation efforts.

Acute jejunoileitis. A distinct entity?

A 44-year-old man with acute jejunoileitis of unknown etiology developed small bowel obstruction. Intermittent abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, ascites, and leukocytosis were prominent features. All stool cultures were negative. On steroid treatment, symptoms and radiographic features completely resolved. We suggest, in agreement with an earlier report, that acute jejunoileitis may be regarded as a distinct clinical entity.

Subfractionation of CsCl-purified H-1 parvovirus on metrizamide gradients.

The different density classes of H-l parvovirus, collected within 30 hr of infection of par-asynchronous cultures, following the standard CsCl purification step, have been shown to be heterogeneous. Rebanding of the denser form (HF, p = 1.46 g/cm3) and the less dense form (LF, p = 1.42 g/cm3) of infectious virus in the nonionic density generating solute, metrizamide, showed that both HF and LF virus bands were heterogeneous in density. The infectivity banded with isotopically labeled virus protein and DNA at 1.32 g/cm3 for both HF and LF virus. Amounts of protein and DNA which varied from preparation to preparation, but which were greater from the HF virus band, were distributed throughout the rest of the gradient, but predominated in a peak at a density of 1.2 g/cm3. The protein in this peak was without hemagglutinating activity but had the molecular weights and proportions of the H-l virion proteins (VPl, VP2', and VPZ). The DNA was of the same size as H-l DNA monomers and its proportion to the protein was similar to that of the infectious peak. The DNA was susceptible to micrococcal nuclease digestion. The nature of this noninfectious viral material thus seemed to be incompletely assembled virus. Radiolabeled H-l virus collected after 72 hr of infection formed a discrete single peak in both CsCl (p = 1.42 g/cm3), and metrizamide gradients (p = 1.32 g/cm3). There was no significant amount of the 1.20 g/cm3 viral protein-DNA complex in these mature preparations.