Restricted expression and subnuclear localization of the Drosophila gene Dnop5, a member of the Nop/Sik family of the conserved rRNA processing factors.

Members of the conserved nop5/sik1 gene family encode components of small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein (snoRNP) complexes, which have an essential function in rRNA-processing. We describe a novel Drosophila member of this family, termed Dnop5. The gene is expressed in nurse cells during oogenesis and transcripts are deposited into the growing oocyte. Maternal transcripts become evenly distributed in the egg and remain in a ubiquitous pattern during early embryogenesis. Zygotic Dnop5 expression is initiated during the extended germband stage. Transcripts accumulate in mesoderm and midgut primordia, and in the developing imaginal discs of the larvae. Consistent with a function in rRNA processing, Dnop5 protein (DNop5) accumulates in a nuclear substructure, likely to be the nucleolus. Maternal protein accumulates in the nucleolus of all cells in the early embryo, whereas DNop5 that is derived from zygotic mRNA, is restricted to the nuclei of muscles and midgut.

Localized expression of the Drosophila gene Dxl6, a novel member of the serine/arginine rich (SR) family of splicing factors.

Members of the highly conserved family of serine/arginine rich (SR) splicing factors play an essential role in the recognition of the exonic splicing enhancers that control the choice of splice sites in primary transcripts. Here, we report the cloning and the expression pattern of Dxl6, a novel Drosophila member of this protein family. Dxl6 is located on the second chromosome in a position next to hrp48 and Dwee1. Its intron contains Dnop5, a small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein (snoRNP) which is essential for rRNA-processing. During oogenesis, Dxl6 transcripts are expressed in nurse cells. Transcripts are transported into the oocyte and maintained in a ubiquitous pattern in the egg and early embryo. Zygotic Dxl6 transcripts accumulate in the neuroectodermal region of the gastrulating embryo and become highly enriched in the central nervous system (CNS) and brain of embryos. During larval stages, Dxl6 transcripts are detected in distinct patterns in the developing imaginal discs.

US and CT findings of rectal amebian abscess.

An interesting case of rectal amebic abscess is presented. Ultrasound and CT images provided the diagnosis of a cystic intramural mass at the rectal wall of a young man, who complained of pelvic pain, constipation, and fever. His clinical history of amebiasis and the finding of trophozoids and cysts at the stool swap confirmed the diagnosis. Intravenous metronidazole therapy cured the disease and led to total disappearance of the mass, and clinical well-being.

Osteoporosis after spinal cord injury.

Immobilisation secondary to spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with marked and rapid atrophy of trabecular bone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in both the upper and lower extremities following SCI sustained for various lengths of time and to correlate the BMD to the level of the lesion, time from injury, spasticity and serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. A study was undertaken in 41 SCI patients with a mean age of 35.8 +/- 12.7 years. A significant difference in BMD between upper and lower extremities of the paraplegics were found. BMD of upper and lower extremities were similar in tetraplegies. The BMD values were significantly different when the upper extremity scores of paraplegics and tetraplegics were compared but BMD scores of the lower extremities were similar in the two groups. The decrease in BMD was less in the spastic patients when compared to the flaccid group. There was a positive correlation between time from injury and the degree of BMD deficit in the paralysed areas. In the whole group of patients a significant positive correlation was found between the duration of SCI and serum ALP levels.

Legal trends in bioethics.

PIP: Directives given in advance of need and substituted consent cases include: the New York trial court that denied the request of a patient's son for an order revoking the health care proxy his mother had given to his sister, the tape-recorded telephone conversation between the son and his mother was ruled to be insufficient evidence of the mother's desire to revoke the proxy, the mother was not fully responsive or articulate enough to convey her thoughts concerning the proxy. By the end of 1991, all states except Pennsylvania and Nebraska had enacted some form of advance directive legislation. The article highlights legislation from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia. A study from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York comparing the views of surrogate decision makers with the decisions of currently competent, chronically ill, elderly patients found that surrogates were unable to predict the patients' wishes about resuscitation. AIDS developments include: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) abandoning its plan to publish a list of categories of exposure-prone invasive procedures. The appropriation bill for the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government requires that states adopt CDC's guidelines or their equivalent within one year, or risk losing all Public Health Service funding. The article highlights 2 court cases relating to AIDS questions. The section on assisted suicide discusses the medical license suspension of Jack Kevorkian and his "suicide" machine. On the discontinuation of treatment, the authors discuss several court cases. patients' rights examples include the Washington State decision imposing a duty on the examining doctor to disclose abnormal test results to the person being examined, regardless of whether a doctor-patient relationship exists. Other topics include reproductive issues, the right to treatment, and treatment refusals.^ieng