The nutrition impact symptoms (NIS) score detects malnutrition risk in patients admitted to nephrology wards.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional screening tools recommended for the general hospitalised population do not always adequately detect malnutrition risk in patients with kidney disease. The present study assessed the validity and reliability of the Nutrition Impact Symptoms (NIS) score as a nutrition screening tool for hospitalised inpatients prefer in nephrology wards. METHODS: Nutritional status was classified using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). NIS scores were calculated from the total score of responses to questions assessing symptoms impacting upon nutritional status from the patient-generated SGA. Concurrent validity of NIS score was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve to predict malnutrition risk against SGA. Predictive validity was examined against length of hospital stay (LOS) and 30-day re-admission using Poisson and logistic regression, respectively. Inter-rater reliability of NIS scoring between assessors was determined using intraclass correlation. RESULTS: In 143 patients [90 males; mean (SD) age 57.8 (15.8) years], malnutrition prevalence was 38% (54/143) using SGA (rating B/C). Predicting malnutrition risk with an NIS score of ≥3 had a sensitivity of 0.89 and a specificity of 0.65 (area under the curve = 0.81 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.74-0.88]). For each 1-point increase in NIS score, the model predicted a 1.9% rise in the risk of an increased LOS (P = 0.002). Thirty-day re-admission was not associated with NIS score. Inter-rater reliability was moderate (mean difference = 0.53; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.57-0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition impact symptoms score is a valid stand-alone nutrition screening tool for identifying malnutrition risk in nephrology inpatients and is associated with LOS.

Phylogenetic and structural response of heterotrophic bacteria to dissolved organic matter of different chemical composition in a continuous culture study.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) and heterotrophic bacteria are highly diverse components of the ocean system, and their interactions are key in regulating the biogeochemical cycles of major elements. How chemical and phylogenetic diversity are linked remains largely unexplored to date. To investigate interactions between bacterial diversity and DOM, we followed the response of natural bacterial communities to two sources of phytoplankton-derived DOM over six bacterial generation times in continuous cultures. Analyses of total hydrolysable neutral sugars and amino acids, and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry revealed large differences in the chemical composition of the two DOM sources. According to 454 pyrosequences of 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid genes, diatom-derived DOM sustained higher levels of bacterial richness, evenness and phylogenetic diversity than cyanobacteria-derived DOM. These distinct community structures were, however, not associated with specific taxa. Grazing pressure affected bacterial community composition without changing the overall pattern of bacterial diversity levels set by DOM. Our results demonstrate that resource composition can shape several facets of bacterial diversity without influencing the phylogenetic composition of bacterial communities, suggesting functional redundancy at different taxonomic levels for the degradation of phytoplankton-derived DOM.

Mesoscale iron enrichment experiments 1993-2005: synthesis and future directions.

Since the mid-1980s, our understanding of nutrient limitation of oceanic primary production has radically changed. Mesoscale iron addition experiments (FeAXs) have unequivocally shown that iron supply limits production in one-third of the world ocean, where surface macronutrient concentrations are perennially high. The findings of these 12 FeAXs also reveal that iron supply exerts controls on the dynamics of plankton blooms, which in turn affect the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, silicon, and sulfur and ultimately influence the Earth climate system. However, extrapolation of the key results of FeAXs to regional and seasonal scales in some cases is limited because of differing modes of iron supply in FeAXs and in the modern and paleo-oceans. New research directions include quantification of the coupling of oceanic iron and carbon biogeochemistry.

High frequency monitoring of the coastal marine environment using the MAREL buoy.

The MAREL Iroise data buoy provides physico-chemical measurements acquired in surface marine water in continuous and autonomous mode. The water is pumped 1.5 m from below the surface through a sampling pipe and flows through the measuring cell located in the floating structure. Technological innovations implemented inside the measuring cell atop the buoy allow a continuous cleaning of the sensor, while injection of chloride ions into the circuit prevents biological fouling. Specific sensors for temperature, salinity, oxygen and fluorescence investigated in this paper have been evaluated to guarantee measurement precision over a 3 month period. A bi-directional link under Internet TCP-IP protocols is used for data, alarms and remote-control transmissions with the land-based data centre. Herein, we present a 29 month record for 4 parameters measured using a MAREL buoy moored in a coastal environment (Iroise Sea, Brest, France). The accuracy of the data provided by the buoy is assessed by comparison with measurements of sea water weekly sampled at the same site as part of SOMLIT (Service d'Observation du Milieu LIToral), the French network for monitoring of the coastal environment. Some particular events (impact of intensive fresh water discharges, dynamics of a fast phytoplankton bloom) are also presented, demonstrating the worth of monitoring a highly variable environment with a high frequency continuous reliable system.

Different sensitivity of the transforming growth factor-beta cell cycle arrest pathway to c-Myc and MDM-2.

Recently, the oncoprotein MDM-2 was implicated in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) growth inhibitory pathway by the finding that prolonged, constitutive expression of MDM-2 in mink lung epithelial cells could overcome the antiproliferative effect of TGF-beta (Sun, P., Dong, P., Dai, K., Hannon, G. J., and Beach, D. (1998) Science 282, 2270-2272). However, using Mv1Lu cells conditionally expressing MDM-2, we found that MDM-2 does not overcome TGF-beta-mediated growth arrest. No detectable changes were observed in various TGF-beta responses, including cell cycle arrest, activation of transcriptional reporters, and TGF-beta-dependent Smad2/3 nuclear accumulation. This finding was in direct contrast to the effect of forcing c-Myc expression, a bona fide member of the TGF-beta growth inhibitory pathway, which renders cells refractory to TGF-beta-induced cell cycle arrest. Our results suggest that an MDM-2-dependent increase in cell cycle progression may allow the acquisition of additional mutations over time and that these alterations then allow cells to evade a TGF-beta-mediated growth arrest. Our conclusion is that, whereas c-Myc down-regulation by TGF-beta is a required event in the cell cycle arrest response of epithelial cells, MDM-2 is not a direct participant in the normal TGF-beta antiproliferative response.

Myc downregulation by transforming growth factor beta required for activation of the p15(Ink4b) G(1) arrest pathway.

The antimitogenic action of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in epithelial cells involves cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitory gene responses and downregulation of c-Myc expression. Although the cdk inhibitory responses are sufficient for G(1) arrest, enforced expression of c-Myc prevents G(1) arrest by TGF-beta. We investigated the basis of this antagonism by using Mv1Lu lung epithelial cell lines that conditionally express levels of human c-Myc. We show that c-Myc prevents induction of the cdk4 inhibitor p15(Ink4b) and the subsequent inhibition of G(1) cdks by TGF-beta. We assessed the significance of this effect by analyzing the oligomeric state of cdk4 in these cells. In proliferating cells, endogenous cdk4 is distributed among three populations: an abundant high-molecular-mass (>400-kDa) pool of latent cdk4 that serves as a source of cdk4 for cyclin D, a low-abundance pool containing active cyclin D-cdk4 complexes, and an inactive population of monomeric cdk4. Cell stimulation with TGF-beta converts the latent and active cdk4 pools into inactive cdk4, an effect that is specifically mimicked by overexpression of p15 but not by other forms of G(1) arrest. This process of TGF-beta-induced cdk4 inactivation is completely blocked by expression of c-Myc, even though the latent and active cdk4 complexes from c-Myc-expressing cells remain sensitive to dissociation by p15 in vitro. c-Myc causes a small increase in cyclin D levels, but this effect contributes little to the loss of TGF-beta responses in these cells. The evidence suggests that c-Myc interferes with TGF-beta activation of the p15 G(1) arrest pathway. TGF-beta must therefore downregulate c-Myc in order to activate this pathway.

Knowledge and attitudes among California dental care providers regarding child abuse and neglect.

The authors surveyed California dentists about their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding child abuse and neglect. Only 16 percent of the respondents claimed to have seen or suspected a case of child abuse or neglect during the preceding five years, and only 6 percent claimed to have reported such a case. The authors also found that the respondents had little knowledge of California law regarding the reporting of such cases and little information or training in diagnosing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.

Differential interaction of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27Kip1 with cyclin A-Cdk2 and cyclin D2-Cdk4.

Although p27(Kip1) has been considered a general inhibitor of G1 and S phase cyclin-dependent kinases, we report that the interaction of p27 with two such kinases, cyclin A-Cdk2 and cyclin D-Cdk4, is different. In Mv1Lu cells containing a p27 inducible system, a 6-fold increase over the basal p27 level completely inhibited Cdk2 and cell cycle progression. In contrast, the same or a larger increase in p27 levels did not inhibit Cdk4 or its homologue Cdk6, despite extensive binding to these kinases. A p27-cyclin A-Cdk2 complex formed in vitro was essentially inactive, whereas a p27-cyclin D2-Cdk4 complex was active as a retinoblastoma kinase and served as a substrate for the Cdk-activating kinase Cak. High concentrations of p27 inhibited cyclin D2-Cdk4, apparently by conversion of active complexes into inactive ones by the binding of additional p27 molecules. In contrast to their differential interaction, cyclin A-Cdk2 and cyclin D2-Cdk4 were similarly inhibited by bound p21(Cip1/Waf1). Roles of cyclin A-Cdk2 as a p27 target and cyclin D2-Cdk4 as a p27 reservoir may result from the differential ability of bound p27 to inhibit the kinase subunit in these complexes.

Differential effects of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase mutations on RNase H activity in Mg2+ and Mn2+.

We have previously described the in vitro and in vivo characterization of a panel of mutations affecting the RNase H domain of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (Blain, S. W., and Goff, S.P. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 23585-23592; Blain, S. W., and Goff, S. P. (1995) J. Virol. 69, 4440-4452). We were intrigued by a discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo RNase H results for two of the mutants. While delta C and delta 5E appeared to have nearly wild-type RNase H activity in vitro, they were unable to degrade their genomic RNA in vivo and thus were effectively RNase H null mutants in this context. In this present report, we describe the differential effects of these mutations on RNase H activity in vitro in the presence of Mg2+ versus Mn2+: mutants delta C and delta 5E were active in the presence of the less biologically relevant Mn2+ and not in the presence of Mg2+. We also describe three mutants with only partial activity in Mg2+. The presence of the different cations can also affect DNA polymerization and processivity of an RNase H-deficient mutant.

Reversion of a Moloney murine leukemia virus RNase H mutant at a second site restores enzyme function and infectivity.

The reverse transcriptase of retroviruses contains an RNase H activity essential for the proper synthesis of the viral DNA copy of the RNA genome. We have previously characterized a number of point mutations altering the RNase domain of the Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase (S. W. Blain and S. P. Goff, J. Biol. Chem. 268:23585-23592, 1993). One such mutation, Y586F (a Y-to-F change at position 586), reduced RNase H activity, as assayed by in situ gel analysis, to about 5% of the wild-type level and prevented viral replication. We have now recovered a revertant virus with near-normal infectivity and in vitro enzymatic activity. The revertant contains a single substitution, N613H, distant in the primary sequence of the protein, but modeling with the Escherichia coli RNase H structure suggests that the reverted residue is close in space to the original substituted residue. Examination of the structure permits some suggestions as to how this second-site revertant restores enzyme activity.

Effects on DNA synthesis and translocation caused by mutations in the RNase H domain of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase.

To determine the various roles of RNase H in reverse transcription, we generated a panel of mutations in the RNase H domain of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase based on sequence alignments and the crystal structures of Escherichia coli and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNases H (S. W. Blain and S. P. Goff, J. Biol. Chem. 268:23585-23592, 1993). These mutations were introduced into a full-length provirus, and the resulting genomes were tested for infectivity by transient transfection assays or after generation of stable producer lines. Several of the mutant viruses replicated normally, some showed significant delays in infectivity, and others were noninfectious. Virions were collected, and the products of the endogenous reverse transcription reaction were examined to determine which steps might be affected by these mutations. Some mutants left their minus-strand strong-stop DNA in RNA-DNA hybrid form, in a manner similar to that of RNase H null mutants. Some mutants showed increased polymerase pausing. Others were impaired in first-strand translocation, independently of their wild-type ability to degrade genomic RNA, suggesting a new role for RNase H in strand transfer. DNA products synthesized in vivo by the wild-type and mutant viruses were also examined. Whereas wild-type virus did not accumulate detectable levels of minus-strand strong-stop DNA, several mutants were blocked in translocation and did accumulate this intermediate. These results suggest that in vivo wild-type virus normally translocates minus-strand strong-stop DNA efficiently.

Norplant: the uses of a new contraceptive.

Norplant is a subdermal implant providing contraceptive protection over a five-year period. After worldwide trials, it has been available in the UK since September 1993. The author discusses the mode of action of this contraceptive method, its efficacy, advantages and disadvantages and describes the procedure for insertion of the implants.

Nuclease activities of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase. Mutants with altered substrate specificities.

RNases H are traditionally thought to degrade RNA only in RNA-DNA hybrid form. We found that the wild-type Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) reverse transcriptase (RT) was capable of degrading RNA in RNA-RNA duplexes as well as in RNA-DNA hybrids, as assayed by in situ gel techniques. Escherichia coli RNase H does not degrade the RNA-RNA duplex in this assay, while E. coli RNase III, a double-strand-specific ribonuclease, does. The apparent specific activity of M-MuLV RT on RNA-RNA duplexes is similar to that on RNA-DNA hybrids. Neither the DNA polymerase domain nor the RNase H domain of RT expressed individually exhibited this RNA-RNA activity. We have generated a series of mutations in the RNase H domain of M-MuLV RT, expressed the mutant enzymes in E. coli, and assayed these mutants for various activities. All RTs were as active as the wild type in the oligo(dT):poly(rA) DNA polymerase assay, and many retained both nuclease activities. Two enzymes with mutations at the carboxyl terminus of the RNase H domain retained RNA-DNA activity, but not RNA-RNA activity. Another mutant enzyme showed the opposite phenotype, retaining RNA-RNA, but not RNA-DNA, nuclease activity. Thus, we were able to genetically separate the two activities. These results may be helpful in defining enzyme-substrate interactions.

Attitudes to women undergoing TOP.

This article describes a research project which was carried out to investigate the quality of the nursing service within a newly established unit for women undergoing termination of pregnancy (TOP). Staff and patient attitudes were examined to see what effect this might have on the expected and perceived quality of the nursing care. The results showed mostly positive attitudes and general satisfaction with the quality of the nursing service, although there were some areas of concern. The author recommends that more specialist units should be set up for the care of these women and reviews the implications for research and education.

Defects in Moloney murine leukemia virus replication caused by a reverse transcriptase mutation modeled on the structure of Escherichia coli RNase H.

We have studied a mutant Moloney murine leukemia virus with a deletion in reverse transcriptase (RT) which is predicted to make its RNase H domain resemble structurally that of human immunodeficiency virus RT. This deletion was based on improved RNase H homology alignments made possible by the recently solved three-dimensional structure for Escherichia coli RNase H. This mutant Moloney murine leukemia virus RT was fully active in the oligo(dT)-poly(rA) DNA polymerase assay and retained nearly all of wild-type RT's RNase H activity in an in situ RNase H gel assay. However, proviruses reconstructed to include this deletion were noninfectious. Minus-strand strong-stop DNA was made by the deletion mutant, but the amount of minus-strand translocation was intermediate to the very low level measured with RNase H-null virions and the high level seen with wild-type RT. The average length of translocated minus-strand DNA was shorter for the deletion mutant than for wild type, suggesting that mutations in the RNase H domain of RT also affect DNA polymerase activity.

mTFE3, an X-linked transcriptional activator containing basic helix-loop-helix and zipper domains, utilizes the zipper to stabilize both DNA binding and multimerization.

Southwestern (DNA-protein) screening of a murine L-cell cDNA library by using a probe for the microE3 site in the immunoglobulin heavy-chain enhancer yielded a clone, mTFE3, which is a member of the subset of basic helix-loop-helix (BHLH) proteins that also contain a leucine zipper (ZIP). Since the individual contribution of these domains is not well understood for proteins which contain them both, mutational analyses were performed to assess the functional roles of the HLH and ZIP regions for DNA binding and multimerization. The HLH region is stringently required for DNA binding but not for multimerization. The ZIP region is not stringently required for binding or multimerization, but stabilizes both multimer formation and DNA binding. A high degree of conservation at both the amino acid and nucleotide levels between the human transcription factor TFE3 and mTFE3 suggests that mTFE3 is the murine homolog of human TFE3. By using fluorescent in situ hybridization, mTFE3 was mapped to mouse chromosome X in band A2, which is just below the centromere. We show that in addition to the immunoglobulin heavy-chain microE3 site, mTFE3 binds to transcriptional elements important for lymphoid-specific, muscle-specific, and ubiquitously expressed genes. Binding of mTFE3 to DNA induces DNA bending.