Draft Genome Sequence of Cyanobacterium sp. Strain HL-69, Isolated from a Benthic Microbial Mat from a Magnesium Sulfate-Dominated Hypersaline Lake.

The complete genome sequence of Cyanobacterium sp. strain HL-69 consists of 3,155,247 bp and contains 2,897 predicted genes comprising a chromosome and two plasmids. The genome is consistent with a halophilic nondiazotrophic phototrophic lifestyle, and this organism is able to synthesize most B vitamins and produces several secondary metabolites.

Dermatome setting for autografts to cover INTEGRA.

Using the INTEGRA Dermal Regeneration Template requires the outer silastic layer to be replaced with an autograft. We followed the manufacturer's directions for epidermal autografting and frequently obtained shredded, useless grafts, therefore, it seemed important to determine the proper dermatome setting. We evaluated dermatome settings from 0.002 to 0.012 inches. First, with feeler gauges, we verified the dermatome settings. Second, we harvested skin at various dermatome settings and measured the thickness histologically. We found that 1) the dermatome settings are reasonably accurate; 2) harvesting useful sheets at 0.002 and 0.004 inches is virtually impossible; 3) the variability of histologic graft thickness is enormous; and 4) a dermatome setting of 0.006 inches yields useful grafts. We no longer use the term epidermal autografting but rather ultrathin split-thickness grafting. To harvest these grafts, we now merely set the dermatome to 0.006 inches and make whatever midcourse corrections are necessary to obtain translucent grafts.

Effect of acute reamed versus unreamed intramedullary nailing on compartment pressure when treating closed tibial shaft fractures: a randomized prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare anterior and deep posterior compartment pressures during reamed and unreamed intramedullary nailing of displaced, closed tibial shaft fractures. DESIGN: Randomized prospective study. SETTING: University Hospital/Level I trauma center. PATIENTS: Forty-eight adults with forty-nine fractures treated with intramedullary nailing within three days of injury. INTERVENTION: After intraoperative placement of compartment pressure monitors, the tibia fractures were treated by either unreamed intramedullary nailing or reamed intramedullary nailing. A fracture table and skeletal traction were not used in any of these procedures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Compartment pressures and deltaP ([diastolic blood pressure] - [compartment pressure]) were measured immediately preoperatively, intraoperatively, and for twenty-four hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Compartment syndrome did not occur in any patient. Peak average pressures were obtained during reaming in the reamed group (30.0 millimeters of mercury anterior compartment, 34.7 millimeters of mercury deep posterior compartment) and during nail insertion in the unreamed group (33.9 millimeters of mercury anterior compartment, 35.2 millimeters of mercury deep posterior compartment). The average pressures quickly returned to less than thirty millimeters of mercury and remained there for the duration of the study. The deep posterior compartment pressures were lower in the reamed group than in the unreamed group at ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen, eighteen, twenty, twenty-two, and twenty-four hours postoperatively (p < 0.05 at each of these times. A statistically significant difference between anterior compartment pressures could not be shown with the numbers available. The deltaP values were greater than thirty millimeters of mercury at all times after nail insertion in both the reamed and unreamed groups. CONCLUSION: These data support acute (within three days of injury) reamed intramedullary nailing of closed, displaced tibial shaft fractures without the use of a fracture table.

Analysis of hypertrophic and normal scar gene expression with cDNA microarrays.

Hypertrophic scar is one form of abnormal wound healing. Previous studies have suggested that hypertrophic scar formation results from altered gene expression of extracellular matrix molecules. A broadscale evaluation of gene expression in hypertrophic scars has not been reported. To better understand abnormalities in hypertrophic scar gene expression, we compared messenger RNA expression in hypertrophic scars, normal scars, and uninjured skin with the use of complementary (c)DNA microarrays. Total RNA was extracted from freshly excised human hypertrophic scars, normal scars, or uninjured skin and reverse transcribed into cDNA with the incorporation of [33P] deoxycytidine triphosphate. The resulting radioactive cDNA probes were hybridized onto cDNA microarrays of 4000 genes. Hybridization signals were normalized and analyzed. In the comparison of tissue samples, mean intensities were calculated for each gene within each group (hypertrophic scars, normal scars, and uninjured skin). Ratios of the mean intensities of hypertrophic scars to normal scars, hypertrophic scars to uninjured skin, and normal scars to uninjured skin were generated. A ratio that was greater than 1 indicated upregulation of any particular gene and a ratio that was less than 1 indicated downregulation of any particular gene. Our data indicated that 142 genes were overexpressed and 50 genes were underexpressed in normal scars compared with uninjured skin, 107 genes were overexpressed and 71 were underexpressed in hypertrophic scars compared with uninjured skin, and 44 genes were overexpressed and 124 were underexpressed in hypertrophic scars compared with normal scars. Our analysis of collagen, growth factor, and metalloproteinase gene expression confirmed that our molecular data were consistent with published biochemical and clinical observations of normal scars and hypertrophic scars. cDNA microarray analysis provides a powerful tool for the investigation of differential gene expression in hypertrophic scar samples and either uninjured skin or normal scars. Our data validate the use of this technology for future studies on gene expression during repair processes of normal and abnormal wounds.

Neuropsychological performance of sexual assaulters and pedophiles.

Persons who had been arrested for sexual assault were administered the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery and the results compared to a group of normal controls. The sexual assaulters performed significantly worse on 7 of the 14 scales of the battery. The data were then broken down into three groups: (1) those who had forcibly assaulted postpubescent victims, (2) those subjects who had sexually molested a prepubescent child, and (3) normal controls. A discriminant analysis correctly classified 68% of the subjects on the basis of their neuropsychological performance alone.

Aging and performance on the Luria-Nebraska neuropsychological battery.

The Luria-Nebraska Battery has been shown to be a valid measure of neuropsychological functioning in younger adults; however, little validity research with the elderly has been reported. Seventy-eight healthy elderly adults (mean age = 72.2 years) were tested with the Luria-Nebraska Battery and 92% of the profiles were found to be within normal limits. Significant age-related effects were also found on the Luria-Nebraska Battery. Similarly, the healthy elderly were divided into two age groups, young-old (60-74) and old-old (75+). Only the expressive speech and writing scales showed significant differences, and these were in the opposite direction one might expect, in that the old-old group performed significantly better. Additionally, the performance of 100 elderly brain damaged patients (mean age = 68 years) was examined and 86% of the profiles indicated the presence of brain damage. Overall, this study suggests that the Luria-Nebraska Battery may be a useful measure of neuropsychological functioning in elderly groups.

Neuropsychological performance in schizophrenics with histories of substance abuse.

Both schizophrenia and substance abuse have been associated with cerebral impairment, although the neuro psychological performance of schizophrenic patients with substance abuse histories has not been examined. In this study, the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery was administered to schizophrenic patients with or without histories of substance abuse. The study found that the schizophrenics without substance abuse histories showed evidence of cerebral dysfunction, while those schizophrenics with histories of substance abuse could not be differentiated from normal.