ABSTRACT
Meiotic recombination is induced by the formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) catalyzed by SPO11, the ortholog of subunit A of TopoVI DNA topoisomerase (TopoVIA). TopoVI activity requires the interaction between A and B subunits. We identified a conserved family of plant and animal proteins [the TOPOVIB-Like (TOPOVIBL) family] that share strong structural similarity to the TopoVIB subunit of TopoVI DNA topoisomerase. We further characterize the meiotic recombination proteins Rec102 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Rec6 (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), and MEI-P22 (Drosophila melanogaster) as homologs to the transducer domain of TopoVIB. We demonstrate that the mouse TOPOVIBL protein interacts and forms a complex with SPO11 and is required for meiotic DSB formation. We conclude that meiotic DSBs are catalyzed by a complex involving SPO11 and TOPOVIBL.
Subject(s)
Archaeal Proteins/chemistry , DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded , DNA Topoisomerases, Type II/chemistry , Endodeoxyribonucleases/chemistry , Meiosis/genetics , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Catalysis , Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/chemistry , Conserved Sequence , DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry , Drosophila Proteins/chemistry , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , Plant Proteins/chemistry , Protein Interaction Mapping , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Recombinases/chemistry , Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins/chemistry , Sequence AlignmentABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Clinical judgement of intoxicated patients is difficult. In the emergency department of the inner city of Oslo this is done every day. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a one-year period from 1998-99, a group of 429 first-time admitted intoxicated patients were included in a study. The patients and the method of observation are described. RESULTS: 75% of the patients were men; 45% reported to have consumed alcohol only, while 10% had taken a heroin overdose. The rest had used various combinations of legal and illegal drugs. Female patients were younger than male patients (29 versus 36 years, p < 0.00), and patients intoxicated only on alcohol were on the average older than patients who had taken drugs (38 versus 31 years, p < 0.00). 57 patients were hospitalized, seven of them had serious intracerebral conditions. INTERPRETATION: Our study indicates that systematic observation over some hours, repeated clinical examinations, and the systematic use of a modified Glasgow Coma Scale makes it possible to sort out the seriously ill from "only" intoxicated patients.
Subject(s)
Alcoholic Intoxication/diagnosis , Emergency Service, Hospital , Poisoning/diagnosis , Wounds and Injuries/diagnosis , Adult , Critical Illness , Diagnosis, Differential , Drug Overdose , Female , Glasgow Coma Scale , Heroin/poisoning , Heroin Dependence/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Monitoring, Physiologic , Norway , Substance-Related Disorders/diagnosisABSTRACT
We are seven general practitioners who have developed and tested a two-year programme to follow up the group-based training programme for general practice in Norway. The basic idea is to learn by reflecting on one's own consultations with patients. All consultations are registered by each doctor on a special form which allows both a narrative description of the consultation and a formal registration of data, including reasons for contact, diagnostic considerations, the doctor's attempts to elicit the patient's concerns and provide information, and specification of the doctor's satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the consultation. The material is shared and deepened at monthly group meetings. Simple statistical analysis is used. Each doctor also shows videotaped consultations to the group. Our learning has taken place at four levels: clinical medicine, knowledge about one's own practice and about general practice as a discipline, and experience of collecting and analyzing clinical data. We conclude that the programme is enjoyable and feasible, we recommend it to other groups.
Subject(s)
Education, Medical, Continuing/methods , Family Practice/education , Learning , Humans , Norway , Physician-Patient Relations , Referral and ConsultationSubject(s)
Sex Education , Sexual Behavior , Adolescent , Contraception , Female , Humans , Male , NorwaySubject(s)
Sex Education , Sexual Behavior , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/prevention & control , Adolescent , Contraception , Female , Humans , Male , NorwaySubject(s)
Contraception , Adolescent , Adult , Community Health Services , Female , Humans , Male , Norway , Sex EducationABSTRACT
We evaluated a commercial (Clinical Assays, Inc.) 125I radioimmunoassay for digitoxin for use in measuring cardiac glycosides in serum, buffer, urine, and cerebrospinal-fluid samples. We also assessed interference of seven cardioactive metabolites of digitoxin, including digoxin, with the assay. The precision of the assay was adequate for all matrixes studied for glycoside concentrations less than 5 microgram/L. Reactivity in the assay was dependent on the nature of the matrix: buffer and serum samples containing digitoxin showed a stronger reactivity than did samples of urine and cerebrospinal fluid. Patients' samples must therefore be analyzed with a standard curve prepared by use of the same matrix. The digitoxosides of digitoxin showed a slightly higher reactivity in the assay than did digitoxin itself, but digitoxigenin showed a 50% lesser reactivity. Digoxin, its digitoxosides, and digoxigenin hardly react at all in the assay and so do not interfere with digitoxin determinations.
