Resolution of granuloma annulare following treatment with bendamustine and rituximab in a patient with follicular lymphoma: a serendipitous finding.

Granuloma annulare is a benign inflammatory dermatosis. Cell-mediated immunity and delayed hypersensitivity are proposed pathogenic mechanisms. We report in this paper a case of generalized granuloma annulare that resolved after the patient was treated with rituximab and bendamustine for stage IV follicular lymphoma.

The µPIVOT: an integrated particle image velocimeter and optical tweezers instrument for microenvironment investigations.

A novel instrument to manipulate and characterize the mechanical environment in and around microscale objects in a fluidic environment has been developed by integrating two laser-based techniques: micron-resolution particle image velocimetry (µPIV) and optical tweezers (OT). This instrument, the µPIVOT, enables a new realm of microscale studies, yet still maintains the individual capabilities of each optical technique. This was demonstrated with individual measurements of optical trap stiffness (∼70 pN µm(-1) for a 20 µm polystyrene sphere and a linear relationship between trap stiffness and laser power) and fluid velocities within 436 nm of a microchannel wall. The integrated device was validated by comparing computational flow predictions to the measured velocity profile around a trapped particle in either a uniform flow or an imposed, gravity-driven microchannel flow (R(2) = 0.988, RMS error = 13.04 µm s(-1)). Interaction between both techniques is shown to be negligible for 15 µm to 35 µm diameter trapped particles subjected to fluid velocities from 50 µm s(-1) to 500 µm s(-1) even at the highest laser power (1.45 W). The integrated techniques will provide a unique perspective toward understanding microscale phenomena including single-cell biomechanics, non-Newtonian fluid mechanics and single particle or particle-particle hydrodynamics.

Autonomous role of 3'-terminal CCCA in directing transcription of RNAs by Qbeta replicase.

We have studied transcription in vitro by Qbeta replicase to deduce the minimal features needed for efficient end-to-end copying of an RNA template. Our studies have used templates ca. 30 nucleotides long that are expected to be free of secondary structure, permitting unambiguous analysis of the role of template sequence in directing transcription. A 3'-terminal CCCA (3'-CCCA) directs transcriptional initiation to opposite the underlined C; the amount of transcription is comparable between RNAs possessing upstream (CCA)(n) tracts, A-rich sequences, or a highly folded domain and is also comparable in single-round transcription assays to transcription of two amplifiable RNAs. Predominant initiation occurs within the 3'-CCCA initiation box when a wide variety of sequences is present immediately upstream, but CCA or a closely similar sequence in that position results in significant internal initiation. Removal of the 3'-A from the 3'-CCCA results in 5- to 10-fold-lower transcription, emphasizing the importance of the nontemplated addition of 3'-A by Qbeta replicase during termination. In considering whether 3'-CCCA could provide sufficient specificity for viral transcription, and consequently amplification, in vivo, we note that tRNA(His) is the only stable Escherichia coli RNA with 3'-CCCA. In vitro-generated transcripts corresponding to tRNA(His) served as poor templates for Qbeta replicase; this was shown to be due to the inaccessibility of the partially base-paired CCCA. These studies demonstrate that 3'-CCCA plays a major role in the control of transcription by Qbeta replicase and that the abundant RNAs present in the host cell should not be efficient templates.

Distribution of coronary artery disease in patients with isolate aortic valve disease.

Forty-four adult patients with isolated aortic valve disease underwent coronary arteriography. Seventy precent of patients required aortic valve replacement (AVR). Of 28 men who underwent AVR, 59 percent of those with severe aortic stenosis, 33 percent of those with severe aortic regurgitation and 50 percent of those with mixed aortic stenosis/aortic regurgitation had associated coronary artery disease. Thirty-six percent of men with aortic valve disease not requiring AVR had significant coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD was not found in the 5 female patients studied. In the patients with CAD, the left anterior descending artery was involved 84 percent of the time. Next in frequency were the right coronary artery, the proximal left circumflex artery, and the obtuse marginal artery. Multivessel disease was the rule. All but one patient with significant CAD had angina pectoris, but many patients with angina had normal coronary arteries. The frequent occurence of significant CAD in adult male patients with isolated aortic valve disease argues for the performance of selective coronary arteriography in all such patients in whom AVR is a consideration.