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D L McMinn

Publications and source records attributed to D L McMinn.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Universal bases for hybridization, replication and chain termination.

Several unnatural, predominantly hydrophobic nucleobases that pack efficiently in duplex DNA without hydrogen bonding functionalities are reported to circumvent the hydrogen bonding-based specificity, both during oligonucleotide hybridization and enzymatic DNA synthesis. The reported nucleoside analogs are efficient 'universal bases' for hybridization, template directed DNA synthesis and chain termination. Moreover, several of the universal bases function in their biological role, hybridization or replication, with an efficiency not significantly reduced relative to their natural counterparts.

Base Pairing↗

Convergent solution-phase synthesis of a nucleopeptide using a protected oligonucleotide.

A nucleopeptide was prepared in a convergent manner via segmental coupling of the protected biopolymers in solution. The resulting nucleopeptide (4b, 72%) containing the binding site of lambda repressor and a peptide containing the consensus sequence of the DNA binding helix of the helix turn-helix-proteins was obtained using only five equivalents of the peptide relative to the oligonucleotide. This demonstrates that the recently developed method for the solution phase coupling of protected oligonucleotides is amenable to the convergent synthesis of larger nucleopeptides that are potentially capable of adopting secondary structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Should survivors with an injury severity score less than 10 be entered in a statewide trauma registry?

The necessity of including survivors with minor (ISS less than 10) injuries in a statewide trauma registry with a quality assurance focus was evaluated. During a 3-month period, data for 3,594 admissions to 28 trauma centers were entered into the registry. Of these admissions 1,696 patients (50.8% of patients studied) had an ISS less than 10. Of those, 10 (0.6%) were nonsurvivors and 67 (3.9%) had severe disability (66) or were in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) (1) at hospital discharge. Five nonsurvivors were 65 years of age or older. Four were injured in falls and one was an injured pedestrian. The disabled subset included a high percentage of older patients (61.2% greater than or equal to 55). Minor falls, including those from a bed or chair or from the same level accounted for nearly one half (46.2%) of the disabling injuries. Fifty-one disabled patients had isolated extremity or pelvic fractures. Their hospital stays ranged from 1 to 42 days and averaged 13.0 days. The proportion of elderly in the United States is increasing substantially. Because of the significant risk of death or serious disability to elderly patients, even with minor injuries, we conclude it is appropriate to include data for elderly patients with an ISS less than 10 who meet other registry inclusion criteria. We also recommend the entry of data for patients with an ISS less than 10 and significant disability at discharge who qualify by other criteria. Exclusion of remaining patients with an ISS less than 10 would reduce qualifying cases by 38%.

Adolescent↗

Anatomy of a statewide trauma registry.

The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation has existed for five years. A concept that in 1984 seemed like a futuristic dream has been accomplished. Standards for trauma center accreditation have been developed, and trauma centers are accredited in a fair, unbiased, and systematic manner. Pennsylvania's voluntary system could not have succeeded without the full support of the hospital, medical, and nursing communities. Trauma centers are not edifices alone; the commitment of the institutions and their personnel was phenomenal. Pennsylvania has the largest and most comprehensive trauma registry in terms of complete data compliance in the United States. Data collected have been used for quality assurance, the accreditation process, and trauma prevention and research. The commitment by medical record professionals to develop and maintain individual hospital trauma registries as well as the PTSF trauma registry has been enormous. The future of trauma system development in Pennsylvania lies in the data collection system and the research in trauma systems and trauma care that is generated from the database.

Accreditation↗

Synthesis of oligonucleotides containing 3'-alkylcarboxylic acids using a palladium labile oligonucleotide solid phase synthesis support.

Oligonucleotides containing a 3'-alkylcarboxylic acid are isolated using a Pd(0)-catalyzed cleavage reaction, in yields that are in most cases within experimental error of those isolated using standard oligonucleotide cleavage conditions (concentrated NH4OH). In contrast to results obtained with photolabile solid phase synthesis supports, no reduction in isolated yields of the oligonucleotides is observed when their length is increased from 20 to 40 nucleotides. The oligonucleotides are characterized by anion exchange HPLC, electrospray mass spectrometry, and enzymatic digestion. When methyl phosphoramidites are employed in the synthesis of the biopolymers, 3 serves as an orthogonal solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis support.

Ammonium Hydroxide↗