PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Snell

Publications and source records attributed to R Snell.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Interaction between hamartin and tuberin, the TSC1 and TSC2 gene products.

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a mutation in either the TSC1 or TSC2 tumour suppressor gene. The disease is characterized by a broad phenotypic spectrum that can include seizures, mental retardation, renal dysfunction and dermatological abnormalities. TSC2 encodes tuberin, a putative GTPase activating protein for rap1 and rab5. The TSC1 gene was recently identified and codes for hamartin, a novel protein with no significant homology to tuberin or any other known vertebrate protein. Here, we show that hamartin and tuberin associate physically in vivo and that the interaction is mediated by predicted coiled-coil domains. Our data suggest that hamartin and tuberin function in the same complex rather than in separate pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Compliance crunch.

The U.S. Department of Justice is showing no mercy in its campaign against what it calls "fraud and abuse" in Medicare billing. Here's what you can do to keep the wolf from coming through your door.

Communication↗
PubMed1996

Neuropathological diagnosis and CAG repeat expansion in Huntington's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the degree of CAG repeat expansion with neuropathological findings in Huntington's disease. METHODS: The CAG repeat polymorphism was analysed in a large series of brain samples from 268 patients with a clinical diagnosis of Huntington's disease in which full neuropathological data was available. RESULTS: Analysis by polymerase chain reaction was successful in 63% of samples (169 of 268). Repeat expansions were detected in 152 of 153 (99%) samples with a neuropathological diagnosis of Huntington's disease. The exceptional case (22 CAG repeats) showed mild but definite pathological changes and had a typical clinical illness with a positive family history; it raises the possibility that an alternative mutation in the Huntington's disease gene may be responsible although it is more likely that a mutation in another gene has resulted in an Huntington's disease-like phenotype. Four of 16 cases without pathological changes of Huntington's disease also possessed an expanded repeat sequence; a glioblastoma masked the pathological changes of Huntington's disease in one case but the other three cases had a typical clinical history and a positive family history. These three cases may reliably be classified as Vonsattel's Huntington's disease grade 0. Three of 12 cases with a normal repeat length and no morphological changes of Huntington's disease showed other neuropathology; two had Alzheimer's disease and the other had multiple sclerosis. Review of the clinical notes of two other cases indicated a diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia complicating phenothiazine treatment of schizophrenia. The remaining pathology negative/expansion negative cases had been referred because of a family history of Huntington's disease; all but one were themselves symptom free. Apart from emphasising the possibility that an alternative mutation may result in a clinical phenocopy of Huntington's disease, this case suggests that such a clinical phenocopy may occur without gross or light microscopical neuropathological changes (Vonsattel's Huntington's disease grade 0). CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the value of molecular genetic analysis in cases of suspected Huntington's disease and shows the importance of detailed neuropathological study in the few cases of suspected Huntington's disease with normal CAG repeat lengths.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Putting teeth into a compliance program.

Health care institutions across the country have implemented internal compliance review processes. Few, however, are consistent or powerful enough. With physician support, rigorous research and fair disciplinary action, internal reviews can be improved. A 12-step procedure can smooth issue resolution.

Group Practice↗