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Changes in cartilage composition and physical properties due to stromelysin degradation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of stromelysin treatment on biochemical, histologic, and swelling characteristics of intact cartilage explants and to correlate these effects with changes in the functional physical properties of the tissue. METHODS: Bovine articular cartilage explants were cultured for up to 3 days in the presence or absence of recombinant human stromelysin (SLN). Damage to matrix proteoglycans and collagens was assessed and characterized by N-terminal sequencing and Western blot analysis, respectively. Explants were mechanically tested to assess the ability of the tissue to withstand cyclic and static compressive loads. RESULTS: Treatment with SLN resulted in a time- and dose-dependent loss of proteoglycans from cartilage explants, with significant loss seen after 3 days of exposure to 20 nM SLN: Histology indicated that initial loss of proteoglycans occurred in regions near the tissue surface and proceeded inward with increasing time of SLN exposure. SLN treatment resulted in degradation of matrix collagen types IX and II, and a concomitant increase in tissue swelling. This matrix degradation resulted in severe alterations in functional physical properties of the tissue, including compressive stiffness. The initial, focal loss of proteoglycans that resulted from SLN treatment was most accurately detected with high-frequency streaming potential measurements. CONCLUSION: Exposure of intact cartilage to SLN caused specific, molecular-level degradation of matrix molecules, which resulted in changes in the swelling behavior and marked deterioration of functional physical properties of the tissue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Patient-assessed outcomes after excision of acoustic neuroma: postoperative symptoms and quality of life.

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to assess whether outcomes from excision of acoustic neuroma vary among patients and have a material impact on their quality of life (QOL). METHODS: A questionnaire concerning postoperative symptoms and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) QOL instrument were mailed to 97 consecutive patients who had undergone acoustic neuroma surgery via the translabyrinthine approach. The survey response rate was 78% and the symptomatology was consistent with other reports, supporting the representativeness of the sample. The respondents' QOL was rated significantly below published norms and their work capacity was reportedly reduced. Specifically, the following SF-36 dimensions were reduced: physical functioning and role-physical, together with vitality, general health, and social functioning. Greater numbers of postoperative symptoms and larger tumors were associated with a worse rating of physical functioning. More severe balance problems were associated with lower ratings of social functioning. The disparity between the patient's self-estimate and self-measurement and the clinician's assessment of the patient's facial functioning raises doubts about the validity of subjective reports and assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The present study supports the use of generic QOL measures to assess outcome and to draw comparisons between different populations.

Adolescent↗

The functional impact of anxiety sensitivity in the chronically physically ill.

The symptoms and physical limitations resulting from chronic physical illness often diminish physical functioning. Comorbidity of chronic physical illness and an anxiety disorder is associated with greater impairment in functioning than chronic illness alone. One potential contributor to anxiety in the chronically ill is anxiety sensitivity (AS). The goal of this study was to explore the role of AS on functioning in the chronically ill. Participants were 267 primary care patients. Logistic regression showed that physical AS (but not social or psychological), controlling for age, gender, and negative affect, was associated with hypertension, heart disease, and high cholesterol (P<.01). Higher AS was associated with poorer vitality, mental functioning, and social functioning (P<.05). AS may be a correlate of poorer adjustment to chronic illness.

Adolescent↗

Physical and functional interaction between the varicella zoster virus IE63 and IE62 proteins.

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) IE63 protein is required for growth of the virus in cell culture and is expressed during both lytic and latent phases of VZV infection. We have investigated the physical and functional interaction of this protein with the major VZV transactivating protein IE62. The region of the IE63 protein required for interaction with the IE62 protein has been identified and encompasses the N-terminal 142 amino acids. We have found that the interaction is stable at physiological ionic strength. We have also shown that a portion of the IE63 and IE62 proteins colocalize in VZV-infected cells at both 15 and 48 h postinfection. IE63 was found to have no transcriptional activating or repressing activity within the context of a minimal VZV glycoprotein promoter. The presence of the IE63, however, upmodulated the IE62 transactivation of this promoter. Finally, we show that the IE63 protein can be coimmunoprecipitated with the cellular RNA polymerase II from infected cell extracts, indicating that it is present in a complex with that enzyme.

Binding Sites↗

Physical and functional interaction of the archaeal single-stranded DNA-binding protein SSB with RNA polymerase.

Archaeal transcription utilizes a complex multisubunit RNA polymerase and the basal transcription factors TBP and TF(II)B, closely resembling its eukaryal counterpart. We have uncovered a tight physical and functional interaction between RNA polymerase and the single-stranded DNA-binding protein SSB in Sulfolobus solfataricus. SSB stimulates transcription from promoters in vitro under TBP-limiting conditions and supports transcription in the absence of TBP. SSB also rescues transcription from repression by reconstituted chromatin. We demonstrate the potential for promoter melting by SSB, suggesting a plausible basis for the stimulation of transcription. This stimulation requires both the single-stranded DNA-binding domain and the acidic C-terminal tail of the SSB. The tail forms a stable interaction with RNA polymerase. These data reveal an unexpected role for single-stranded DNA-binding proteins in transcription in archaea.

Archaeal Proteins↗

The somatization in primary care study: a tale of three diagnoses.

Somatization is a common phenomenon that has been defined in many ways. The two most widely used diagnoses, Somatization Disorder (SD) and Abridged Somatization Disorder (ASD), are based on lifetime unexplained symptoms. However, reports indicate instability in lifetime symptom recall among somatizing patients. Multisomatoform disorder (MSD) is a new diagnosis based on current unexplained symptoms. To understand how knowledge about SD and ASD translates to MSD, we examined the diagnostic concordance, impairment and health care utilization of these groups in a sample from the Somatization in Primary Care Study. The diagnostic concordance was high between MSD and SD, but lower between MSD and ASD. All three groups reported considerable physical impairment (measured using the PCS subscale of the SF-36). The mental health (MCS) scores for the three groups were only slightly lower than those of the general population. Over the course of one year, physical functioning fell significantly for all three groups. Mental functioning did not change significantly for any of the three groups over this period. Utilization patterns were very similar for the three groups. The high prevalence, serious impairment, and worsening physical functioning over the course of one year suggest the importance of developing interventions in primary care to alleviate the impaired physical functioning and reduce utilization in somatizing patients. MSD should be a useful diagnosis for targeting these interventions because it identifies a sizable cohort of somatizing patients reporting impairment of comparable severity to full SD, using a more efficient diagnostic algorithm based on current symptoms.

Female↗

Relationship between health-related quality of life domains and bone status in postmenopausal Japanese women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between health-related quality of life domains and bone status, including bone metabolism, in postmenopausal Japanese community women. DESIGN: The study subjects were 88 women who were participants in a screening program for osteoporosis in 2003 without a history of mental disorders, metabolic disorders, smoking, bone fractures, and/or estrogen treatment. The participation rate was 75.9%. The age range was 50 to 68 years (mean, 57), and body mass index (BMI) ranged from 15.7 to 36.6 (mean, 22.4). Health-related quality of life domains were evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 Health Survey, and bone mineral content was measured by quantitative ultrasound of the calcaneus. Serum total osteocalcin and serum N-telopeptide were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multiple linear regression models were used to study the association of age, BMI, and eight health-related quality of life domains as independent variables in age-corrected bone status and markers of bone turnover as dependent ones. RESULTS: The participants' calcaneal Z scores by quantitative ultrasound ranged from -2.14 to 2.71. The mean Z score was -0.17 (-0.27, -0.07). Multiple regression analysis revealed that BMI (P < 0.05), physical function (P < 0.01), and role-emotional (role limitations caused by emotional problems) (P < 0.01) were factors in increasing bone mineral content. Also, a positive relationship was found between vitality (P < 0.01), social function (P < 0.05), and total osteocalcin. CONCLUSIONS: Although causality is not clear, in addition to low BMI, role limitations due to poor emotional status and low physical function are related to low bone mineral content in postmenopausal Japanese community women. These results imply that when we are concerned about osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, we should pay attention not only to their physical function but also to their psychological state.

Aged↗

Continuous low-level heat wrap therapy for the prevention and early phase treatment of delayed-onset muscle soreness of the low back: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of continuous low-level heat wrap therapy for the prevention and early phase treatment (ie, 0-48 h postexercise) of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) of the low back. DESIGN: Two prospective randomized controlled trials. SETTING: Outpatient medical facility. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-seven subjects asymptomatic of back pain and in good general health (mean age, 23.5+/-6.6 y). INTERVENTIONS: Participants performed vigorous eccentric exercise to experimentally induce low back DOMS. Participants were assigned to 1 of 2 substudies (prevention and treatment) and randomized to 1 of 2 treatment groups within each substudy: prevention study (heat wrap, n=17; control [nontarget muscle stretch], n=18) and treatment study (heat wrap, n=16; cold pack, n=16). Interventions were administered 4 hours before and 4 hours after exercise in the prevention study and between hours 18 to 42 postexercise in the treatment study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To coincide with the expected occurrence of peak symptoms related to exercise-induced low back DOMS, hour 24 postexercise was considered primary. Pain intensity (prevention) and pain relief (treatment) were primary measures, and self-reported physical function and disability were secondary measures. RESULTS: In the prevention study, at hour 24 postexercise, pain intensity, disability, and deficits in self-reported physical function in subjects with the heat wrap were reduced by 47% (P<.001), 52.3% (P=.029), and 45% (P=.013), respectively, compared with the control group. At hour 24 in the treatment study, postexercise, pain relief with the heat wrap was 138% greater (P=.026) than with the cold pack; there were no differences between the groups in changes in self-reported physical function and disability. CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, continuous low-level heat wrap therapy was of significant benefit in the prevention and early phase treatment of low back DOMS.

Adult↗

Changes in depression and physical decline in older adults: a longitudinal perspective.

BACKGROUND: The impact of chronicity and changes in depression on physical decline over time in older persons has not been elucidated. METHODS: This prospective cohort study of 2121 community-dwelling persons aged 55-85 years uses two measurement occasions of depression (CES-D scale) over 3 years to distinguish persons with chronic, remitted, or emerging depression and persons who were never depressed. Physical function is assessed by self-reported physical ability as well as by observed performance on a short battery of tests. RESULTS: After adjustment for baseline physical function, health status and sociodemographic factors, chronic depression was associated with significantly greater decline in self-reported physical ability over 3 years when compared to never depressed persons (odds ratio (OR)=2.83, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.86-4. 30). In the oldest old, but not in the youngest old, chronic depression was also significantly predictive of greater decline in observed physical performance over 3 years (OR=2.22, 95% CI=1.43-3. 79). Comparable effects were found for older persons with emerging depression. Persons with remitted depression did not have greater decline in reported physical ability or observed performance than persons who were never depressed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings among community-dwelling older persons show that chronicity of depression has a large impact on physical decline over time. Since persons with remitted depression did not have greater physical decline than never depressed persons, these findings suggest that early recognition and treatment of depression in older persons could be protective for subsequent physical decline.

Aged↗

Patient reports of coverage denial: association with ratings of health plan quality and trust in physician.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether HMO patients' reports of denial of coverage were associated with their ratings of health plan quality and trust in their physician. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Within a mixed-model HMO, we surveyed 2000 adult patients who had seen a clinician at least once during the previous year. RESULTS: Of the 2000 patients, 921 (46%) responded. Denial of coverage within the previous 12 months was reported by 64 (7%) patients. Among the denials, 42% were for specialist referral, 32% were for tests or treatments, 18% were for a certain length of hospital stay, and 8% were for a hospital admission. Patients scoring in the lowest quartile on physical functioning were more than twice as likely as other patients to report denial of coverage (12.2% vs 5.1%, P = .001). In multivariable analyses, poor physical functioning remained the only significant independent variable associated with reporting denial of coverage (odds ratio = 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.4, 3.6). More than half (53%) of patients reporting denial of coverage said that they had considered leaving the health plan because of concerns about quality of care. These patients also were less likely to express high trust in their primary care physician (64% vs 78%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with poor physical functioning were more likely to report denial of coverage. Perceived denial of coverage was associated with lower ratings of health plan quality and with significantly less trust in patients' own primary care physicians.

Adult↗

The Duke-UNC Health Profile: an adult health status instrument for primary care.

The Duke--UNC Health Profile (DUHP) was developed as a brief 63-item instrument designed to measure adult health status in the primary care setting along four dimensions: symptom status, physical function, emotional function and social function. Reliability and validity were tested on a group of 395 ambulatory patients in a family medicine center. Temporal stability Spearman correlations ranged from 0.52 to 0.82 for the four dimensions. Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency was 0.85 for emotional function. Guttman's reproducibility coefficients were 0.98 for physical function and 0.93 for social function, and the scalability coefficients were 0.89 for physical and 0.71 for social. Observed relationships between DUHP scores and demographic characteristics of the respondents correlated well with those predicted by the investigators (overall Spearman correlation 0.79). Convergent and discriminant validity was supported by strong associations between components of DUHP and those on the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (Tennessee), and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (Zung). DUHP with SIP monocomponent-heteromethod Spearman correlations ranged from 0.34 to 0.45, and those for DUHP with Tennessee ranged from 0.68 to 0.81. DUHP with Zung monoitem--heteromethod correlations ranged from 0.54 to 0.57. It is concluded that this evidence supports the reliability and validity of the DUHP as an instrument suitable for studying the impact of primary health care on the health outcomes of patients.

Adolescent↗

Extended-release tramadol in the treatment of osteoarthritis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of tramadol extended-release (tramadol ER) tablets once daily in subjects with osteoarthritis pain. METHODS: This 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial included 1020 adults with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip and baseline pain intensity >or= 40 on a 100-mm pain visual analog scale (0 = no pain, 100 = extreme pain). Subjects took placebo or were titrated to a target dose of tramadol ER 100, 200, 300, or 400 mg once daily. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The co-primary efficacy variables were pain and physical function subscales of the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index and subject global assessment of disease activity. RESULTS: Mean changes in WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index pain and physical function subscales were significantly different between tramadol ER and placebo, overall (p <or= 0.021) and for each dose (p <or= 0.050). However, the protocol-specified decision rule for the 3 co-primary endpoints was not satisfied because the overall comparison of subject global assessment of disease activity was not statistically significant (p = 0.079). All doses of tramadol ER once daily were more effective than placebo (p <or= 0.050) for WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index joint stiffness subscale, WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index composite score, pain intensity of the index joint, and daily pain intensity scores. Tramadol ER 200 and 300 mg were significantly more effective than placebo (p <or= 0.050) for subject global assessment of disease activity and pain intensity of non-index joints. Adverse events (e.g., constipation, dizziness, nausea, somnolence, headache) occurred most often with tramadol ER 400 mg. CONCLUSIONS: Tramadol ER 100-300 mg once daily was associated with significant improvement in pain intensity and physical function, and was well tolerated, despite the use of a fixed-dose study design not reflective of usual clinical practice. Tramadol ER is a useful treatment option for patients with osteoarthritis pain.

Adult↗

Gender differences in recovery after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

This study examined the effect of gender on symptom evaluation, symptom response, and physical functioning following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Symptom evaluation and symptom response were measured at baseline and 2, 4, and 6 weeks and 3 months following surgery, and physical functioning was measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months. The sample included 46 men and 19 women randomly assigned to the routine care group of a larger study examining symptom management intervention influence on recovery outcomes in elderly coronary artery bypass graft patients. No significant differences were found in symptom evaluation, symptom response, or physical functioning by gender over time. Women reported consistently higher symptom evaluation scores for shortness of breath, fatigue, depression, sleep disturbance, swelling, and anxiety and lower mean physical and vitality subscale scores than men at every time point. Gender-specific symptom management strategies should be developed and tested to address the differences in the reporting of symptoms by men and women.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Physical and functional interactions between PML and MDM2.

The tumor suppressor protein PML and oncoprotein MDM2 have opposing effects on p53. PML stimulates p53 activity by recruiting it to nuclear foci termed PML nuclear bodies. In contrast, MDM2 inhibits p53 by promoting its degradation. To date, neither a physical nor functional relationship between PML and MDM2 has been described. In this study, we report an in vivo and in vitro interaction between PML and MDM2 which is independent of p53. Two separate regions of PML are recognized which can interact with MDM2. The C-terminal half of PML, encoded by residues 300-633, can interact with the central region of MDM2 which includes the MDM2 acidic domain. In addition, PML amino acids 1-200, which encode the RING-finger and most of the B box zinc binding motifs, can interact with the C-terminal, RING-finger containing region of MDM2. Interestingly, PML mutants in which sumoylation at lysine 160 was inhibited displayed an increased association with MDM2, suggesting that sumoylation at this site may be a determinant of PML-MDM2 binding. Coexpression with MDM2 caused a redistribution of PML from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and this required the PML N terminus and the MDM2 RING-finger domain. These results suggest that interaction between the PML N terminus and MDM2 C terminus can promote PML nuclear exclusion. Wild-type MDM2 inhibited the ability of PML to stimulate the transcriptional activity of a GAL4-CBP fusion protein. This inhibition required the central, acidic region of MDM2, but did not require the MDM2 C terminus. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that MDM2 and PML can interact through at least two separate protein regions, and that these interactions can have specific effects on the activity and/or localization of PML.

Animals↗

The growth suppressor PML represses transcription by functionally and physically interacting with histone deacetylases.

The growth suppressor promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is disrupted by the chromosomal translocation t(15;17) in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). PML plays a key role in multiple pathways of apoptosis and regulates cell cycle progression. The present study demonstrates that PML represses transcription by functionally and physically interacting with histone deacetylase (HDAC). Transcriptional repression mediated by PML can be inhibited by trichostatin A, a specific inhibitor of HDAC. PML coimmunoprecipitates a significant level of HDAC activity in several cell lines. PML is associated with HDAC in vivo and directly interacts with HDAC in vitro. The fusion protein PML-RARalpha encoded by the t(15;17) breakpoint interacts with HDAC poorly. PML interacts with all three isoforms of HDAC through specific domains, and its expression deacetylates histone H3 in vivo. Together, the results of our study show that PML modulates histone deacetylation and that loss of this function in APL alters chromatin remodeling and gene expression. This event may contribute to the development of leukemia.

Animals↗

Women awaiting knee replacement have reduced function and growth hormone.

Women experience greater functional impairment and occurrence of osteoarthritis than men. We hypothesized that lower levels of serum insulin-like growth factor-I may contribute to gender differences in physical impairments. A cross-sectional comparison (n = 139) was done on candidates having total knee arthroplasty and healthy controls subjects of similar age (range, 55-75 years). Physical function, perceived function, and serum insulin-like growth factor levels were compared across group and gender using analysis of variance. Insulin-like growth factor-I values were markedly reduced in women overall and women having surgery had significantly reduced levels despite lean body mass correction. Values consistent with clinical hormone deficiency were observed in 21% of women and only 4% of men having arthroplasty. Physical function was markedly reduced in women, at times functioning only 33% when compared with healthy women, whereas men's limitations were not as profound. The current findings indicate that physical function is more impaired and serum insulin-like growth factor-I is markedly reduced in women awaiting arthroplasty than their male counterparts. The gender differences observed biochemically and with functional performance indicate that the pathophysiology of end stage osteoarthritis may differ between men and women.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Physical and functional characterization of the double-stranded RNA binding protein encoded by the vaccinia virus E3 gene.

The vaccinia virus E3 gene encodes a 190-amino acid double-stranded (ds) RNA-binding protein that antagonizes cellular antiviral response pathways triggered by dsRNA and interferon. The physical and functional properties of the E3 protein were determined using recombinant E3 produced in bacteria and purified to homogeneity. We show by sedimentation and chemical crosslinking that E3 is a dimer in solution at high ionic strength. E3 self-associates to form higher order oligomers as ionic strength is reduced from 1 to 0.1 M NaCl. Structure probing by limited proteolysis suggests that E3 consists of amino- and carboxyl-terminal domains separated by a trypsin-sensitive bridge at residues Lys-92 and Arg-95. The carboxyl-domain of E3 contains a conserved dsRNA binding motif (dsRBM) found in many other proteins that interact with dsRNA. That the C-terminal domain per se binds to dsRNA was verified by studies of recombinant E3(100-190) purified from bacteria. The affinity of the C-terminal domain for dsRNA was comparable to that of the full-length E3 protein (KD approximately 7 to 9 nM). E3(100-190) did not bind to DNA-DNA duplexes or to DNA-RNA hybrids, suggesting that the dsRBM specifically recognizes an A-form helix. E3(100-190) is a dimer in solution; however, unlike the full-sized E3 protein, E3(100-190) does not form higher order multimers at low ionic strength.

Base Sequence↗

Physical and functional map of an amikacin-resistance plasmid isolated from a multiresistant strain of Serratia marcescens.

pTK159, a multiresistance 40-kilobase (kb) plasmid, was isolated from a clinical strain of Serratia marcescens. pTK159 was nonconjugative and carried determinants for resistance to amikacin, streptomycin/spectinomycin, sulfamethoxazole and ampicillin. A physical and functional map of pTK159 was constructed. By cloning various fragments of pTK159 in pACYC184 or pBR322, genes for resistance to amikacin, streptomycin/spectinomycin, and sulfamethoxazole were found to be located on a 2.0-kb BamHI-HindIII fragment, a 1.4-kb HindIII fragment and a 2.1-kb HindIII fragment, respectively. The map of pTK159 was compared with published maps of amikacin-resistance determinants and transposons.

Amikacin↗