PURPOSE To identify the genetic defect in a large Chinese family with autosomal dominant cerulean cataract. METHODS Genomic DNA and clinical data were collected from the family. Candidate gene sequencing and genome-wide linkage analysis were used to disclose the molecular basis responsible for cerulean cataract in the family. RESULTS Initially, sequencing analysis of the three genes (beta-B...

Lipopolysaccharide-induced CXC chemokine (LIX) is a novel murine neutrophil-chemoattractant CXC chemokine cloned as a glucocorticoid-attenuated response gene. We investigated LIX message expression in an acute endotoxemia model. LIX message peaks later than KC or macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and remains elevated longer in almost all tissues. Induced LIX message expression in heart ...

We present a novel method for estimating tree-structured covariance matrices directly from observed continuous data. Specifically, we estimate a covariance matrix from observations of p continuous random variables encoding a stochastic process over a tree with p leaves. A representation of these classes of matrices as linear combinations of rank-one matrices indicating object partitions is used...

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1), MIP-1α (CCL3) and MIP-1β (CCL4) are chemokines crucial for immune responses towards infection and inflammation. Both MIP-1α and MIP-1β form high-molecular-weight aggregates. Our crystal structures reveal that MIP-1 aggregation is a polymerization process and human MIP-1α and MIP-1β form rod-shaped, double-helical polymers. Biophysical analyses and math...

Fluorescent resonance energy transfer probes targeting the 16S rRNA gene were constructed for a sensitive and specific real-time PCR for identification and differentiation of Legionella pneumophila from other Legionella spp. For identification of non-L. pneumophila spp. by direct amplicon sequencing, two conventional PCR assays targeting the mip gene were established.

We present a novel method for estimating tree-structured covariance matrices directly from observed continuous data. A representation of these classes of matrices as linear combinations of rank-one matrices indicating object partitions is used to formulate estimation as instances of well-studied numerical optimization problems. In particular, we present estimation based on projection where the ...

An objective function often is only a rough approximation of the actual goals of the organization and its stakeholders. Consequently, an optimal solution may be no more interesting than other solutions that provide good values. Beyond this, a set of “good” solutions whose members have diverse characteristics can be significantly more valuable for practical analysis and planning than any single,...

objectives the aim of this study was to investigate the relation between respiratory muscle strength and the severity of chf, and the influence of respiratory muscle strength on abnormal ventilation during exercise in chf patients. conclusions respiratory muscle strength is related to the severity of chf, and associated with rapid and shallow ventilation or excessive ventilation during exercise...

PURPOSE To determine the pattern of expression of CC chemokines and their receptors in the eyes of Lewis rats and to establish their role in autoimmune anterior uveitis (AU) associated with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). METHODS EAE/AU was induced in Lewis rats with myelin basic protein in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The rats were scored for the development of clinical...