We use native gel electrophoresis to characterize complexes that mediate RNA interference (RNAi) in Drosophila. Our data reveal three distinct complexes (R1, R2, and R3) that assemble on short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in vitro. To form, all three complexes require Dicer-2 (Dcr-2), which directly contacts siRNAs in the ATP-independent R1 complex. R1 serves as a precursor to both the R2 and R3 c...

AIM To examine the results of open lacrimal surgery in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. METHODS A retrospective review of patients with Wegener's granulomatosis who underwent lacrimal surgery over a 17 year period. RESULTS 11 patients were identified and a total of 14 primary dacryocystorhinostomies (DCR) and one revisional DCR were performed; symptomatic relief was achieved in 13/14...

This paper presents application of the low Duty Cycle Ratio (DCR) modulations: isochronous Digital Pulse Position Modulation (DPPM) and anisochronous Digital Pulse Interval Modulation (DPIM) in backscatter based passive RFID communication system. The proposed modulations are compared to commonly used Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) modulation. Low DCR modulations are customized for data transmissi...

In this paper we focus our attention on the role of two families of receptors, Toll-like receptors (TLR) and decoy receptors (DcR) involved in the generation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus-like syndromes in human and mouse models. To date, these molecules were described in several autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipids syndrome, bowel inflammation,...

LAY SUMMARY Life threatening trauma and severe hemorrhage are treated using several medical principles called damage control resuscitation (DCR). Red blood cell transfusion is an essential tool in DCR used to address a lack of oxygen delivery the tissues consequent abnormalities human physiology. There numerous challenges accessing stable red products austere remote environments. This article d...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to observe the clinical efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin in combination with gemcitabine or Abraxane as first-line chemotherapy for stage III/IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 200 patients with advanced NSCLC, which was confirmed by pathology or cytology, were enrolled into our research by reviewing previous complete...

PURPOSE To compare success rates of external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) and endoscopic endonasal DCR for acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). DESIGN Retrospective, comparative, nonrandomized clinical study. PARTICIPANTS One hundred forty-three patients (176 surgeries) operated for acquired NLDO. METHODS A review of electronic medical records of patients with acquired NLDO who u...

INTRODUCTION There is limited information published on switching erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) treatment for anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) from darbepoetin alfa (DA) to methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (PEG-Epo) outside the protocol of interventional clinical studies. AFFIRM (Aranesp Efficiency Relative to Mircera) was a retrospective, multi-site, observat...

Double-stranded RNAs can suppress expression of homologous genes through an evolutionarily conserved process named RNA interference (RNAi) or post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). One mechanism underlying silencing is degradation of target mRNAs by an RNP complex, which contains approximately 22 nt of siRNAs as guides to substrate selection. A bidentate nuclease called Dicer has been impl...

Chromosome fragmentation is a hallmark of apoptosis, conserved in diverse organisms. In mammals, caspases activate apoptotic chromosome fragmentation by cleaving and inactivating an apoptotic nuclease inhibitor. We report that inactivation of the Caenorhabditis elegans dcr-1 gene, which encodes the Dicer ribonuclease important for processing of small RNAs, compromises apoptosis and blocks apopt...