Faculty Bibliography

Many eukaryotic proteins share a sequence designated as the zona pellucida (ZP) domain. This structural element, present in extracellular proteins from a wide variety of organisms, from nematodes to mammals, consists of approximately 260 amino acids with eight conserved cysteine (Cys) residues and is located close to the C terminus of the polypeptide. ZP domain proteins are often glycosylated, modular structures consisting of multiple types of domains. Predictions can be made about some of the structural features of the ZP domain and ZP domain proteins. The functions of ZP domain proteins vary tremendously, from serving as structural components of egg coats, appendicularian mucous houses, and nematode dauer larvae, to serving as mechanotransducers in flies and receptors in mammals and nonmammals. Generally, ZP domain proteins are present in filaments and/or matrices, which is consistent with the role of the domain in protein polymerization. A general mechanism for assembly of ZP domain proteins has been presented. It is likely that the ZP domain plays a common role despite its presence in proteins of widely diverse functions.

Recent findings regarding pathways of stem/progenitor cell involvement in adult blood vessel growth (postnatal vasculogenesis) suggest new theories for the pathogenesis of vascular anomalies. The somatic growth of vascular malformations and the mysterious pattern of proliferation and involution in infantile hemangioma can no longer be purely understood through the paradigm of angiogenesis. Molecular signals for postnatal vasculogenesis are being discovered in numerous animal models of cancer and ischemia, yet little research has addressed the importance of vasculogenesis in the growth of vascular anomalies. In this review, we discuss early studies that have investigated stem/progenitor cell involvement in the pathophysiology of infantile hemangioma and other congenital vascular anomalies

BACKGROUND: Duodenal diverticuli are present in up to 22% of the population. However, perforation of a duodenal diverticulum with spillage of enteric contents into the retroperitoneum is rare. METHODS: We report three cases of perforated duodenal diverticulitis. RESULTS: Clinical presentations varied widely from patients with acute abdominal findings and generalized sepsis to a patient with mild symptoms of abdominal discomfort. CT scanning was the imaging modality used to make an accurate diagnosis. Treatment approaches for the most stable patient included nonoperative management with antibiotics, bowel rest and parenteral alimentation, while the less stable patients underwent definitive surgery with complete diversion of gastric contents and biliary flow from the affected area of duodenum. CONCLUSIONS: This report highlights the salient issues in the presentation, diagnosis and modern management of patients with this potentially catastrophic disease

The brain is a remarkably complex anatomical structure that contains a diverse array of subdivisions, cell types, and synaptic connections. It is equally extraordinary in its physiological properties, as it constantly evaluates and integrates external stimuli as well as controls a complicated internal environment. The brain can be divided into three primary broad regions: the forebrain, midbrain (Mb), and hindbrain (Hb), each of which contain further subdivisions. The regions considered in this chapter are the Mb and most-anterior Hb (Mb/aHb), which are derived from the mesencephalon (mes) and rhombomere 1 (r1), respectively. The dorsal Mb consists of the laminated superior colliculus and the globular inferior colliculus (Fig. 1A and B), which modulate visual and auditory stimuli, respectively. The dorsal component of the aHb is the highly foliated cerebellum (Cb), which is primarily attributed to controlling motor skills (Fig. 1A and B). In contrast, the ventral Mb/aHb (Fig. 1B) consists of distinct clusters of neurons that together comprise a network of nuclei and projections-notably, the Mb dopaminergic and Hb serotonergic and Mb/aHb cholinergic neurons (Fig. 1G and H), which modulate a collection of behaviors, including movement, arousal, feeding, wakefulness, and emotion. Historically, the dorsal Mb and Cb have been studied using the chick as a model system because of the ease of performing both cell labeling and tissue transplants in the embryo in ovo; currently DNA electroporation techniques are also used. More recently the mouse has emerged as a powerful genetic system with numerous advantages to study events underpinning Mb/aHb development. There is a diverse array of spontaneous mutants with both Mb- and Cb-related phenotypes. In addition, numerous gene functions have been enumerated in mouse, gene expression is similar across vertebrates, and powerful genetic tools have been developed. Finally, additional insight into Mb/aHb function has been gained from studies of genetic diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, cancer, and Dandy Walker syndrome, that afflict the Mb/aHb in humans and have genetic counterparts in mouse. Accordingly, this chapter discusses a spectrum of experiments, including classic embryology, in vitro assays, sophisticated genetic methods, and human diseases. We begin with an overview of Mb and aHb anatomy and physiology and mes/r1 gene expression patterns. We then provide a summary of fate-mapping studies that collectively demonstrate the complex cell behaviors that occur while the Mb and aHb primordia are established during embryogenesis and discuss the integration of both anterior-posterior (A-P) and dorsal-ventral (D-V) patterning. Finally, we describe some aspects of postnatal development and some of the insights gained from human diseases

It is demonstrated that in a one-dimensional Ising chain with nearest-neighbor interactions, irradiated by a weak resonant transverse field, a stimulated wave of flipped spins can be triggered by a flip of a single spin. This analytically solvable model illustrates mechanisms of quantum amplification and quantum measurement.

Pseudopure "cat" state, a superposition of quantum states with all spins up and all spins down, is experimentally demonstrated for a system of 12 dipolar-coupled nuclear spins of fully C-13-labeled benzene molecule oriented in a liquid-crystalline matrix. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.