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A study characterizing the role of Drosophila JIL-1 mediated H3 at Ser10 phosphorylation in transcription is presented by establishing that JIL-1 is required for the transcription of the majority of Drosophila genes.

The effect of hand muscle mechanical vibration on the somatosensory potential (SEP) evoked by median nerve stimulation, was investigated in 10 healthy subjects. A marked decrease in the amplitude of the N17, N20 and P25 components of the cerebral SEP was observed, while the S11 and S13 components of the cervical response did not change. The amplitude reduction of the SEP components was larger when low frequency vibration was used. Recordings performed after cooling the hand further suggest that the reduction of the amplitude of the SEP components induced by vibration is likely to depend on activation of muscle receptors. These findings could reflect an interaction between limniscal and spino-cerebellar inputs, possibly occurring at the thalamo-cortical levels, a concept compatible with the hypothesis that muscle spindle afferents do contribute to kinaesthesia or position-sense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initial energy (IE) of 200 J or greater is recommended for external electrical cardioversion (EC) of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) with monophasic waveform (MW). Devices that deliver current with a biphasic waveform (BW) appear to achieve EC at lower energy levels than that use a MW. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of several factors (age, body-weight, ejection fraction, left atrial diameter, AF duration) on the results of EC with BW. 105 patients (pts) (59 male and 46 female, mean age 70 ± 8 yrs) underwent EC. Before EC, all pts were treated with oral anticoagulant for 4 weeks until the INR value achieved between 2.5 and 3, and with different antiarrhythmic drugs (sotalol, propafenone, flecainide, amiodarone). EC was done under general anaesthesia, in the presence of anaesthetist. The initial energy used for the first shock was 50 J/100 J, increasing up to 150-200 J, if the first shock unsuccessful (protocol 50/100J to 150-200 J). Reversion of AF to sinus rhythm was obtained in 92 % of the pts. Correlated with shock energy of 50 J, 100 J, 150 J, 200 J, the successful CE was found for the body-weight 69 ± 5, 70 ± 12, 78 ± 4 and 80 ± 9 kg, respectively. There was no statistical different between the four groups, regarding age, left atrial diameter, ventricular systolic function, duration of arrhythmia. In conclusion, an IE of 50 J could be used in pts weighing ⊂ 75 kg, an IE of 100 J could be used in pts with weight ⊇ 75 but ⊆ 82 kg, while for pts with a weight ⊃ 82 kg an IE of 150 J should be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]