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DNA methylation is highly sensitive to in utero perturbations and has an established role in both embryonic development and regulation of gene expression. The foetal genetic component has been previously shown to contribute significantly to the timing of birth, yet little is known about the identity and behaviour of individual genes. The aim of this study was to test the extent genome-wide DNA methylation levels in umbilical cord blood were associated with gestational age at birth (GA). Findings were validated in an independent sample and evidence for the regulation of gene expression was evaluated for cis gene relationships in specimens with multi-omic data. Genome-wide DNA methylation, measured by the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450 K BeadChip, was associated with GA for 2,372 CpG probes (5% FDR) in both the Pregnancy, Race, Environment, Genes (PREG) and Newborn Epigenetic Study (NEST) cohorts. Significant probes mapped to 1,640 characterized genes and an association with nearby gene expression measures obtained by the Affymetrix HG-133A microarray was found for 11 genes. Differentially methylated positions were enriched for actively transcribed and enhancer chromatin states, were predominately located outside of CpG islands, and mapped to genes enriched for inflammation and innate immunity ontologies. In both PREG and NEST, the first principal component derived from these probes explained approximately one-half (58.1% and 47.8%, respectively) of the variation in GA. Gene pathways identified are consistent with the hypothesis of pathogen detection and response by the immune system to elicit premature labour as a consequence of unscheduled inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological basis underlying cognitive dysfunction in women with early-stage breast cancer (BC) remains unclear, but could reflect gene expression changes that arise from the acquisition and long-term retention of soma-wide alterations in DNA methylation in response to chemotherapy. In this longitudinal study, we identified differences in peripheral methylation patterns present in women prior to treatment (T1) and 1 year after receiving chemotherapy (T4) and evaluated relationships among the differential methylation (DM) ratios with changes in cognitive function. A total of 58 paired (T1 and T4) blood specimens were evaluated. Methylation values were determined for DNA isolated from whole blood using a genome-wide array. Cognitive function was measured using the validated, computerized CNS Vital Signs platform. Relationships between methylation patterns and cognitive domain scores were compared using a stepwise linear regression analysis, with demographic variables as covariates. The symptom comparison analysis was restricted to 2,199 CpG positions showing significant methylation ratio changes between T1 and T4. The positions with DM were enriched for genes involved in the modulation of cytokine concentrations. Significant DM ratios were associated with memory domain (56 CpGs). Eight of the ten largest DM ratio changes associated with lack of memory improvement were localized to genes involved in either neural function (ECE2, PPFIBP2) or signalling processes (USP6NL, RIPOR2, KLF5, UBE2V1, DGKA, RPS6KA1). These results suggest that epigenetic changes acquired and retained for at least one year in non-tumour cells following chemotherapy may be associated with a lack of memory improvement following treatment in BC survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the Association of Research Libraries' pilot project on client assessment of library service quality using a modified version of the ServQUAL instrument called LibQUAL+. Participating academic libraries; Preparation of a customized front-end Web page for the general survey; Addition of two dimensions to the original ServQUAL instrument.

Discusses LibQUAL+, a performance assessment tool for research and academic libraries in the United States. Origins in the SERVQUAL instrument; Affect of service; Reliability; Library as place; Provision of physical collections; Access to information; User perception of library quality at multiple levels.

Presents results of Texas A&M University's experience administering SERVQUAL as a performance assessment tool for research and academic libraries in the United States. Measurement of the difference between customers' minimum expectations and their perceptions of those services as delivered; Five customer-valued dimensions of service.

Objectives. To assess flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in women with preeclampsia (PE) versus gestational hypertension (GH) and to determine if results of this ultra-sound method vary with modifications to the technique. Methods. Pregnant women with hypertension (BP > 140/90 mmHg) were recruited. Women were allocated to the PE group if they had proteinuria >300 mg/24 h. FMD0 was calculated from the percentage difference in baseline and post-occlusion (PO) diameter at 45-60 s and FMDmax from baseline and maximum diameter between 45 and 90 s. FMDmax was adjusted for hematocrit and shear rate. Results. FMD° (m ± SD) was similar (p = 0.83) in the no medication GH (5.3 ± 3.2; n = 15) and the PE (6.5 ± 4.1; n = 13) groups. FMD0 was reduced (p < 0.001) in the medication GH (3.7 ± 2.8; n = 23) versus the PE (8.8 ± 4.3; n = 25) groups. For FMDmax the interaction between group and medication was not sig-nificant (both p = 0.08) in unadjusted analysis or analysis adjusted for covariates hematocrit (p = 0.023) and shear rate (p = 0.007). Means averaged over medication are presented. FMDmax was reduced (p < 0.0001) in the GH (5.7 ± 4.0; n = 38) versus the PE group (9.2 ± 4.0; n = 38). Of the PE women, 79% (30/38) reached maximum dilatation by 90 s compared with 63% (24/38) of the GH women (chi-square, p = 0.16). Conclusions. The FMDmax analysis revealed reduced FMD in GH women compared with PE women. We therefore hypothesize that PE may be a different disease to GH. Our work demon-strates differing results in FMD° and FMDmax because of modifications in the tech-nique. Previous work on PE and FMD may not be definitive due to this evolving technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop normal ranges of endothelial function in normal human pregnancy to use as a screening test for preeclampsia. Methods: In this longitudinal study, women were studied five times during pregnancy and once postpartum using flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). FMD is a noninvasive ultrasound technique used to assess endothelial function. Healthy nonpregnant women were controls. Results: FMD increased non-significantly in pregnancy until 32 weeks, when it decreased significantly at 36+ weeks (n = 47). Conclusion: The fall in FMD in the third trimester has not been previously reported. This indicates the importance of gestational age when assessing FMD as a screening test for preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 25-item LibQUAL+TM protocol has been developed over a series of large-scale studies originally grounded in careful qualitative work. This study for the first time invoked confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate LibQUAL+TM score integrity. Participants were 60,027 undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty from 146 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The results suggest that the model implied by LibQUAL+TM scoring (a) is reasonable, (b) is invariant across independent samples, and (c) fits all 3 major subgroups of library users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven thousand five hundred current periodical titles are housed in the Current Periodicals Department (CPD) of the Sterling C. Evans Library at Texas A&M University. Before 1987 a door guard was posted at the CPD exit to prevent users from leaving the room with periodical issues. When the room was remodeled, security precautions were rescinded for the collection, and users were permitted to take current issues from the CPD proper to read in other locations in the library. A cost analysis is presented of the decision to allow use of current periodicals outside of the CPD. The cost of two alternative security measures is compared to the cost of reshelving, searching, binding and ordering lost and missing issues. Results indicate that the decision to discontinue security in the CPD was a valid one. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A serials inventory project of over 400,000 volumes was undertaken at the Texas A&M University Libraries. The inventory procedure is described. Statistics from the inventory indicate that there is no cause for alarm over expensive serial volumes disappearing from library shelves. The successful completion of the project shows that an inventory of a large serials collection remains a sound method in managing serials collections. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In most cancer cells, the lengths of telomeres, the functional DNA-protein complexes located at chromosome ends, are maintained by the ribonucleoprotein telomerase. Hsp90 facilitates the assembly of telomerase and remains associated with the functional complex, implying a direct involvement of Hsp90 in telomere length regulation. In an effort to elucidate the effects of Hsp90 inhibition on function and viability of human prostate cancer cells, both pharmacological (radicicol) and genetic (small interfering RNA) approaches were utilized to target Hsp90. Depletion of functional Hsp90 caused dramatic telomere shortening followed by apoptosis. Of particular significance, these cells exhibit a high level of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-dependent free radical production, and simultaneous treatment of cells with the NOS inhibitor L-NAME resulted in telomere elongation and prevention of apoptosis. In addition, we observe significant DNA damage assessed by telomere dysfunction, although in the absence of a classical DNA damage response. Overall, our data suggest a novel mechanism whereby inhibition of Hsp90 disrupts free radical homeostasis and contributes directly to telomere erosion, further implicating Hsp90 as a potential therapeutic target for cancer cells [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]