BDMC could reduce BACE1 mRNA and protein levels, while DMC only affected BACE1 mRNA expression. Our data indicate selleck chemicals llc that the anti-amyloidogenic effect of Cur may be mediated through the modulation of APP, while the anti-amyloidogenic effect of BDMC may be mediated through the modulation of BACE1. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: We evaluated urinary nerve growth factor as a predictive factor for persistent detrusor overactivity

after bladder outlet obstruction relief in a rat model.

Materials and Methods: A total of 50 female Sprague-Dawleyarm rats were divided into 2 groups, including 10 sham operated controls and 40 with bladder outlet obstruction. Obstruction was induced this website by partial urethral ligation and relieved by ligation removal after 3 weeks. Voided urine was collected before bladder outlet obstruction at time 1, 3 weeks after obstruction onset at time 2 and 3 weeks after obstruction

relief at time 3. Cystometry was done in awake rats at times 2 and 3. Bladder tissue was harvested at time 3. Urinary and bladder tissue nerve growth factor was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with results adjusted based on creatinine concentration.

Results: In 16 rats in which detrusor overactivity disappeared after bladder outlet obstruction relief (group 1) urinary nerve growth factor/creatinine significantly increased from time 1 to 2 and significantly decreased from time 2 to 3 (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively). In 8 rats with persistent detrusor overactivity despite obstruction removal (group 2) urinary nerve growth factor/creatinine significantly

increased from time 1 to 2 but did not change from time 2 to 3 (p = 0.012 and 0.123, respectively). These rats with persistent detrusor overactivity also had significantly higher urinary nerve growth factor/creatinine Farnesyltransferase at time 1 than controls and group 1 (p = 0.015 and 0.005, respectively).

Conclusions: Changes in urinary nerve growth factor may reflect detrusor overactivity, as diagnosed on 2 consecutive cystometries. Increased urinary nerve growth factor before bladder outlet obstruction may predict persistent detrusor overactivity after obstruction relief.”
“In the clinical literature there are few specific studies about the relationship between cognition processes and sleep during childhood. In addition, milder deficits in general intellectual capacity have received less attention relative to major cognitive dysfunctions (such as the genetic or environmental basis of mental retardation), especially concerning the low normal and borderline status. Sleep could play a key role in multiple intellectual abilities such as memory, executive functions, and school performances.

This study examines the relation of gestational and postnatal exposure to chlordecone to infant development at 18 months of age in a birth-cohort of Guadeloupean children. In a prospective longitudinal study

conducted in Guadeloupe (Timoun motherchild cohort study), exposure this website to chlordecone was measured at birth from an umbilical cord blood sample (n = 141) and from a breast milk sample collected at 3 months postpartum (n = 75). Toddlers were assessed using an adapted version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. Higher chlordecone concentrations in cord blood were associated with poorer fine motor scores. When analyses were conducted separately for boys and girls, this effect was only observed among click here boys. These results suggest that prenatal exposure to chlordecone is associated with specific impairments in fine motor function in boys, and add to the growing evidence that exposure to organochlorine pesticides early in life impairs child development. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: The purposes of this study were to confirm previously found candidate epithelial ovarian cancer biomarkers in urine and to compare a paired serum biomarker panel and a urine biomarker panel from the same study cohort with regard to the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) area under the ROC curve (AUC) values.

Experimental design: Four significant

urine biomarkers were confirmed Megestrol Acetate among 130 pelvic mass patients in the present study. The four biomarkers form a potential urine biomarker panel. From the same study cohort, the potential urine biomarker panel was compared to a serum biomarker panel, consisting of seven proteins/peptides, OvaRI.

Results: Multivariate analysis of the urine panel demonstrated a significant differentiation

(p<0.0001) between epithelial ovarian cancer patients and patients with benign ovarian pelvic masses. The ROC AUC of the urine panel was 0.84 and the ROC AUC of OvaRI was 0.83. Combining the urine panel with OvaRI demonstrated a significant contribution from both, for urine peaks, OR = 2.12 and for OvaRI, OR = 1.39; the ROC AUC of this model was 0.88.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: We demonstrated that both urine and serum can be used individually or in combination to potentially aid in ovarian cancer diagnostics. Urine proteomic profiling could provide biomarkers for the non-invasive test required in clinical practice.”
“Antofine, a phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid derived from Cryptocaryachinensis and Ficusseptica in the Asclepiadaceae milkweed family, is cytotoxic for various cancer cell lines. In this study, we demonstrated that treatment of rat primary astrocytes with antofine induced dose-dependent inhibition of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC), as assessed by scrape-loading 6-carboxyfluorescein dye transfer. Levels of Cx43 protein were also decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner following antofine treatment.

Kinetics of ion release from the fibers (Mg, Fe, and Si) revealed different ion removal pathways. Tremolite was poorly affected. Chrysotile preferentially released cations up to a plateau, with physical and biochemical forces acting competitively. Conversely, for balangeroite, upon which weathering forces acted synergistically, Nec-1s research buy the initial loss of ions facilitated further dissolution and more Si than

Mg was released, suggesting an ongoing collapse of the crystal structure. Depletion of redox-reactive ions produced a significant reduction in fiber-derived OH radicals (EPR, spin-trapping technique), but the fibrous nature was always retained. Despite weathered fibers appearing less toxic than stored/laboratory ones, NOA is to be considered far from safe because of fibrous nature and residual surface reactivity. Risk assessment needs to consider the effect of weathering on exposures. Both tremolite and balangeroite may contaminate, in some areas, chrysotile asbestos.

However, in contrast to tremolite, balangeroite exhibits a low ecopersistence, similar to chrysotile behavior. Any contribution of balangeroite to chrysotile toxicity will thus be related to its quantitative occurrence and PF477736 molecular weight not to higher structural stability.”
“The influence of physicochemical properties of nine model compounds on lag time, skin deposition, and percutaneous penetration was evaluated. Static diffusion NCT-501 ic50 cells mounted with human skin were used as the experimental model, and experiments were carried out in accordance with Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines. The model compounds were chosen to cover a wide spectrum of solubilities and molecular weights. The pesticides included were glyphosate, dimethoate, pirimicarb, malathion, paclobutrazol, methiocarb, prochloraz, and benzoic acid, with the ninth model compound being caffeine. The fastest dermal penetration was observed for compounds with log Pow values between 1.5 and

4. Malathion did not fit into this generalization. No clear relationship was observed between molecular weight and Kp values. The shortest lag time was observed for the most hydrophilic model compounds. With increasing molecular weight, the lag time rose. Thus, the lag time for the smallest model compound was close to 1.5 h, while the lag time exceeded 20 h for a model compound with a molecular weight of 377 g. A difference in lag time of this magnitude inevitably produces differences in the amounts of a chemical able to penetrate the skin within a limited period of time. The relative deposition in the skin was highest for the lipophilic model compounds. For log Pow values between -1 and 2, a linear relationship was observed between log Pow and log Kp. Comparisons between theoretical Kp values based on the Potts-Guy equation and experimental Kp values demonstrated good agreement.

“
“Enhanced brain reward function could contribute to resilience to trauma. Reward circuitry in active duty, resilient special forces (SF) soldiers was evaluated using functional magnetic resonance imaging during a monetary incentive delay task. Findings in this group of resilient individuals revealed unique patterns of activation during expectation of reward in the subgenual prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens area, regions pivotal to reward processes. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.”
“CD4(+) T helper (Th) cells play an instrumental role in orchestrating adaptive immune responses

to invading pathogens through their ability to differentiate into specialized effector subsets. Part of this customized response requires the development of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, 3-deazaneplanocin A mouse which provide help to B cells for the generation of germinal centers (GCs) and long-term protective humoral responses. Although initially viewed as terminally differentiated, we now recognize that Th cell selleck compound subsets, including Tfh cells, display substantial flexibility and overlap in their characteristics. In this review, we highlight advances in our understanding of Tfh cell development,

cytokine production, and the potential plasticity that allows Tfh cells to possess characteristics of other effector Th cell populations.”
“Endothelin-1 (ET-1) stimulates vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) expression, a process associated with arterial remodelling. However, the pathways activated by ET-1 that lead to VCAM-1 expression are not fully understood. It is reported that sphingomyelinases are necessary for VCAM-1 expression in response to cytokines. Our aim was to investigate the role of sphingomyelinases in ET-1-induced VCAM-1 expression. Acid and neutral sphingomyelinase activities were measured in extracts from rat mesenteric small arteries (RMSA). ET-1 (1-100 nmol/l) stimulated neutral but not acid sphingomyelinase. The activation was rapid, peaking within 5 min and transient, returning towards baseline by 10 min and inhibited by BQ-788, GW4869

and SB203580, which are inhibitors of ETB receptor, neutral sphingomyelinase and p38MAPK, respectively. Both GW4869 and SB203580 Blasticidin S are reported to inhibit activation of neutral sphingomyelinase 2 implicating it in the response to ET-1. Accordingly we investigated the expression of this isoform and found it was present in RMSA, predominantly in endothelial cells. Treatment of RMSA with ET-1 (1-100 nmol/) for 16 h increased VCAM-1 expression, which was inhibited by GW4869 and SB203580. These results indicate that ET-1 stimulates arterial VCAM-1 expression through p38MAPK-dependent activation of neutral sphingomyelinases. This suggests a role for sphingolipids in ET-1-induced vascular inflammation in cardiovascular disease. Copyright (C) 2012 S.

(C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background. Falls are common in older people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and are likely to be related to gait disturbances associated with the condition. Although several Studies have evaluated differences in basic gait parameters in people with PD, none have directly evaluated the stability of the upper body during gait.

Methods. Temporospatial gait parameters and acceleration https://www.selleckchem.com/products/nct-501.html patterns at the head and pelvis were measured in three groups of older people: 33 controls without PD (mean age 67 +/- 4 years), 33 older people with PD and no history of falls (mean age 63 +/- 4 years),

and 33 older people with PD and a history of falls selleck chemicals llc (mean age 67 +/- 2 years). Harmonic ratios of head and pelvis accelerations in each plane were calculated to provide an indicator Of upper body stability.

Results.

Compared with the control group, older people with PD exhibited significantly reduced walking speed and step length and increased step timing variability. Acceleration patterns were also significantly less rhythmic at the head and pelvis in all three planes. After adjusting for differences in walking speed and step timing variability, PD fallers exhibited significantly less rhythmic accelerations at the pelvis in the vertical and anteroposterior planes than PD nonfallers.

Conclusions. Acceleration patterns during gait differ between older people with and without PD and between older people with PD Who do and do not fall. These findings EPZ-6438 solubility dmso suggest that an inability to control displacements of the torso when walking may predispose older people with PD to falls.”
“Choice is highly valued in modern society, from the supermarket to the hospital; however, it remains unknown whether older and younger adults place the same value on increased choice. The current investigation tested whether

53 older (M age = 75.44 years) versus 53 younger adults (M age = 19.58 years) placed lower value on increased choice by examining the monetary amounts they were willing to pay for increased prescription drug coverage options-important given the recently implemented Medicare prescription drug program. Results indicate that older adults placed lower value on increasing choice sets relative to younger adults, who placed progressively higher value on increasingly larger choice sets. These results are discussed regarding their implications for theory and policy.”
“We investigated the immunohistochemical localization of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (GAL) in the brain of the masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou in order to clarify the interaction between these neuropeptide hormones in the brain. NPY-immunoreactive (ir) cell bodies were observed in the ventral and lateral regions of the ventral telencephalon (Vv and VI, respectively), and in the dorsolateral midbrain tegmentum.

Methods: Patients presenting with symptoms or functional arteriovenous fistula (AVF)

problems and aneurysmal enlargement of the outflow vein were evaluated with duplex ultrasound scans. Dilatation to more than three times the native vessel diameter was considered aneurysmal. Pseudoaneurysms were excluded from the study. Patients’ demographics, aneurysm characteristics (diameter, location, thrombus, association with stenosis, and outflow obstruction), symptoms, Wortmannin type of treatment, and follow-up were recorded.

Results: Twenty-three patients with a mean age of 55 years were found to have 29 upper extremity aneurysms of the outflow vein on duplex ultrasound scan. Nine patients (39%) had radiocephalic, 11 patients (48%) had brachiocephalic, 2 patients (9%) had

brachiobasilic, and 1 patient (4%) had radiobasilic arteriovenous fistula. The average aneurysm size was 3.3 cm and the mean time from fistula placement to treatment was 47.1 months. Four patients (17%) were asymptomatic and were repaired due to technical and mechanical SC79 cell line problems with AVFs, including stenosis and lack of normal vein for cannulation, compromising continued use. Nineteen patients (83%) presented with symptoms, including pain (48%), skin changes (30%), venous hypertension (22%), steal syndrome (22%), and high output failure (9%). Four patients (17%) were found to have outflow vein stenosis, 2 patients (9%) had central venous

stenosis, and 2 patients (9%) had central venous occlusion. In 13 patients (56%) who had a functioning kidney transplant, the fistula was ligated with or without aneurysm excision. Three of the 13 patients developed superficial phlebitis with 1 patient requiring surgical evacuation of a clot; the other 2 patients were managed conservatively. Two of the 13 patients required creation of new access due to renal transplant failure. In the remaining 10 patients, the aneurysm was treated and the fistula salvaged due to a persistent need for hemodialysis. The median follow-up of these patients was 19 months ranging from 8 to 25 months. CHIR-99021 molecular weight Seven patients (30%) underwent excision and repair with the great saphenous vein and 3 patients (13%) had excision and repair with prosthetic material, 2 of which underwent central venous angioplasty and stenting. Two patients developed thrombosis of their repair requiring new access in the contralateral arm. Three patients needed secondary percutaneous interventions for anastomotic stenosis.

Conclusion: Although true aneurysms in patients with dialysis access are uncommon, significant complications may occur as a consequence of their presence. These complications can be treated and the fistulas can usually be salvaged. (J Vasc Surg 2011;53:1291-7.)”
“It was previously demonstrated that diet potently modulates the toxic effects of an acute lethal dose of the nerve agent soman.

62, standard error [SE] = 0.18, p < .001), increased bronchodilator use (beta = 10.60, SE = 2.64, p < .001), worse asthma quality

of life (beta = -0.91, SE = 0.23, p < .001), and worse asthma self-efficacy (beta = -59.56, SE = 13.59, p < .001) after the adjustment for covariates. Separate sensitivity analyses including major depressive disorder and asthma self-efficacy as additional covariates rendered many of these associations nonsignificant. There were no associations IWR-1 ic50 between GAD and emergency visits or hospitalizations. Conclusions: GAD is associated with worse asthma morbidity independent of age, sex, smoking, and asthma severity; however, comorbid major depressive disorder and low asthma self-efficacy may account for many of these associations. Only breathlessness and the frequency of bronchodilator use were uniquely associated with GAD. Future research should examine whether treatment of GAD can affect asthma outcomes.”
“Objectives: Despite improvements in the management of blunt thoracic aortic injury, mortality remains high. We report our experience with blunt thoracic aortic injury at a level 1 trauma center over the past 15 years.

Methods: Between January 1, 1997, and check details January 1, 2012, data on 338 patients who presented with suspected

blunt thoracic aortic injury were entered into the University of Texas Medical School at Houston Trauma Center Registry. A total of 175 patients (52%) underwent thoracic aortic repair; 29 (17%) had open repair with aortic crossclamping, 77 (44%) had open repair with distal aortic perfusion, and 69 (39%) had thoracic endovascular

aortic repair. Outcomes were determined, including early mortality, morbidity, length of stay, and late survival. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to compute adjusted estimates for the effects of the operative technique.

Results: The early mortality for all patients with blunt thoracic aortic injury was 41%(139/338). Early mortality was 17% (27/175) for operative aortic interventions, 4% (3/69) for thoracic endovascular aortic repairs, 31% (11/29) for open repairs with aortic crossclamping, and 14%(11/77) for Selleckchem BIBF 1120 open repairs with distal aortic perfusion. Survival for thoracic endovascular aortic repair at 1 year and 5 years was 92% and 87%, respectively. Survival for open repair at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years was 76%, 75%, 72%, and 68%, respectively.

Conclusions: Blunt thoracic aortic injury remains associated with significant early mortality. Delayed selective management, when applied with open repair with distal aortic perfusion and the use of thoracic endovascular aortic repair, has been associated with improved early outcomes. The long-term durability of thoracic endovascular aortic repair is unknown, necessitating close radiographic follow-up. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2013; 145: S154-8)”
“Objectives: To build upon prior research on stress-related breathing pattern changes in asthma.

Also, when rats were electrically kindled to class V seizure activity, subsequent infusion of AAV-FIB-GAL proved capable of significantly elevating

the seizure initiation threshold. Thus, these studies clearly demonstrate the anti-seizure effectiveness of AAV vector-mediated expression and constitutive secretion of galanin.”
“While the smallpox vaccine, Dryvax or Dryvax-derived ACAM2000, holds potential for public immunization against the spread of smallpox by bioterror, there is serious concern about Dryvax-mediated side effects. learn more Here, we report that a single-dose vaccination regimen comprised of Dryvax and an antiviral agent, cidofovir, could reduce vaccinia viral loads after vaccination and significantly control Dryvax vaccination side effects. However, coadministration of cidofovir and Dryvax also reduced vaccine-elicited

immune responses of antibody and T effector cells despite the fact that the reduced priming could be boosted as a recall response after monkeypox virus challenge. Evaluations of four different aspects of vaccine efficacy showed that coadministration Defactinib of cidofovir and Dryvax compromised the Dryvax-induced immunity against monkeypox, although the covaccinated monkeys exhibited measurable protection against monkeypox compared to that of naive controls. Thus, the single-dose coadministration of cidofovir and Dryvax effectively controlled vaccination side effects but significantly compromised vaccine-elicited immune responses and vaccine-induced immunity to monkeypox.”
“Retrospective studies suggest that precipitating events such as prolonged seizures, stroke, or head trauma increase the risk of developing epilepsy later in life. The process LEE011 solubility dmso of epilepsy development, known as epileptogenesis, is associated with changes in the expression of a myriad of genes. One of the major challenges for the epilepsy research community has been to determine which of these changes contributes to epileptogenesis, which may be compensatory, and which may be noncontributory. Establishing this for any given

gene is essential if it is to be considered a therapeutic target for the prevention or treatment of epilepsy. Our laboratories have examined alterations in gene expression related to inhibitory neurotransmission that have been proposed as contributing factors in epileptogenesis. The GABA A receptor mediates most fast synaptic inhibition, and changes in GABA A receptor subunit expression and function have been reported in adult animals beginning immediately after prolonged seizures (status epilepticus [SE]) and continue as animals become chronically epileptic. Prevention of GABA A receptor subunit changes after SE using viral gene transfer inhibits development of epilepsy in an animal model, suggesting that these changes directly contribute to epileptogenesis.

Cisplatin-induced apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and altered mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in HEI-OC1 cells

were observed. KR-22332 significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced apoptosis, change of MMP, and intracellular ROS generation. KR-22332 markedly attenuated the cisplatin-induced loss and changes of auditory neuromasts in the zebrafish. Transtympanic administration of KR-22332 in a rat model was protective against cisplatin-induced hearing Tubastatin A manufacturer loss, as determined by click-evoked auditory brainstem response (p < 0.01). Tissue terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling of rat cochlea demonstrated that KR-22332 blocked cisplatin-induced apoptosis. In addition, transtympanic administration of KR-22332 inhibited cisplatin-induced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase 3 (NOX3) overexpression in the rat cochlea. KR-22332 significantly reduced the expression of p-53, mitogen-activated protein kinases, caspase 3, and tumor necrosis factor-a compared to their significant increase eFT-508 research buy after cisplatin treatment. The results of this study suggest that KR-22332 may prevent ototoxicity caused by the administration of cisplatin through the inhibition of mitochondrial

dysfunction and the suppression of ROS generation. These novel findings implicate KR-22332 as a potential candidate for protective agent against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. (C) 2012 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common neuropsychiatric condition. Although a variety of pharmaceutical agents is available for the treatment of OCD, psychiatrists often find that many patients cannot tolerate the side effects of these medications: do not respond properly to the treatment; or the medications lose their effectiveness after a period of treatment. Herbal medicine can be a solution

to some of these problems. In fact many herbs with psychotropic effects exist which can have fewer side effects. They can provide an alternative treatment or be used to enhance the effectiveness of conventional buy Poziotinib anti-obsessive and compulsive symptoms. Silybum marianum (L) Gaertn. is a well-known medicinal plant with a long history of usage in Iran. This plant is reported to be safe on humans. Our objective in this study was to compare the efficacy of the extract of S. marianum (L) with fluoxetine in the treatment of OCD. The study was an 8-week pilot double-blind randomized trial. Thirty five adult outpatients who met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for OCD based on the structured clinical interview participated in the trial. The minimum score of Yale-Brown Scale for OCD was 21 for all patients. In this double-blind and randomized trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive either capsule of the extract (600 mg/day) or fluoxetine (30 mg/day) for 8 weeks. The results showed no significant difference between the extract and fluoxetine in the treatment of OCD.

Using haplotype VII, we investigated the A3H anti-HIV-1 mechanism. We found that A3H virion packaging is independent of its CDD but dependent on a (YYXW115)-Y-112 motif. This motif binds HIV-1 nucleocapsid in an RNA-dependent manner, and a single Y112A mutation Veliparib solubility dmso completely disrupts A3H virion incorporation. We further studied the mechanism of A3H resistance to Vif. Although the previously identified APOBEC3G Vif-responsive motif (DPDY131)-D-128 is not conserved in A3H, placement of this motif into A3H does not make it become less resistant to HIV-1 Vif. We conclude that stably expressed A3H haplotypes may be more broadly distributed in humans than

previously realized, and A3H protein is resistant to Vif. These results have important implications for the role of A3H in retrotransposon and HIV-1 inhibition.”
“This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) against oxidative stress induced by kainic acid (KA) in organotypic hippocampal slice culture of

rats. Cultured slices were injured by exposure SC75741 to 5 mu M of KA for 18 h and then treated with different concentrations of CoQ10. Neuronal cell death measured as propidium iodide uptake was reduced at 24 h after treatment with 1 mu M of CoQ10. We also observed an increased number of surviving CA3 neurons in 0.1 and 1 mu M concentrations of CoQ10-treated groups using cresyl violet staining. CoQ10 (0.01, 0.1, and 1 H 89 in vivo mu M) treatment significantly decreased the

2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence and the expression of NQO1 in the CoQ10-treated groups was significantly lower than that in the KA-only group. These results suggest that CoQ10 may protect hippocampal neurons against oxidative stress. NeuroReport 22:721-726 (C) 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“For most paramyxoviruses, virus type-specific interaction between fusion (F) protein and attachment protein (hemagglutinin-neuraminidase [HN], hemagglutinin [H], or glycoprotein [G]) is a prerequisite for mediating virus-cell fusion and cell-cell fusion. Our previous cell-cell fusion assay using the chimeric F proteins of human parainfluenza virus 2 (HPIV2) and simian virus 41 (SV41) suggested that the middle region of the HPIV2 F protein contains the site(s) that determines its specificity for the HPIV2 HN protein. In the present study, we further investigated the sites of the F protein that could be critical for determining the HN protein specificity. By analyzing the reported structure of the F protein of parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5), we found that four major domains (M1, M2, M3, and M4) and five minor domains (A to E) in the middle region of the PIV5 F protein were exposed on the trimer surface. We then replaced these domains with the SV41 F counterparts individually or in combination and examined whether the resulting chimeras could mediate cell-cell fusion when coexpressed with the SV41 HN protein.