Allelic imbalance on chromosome 2q and alterations of the caspase 8 gene in neuroblastoma

We previously reported a high incidence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 2q33 in neuroblastoma (NB), observed in various types of human cancers including lung cancer, head and neck cancer and follicular thyroid carcinoma. To better elucidate the role of chromosome 2q aberrations in NB, we examined common allelic imbalance (AI) regions on chromosome 2q in 82 NB patients using 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers. AI on 2q was detected in 26 (32%) of 82 NB cases. There was a distinct common AI region between the D2S115 and D2S307 markers on 2q33. The distance between these markers was about 2.0 cM. Recently, the caspase 8 and caspase 10 genes, both of which encode cystein protease, were mapped to chromosome 2q33. Since the common AI region on 2q33 includes the caspase 8 and caspase 10 genes, the alterations of these genes were examined further. Absent or reduced expression of caspase 8 and caspase 10 were found in 19 (70%) of 27 and two (7%) of 27 NB cell lines by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. A missense mutation was detected at codon 96, GCT (Alanine) to GTT (Valine), of the caspase 8 gene in one of the NB cell lines lacking caspase 8 expression. Thirteen (68%) of 19 cell lines lacking caspase 8 expression displayed methylation of the CpG island of the caspase 8 gene, whereas only one (13%) of eight cell lines with caspase 8 expression showed caspase 8 methylation (P=0.031). Furthermore, there was a significant association between AI at 2q33 and loss of caspase 8 expression (P=0.026). These results indicated that there was a tumor suppressor gene in the common AI region on chromosome 2q33 involved in the pathogenesis of a subset of NB. It is possible that the caspase 8 gene is one of the candidate tumor suppressor genes for NB and inactivation of this gene plays an important role in the tumorigenesis of NB through mainly its methylation.

Characterization of self-T-cell response and antigenic determinants of U1A protein with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells in NZB x NZW F1 mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by the existence of a heterogeneous group of autoantibodies directed against nuclear intact structures, such as nucleosomes and small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). Autoantibodies against snRNPs are of special interest because they are detectable in the majority of SLE patients. Although the B-cell antigenic determinants have been well characterized, very limited data have been reported in regard to the T-cell epitopes of snRNPs. Furthermore, several studies have demonstrated that determination of the auto-T-cell epitopes recognized by freshly isolated T cells is difficult from unprimed lupus mice when self-antigen-pulsed B cells or macrophages are used as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in vitro. In the present study, we showed a novel approach for determining the auto-T-cell epitopes, using bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) pulsed with the murine U1A protein - an immunodominant antigen of the U1 snRNPs - which is capable of activating freshly isolated T cells from unprimed (NZB x NZW) F1 (BWF1) mice in vitro. The T-cell epitope area was found to be located at the C-terminus of U1A, overlapping the T-cell epitope of human U1A that has been reported in human SLE. Identification of the autoreactive T-cell epitope(s) in snRNPs will help to elucidate how reciprocal T-B determinant spreading of snRNPs emerges in lupus. The results presented here also indicate that it is feasible to use this approach to further explore strategies to design immunotherapy for patients with lupus.

[Hydrogen peroxide augments the injury effect of iron on the isolated rat heart and cardiomyocytes]

By using Langendorff perfused rat heart and enzymatically isolated cardiomyocytes, we investigated the augmented injury effect of iron on the myocardium by hydrogen peroxide and the underlying mechanisms. Cell-permeable iron (Fe-HQ) decreased the contractile amplitude, velocity and end-diastolic cell length of the cardiomyocyte but increased the contents of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) in the coronary effluent and the myocardial malondialdehyde (MDA) while the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), +/-dp/dt(max), heart rate and coronary flow showed biphasic alterations. Hydrogen peroxide augmented the injury effect of iron accompanied by increases of coronary LDH, CK release and myocardial MDA content and decreases of LVDP, +/-dp/dt(max), and heart rate. Reduced glutathione could antagonize the injury effect of iron and hydrogen peroxide on the myocardium while dimethyl sulfoxide had no injury effect on the isolated heart. It is suggested that the functional injury of sulfhydryl group containing proteins may be involved in the augmentation of myocardial injury due to the increase of intracellular iron by hydrogen peroxide, but hydroxyl radicals may not.

The effect of cytokines on the activation-induced apoptosis of B cells in autoimmune NZB x NZW F1 mice

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is an essential process in the development of various tissues and its involvement has been proposed for the elimination of self-reactive immature T and B lymphocytes when self antigens are first encountered. In order to further investigate the role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease, the apoptosis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated B cells, peritoneal cells from NZB x NZW F1 (NZB/W F1) mice and nonautoimmune BALB/c mice were assayed using an in vitro culture system. Splenic B cells were isolated and then stimulated with LPS before further activated with crosslinking antimu antibody. In addition, the apoptosis of peritoneal cells induced by crosslinking antimu antibody was also analyzed. The data revealed that the specific apoptosis of both activated B cells and peritoneal cells induced by crosslinking antimu antibody was very similar comparing NZB/W F1 and nonautoimmune BALB/c mice. This activation-induced B-cells apoptosis could be rescued, however, with the addition of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-5 or IL-10, to the culture. The results suggest that there is no endogenous defect in the apoptosis of activated B cells for autoimmune NZB/W F1 comparing nonautoimmune BALB/c mice. Notably, however, abnormally high levels of the type 2 T helper (Th2)-related cytokines such as IL-5 or IL-10 may play an important role in the abnormal expansion of activated B cells in autoimmune NZB/W F1 mice.

Pulmonary Langerhans' cell histiocytosis: molecular analysis of clonality

Pulmonary Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a form of Langerhans' cell disease that primarily affects smokers in the third to fifth decade. Extrapulmonary manifestations are rare. Its clinical course is typically characterized by stabilization or regression of bilateral micronodular infiltrates seen on chest radiographs; progression to honeycomb fibrosis is rare. Because the clinical course of pulmonary LCH is distinct from systemic multiorgan LCH, currently thought to be a clonal proliferative disorder, we examined the X-linked polymorphic human androgen receptor assay (HUMARA) locus to assess clonality in female patients with one or more discrete LCH cell nodules in open lung biopsies. Langerhans' cells (LCH cells) were excised from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue by microdissection to assure a relatively pure cellular population, and studies for differential methylation patterns at the HUMARA locus were performed. Twenty-four nodules in 13 patients were evaluated. Seven (29%) were clonal and 17 (71%) were nonclonal. Of six cases with multiple discrete nodules, three (50%) showed a nonclonal LCH cell population. In one biopsy with five nodules, two nodules were clonal with one allele inactivated, one nodule was clonal with the other allele inactivated, and two nodules were nonclonal. In contrast to systemic LCH, pulmonary LCH appears to be primarily a reactive process in which nonlethal, nonmalignant clonal evolution of LCH cells may arise in the setting of nonclonal LCH cell hyperplasia. Cigarette smoking may be the stimulus for pulmonary LCH in contrast to other forms of LCH.

Phenotypic characteristics of a distinctive multilayered epithelium suggests that it is a precursor in the development of Barrett's esophagus

A distinctive type of multilayered epithelium (ME) has been described at the neo-squamocolumnar junction and within columnar mucosa in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). This epithelium has morphologic and ultrastructural features of both squamous and columnar epithelium. Multilayered epithelium may represent an early or intermediate stage of columnar metaplasia; therefore, we performed this study to determine the morphologic and biologic characteristics of this epithelium and to gain insight into its derivation. Esophageal mucosal biopsies containing ME from 17 patients with BE were evaluated morphologically, stained with a variety of mucin histochemical stains; and also immunostained with antibodies against cytokeratins (CK) 13 (squamous epithelium marker); 14 (basal squamous epithelium marker) 7, 8/18, 19, and 20 (columnar epithelium markers), MIB-1 (proliferation marker); villin (intestinal brush border protein); and TGFalpha, EGFR, pS2, and hSP (enteric proliferation/differentiation regulatory peptides). The results were compared with normal esophageal squamous epithelium, normal gastric cardia epithelium, specialized-type intestinal epithelium (BE), and esophageal mucosal and submucosal gland duct epithelium. Multilayered epithelium expressed a pattern of mucin production (neutral mucin, sialomucin, and sulfomucin in 88%, 100%, and 71% of cases, respectively) and cytokeratin expression (CK 13 and 19 in the basal "squamoid" cells, CK 7, 8/18, 19, and 20 in the superficial "columnar" cells) similar to that of columnar epithelium in BE, and showed a high capacity for cellular proliferation (Ki-67-positive in 88% of cases) and differentiation (TGFalpha, EGFR, pS2 and villin-positive in 100%, 100%, 93%, and 66% of cases, respectively). The mucosal gland duct epithelium showed a similar phenotypic pattern and, in one case, was seen to give rise to ME at the surface of the mucosa. These data provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that ME represents an early or intermediate stage in the development of esophageal columnar metaplasia (BE). The mucosal gland duct epithelium may contain progenitor cells that can give rise to ME.

[Stimulatory effect of chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) on the growth of bone marrow cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the activity of CKLF1 on the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow cells.

METHODS

Human low density bone marrow cells and mouse bone marrow cells were plated in 96-well microplate and supernatants from transfected COS-7 cell culture were added. The cell proliferation was assayed by MTT method after 5 days incubation. The enhancing effect of CKLF1 on the colony formation of human hematopoietic progenitor cells was identified in semi-solid culture.

RESULTS

CKLF1 has obvious enhancing effect on both human and mouse bone marrow cells, it can stimulate the colony formation of human hematopoietic stem cells and has synergistic action with GM-CSF.

CONCLUSION

CKLF1 can promote the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow cells.

X-ray absorption studies of carbon-related materials

X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) measurements have been performed on nitrogen-doped diamond films with three different dopant concentrations and iron-layer-stabilized carbon nanotube (CNT) structures with various diameters at the C K-absorption edge using the sample drain current mode. The C K-edge XANES spectra of these N-doped diamond films resemble that of the undoped diamond regardless of the dopant concentration, which suggest that the overall bonding configuration of the C atom is unaltered. N dopants are found to reduce the intensities of both the sp2- and sp3-bond-derived resonance features in the XANES spectra. On the other hand, the C K-edge XANES spectra of CNTs indicate that the intensities of the pi* and sigma* bands and the interlayer-state features vary with the diameter of the CNT. This phenomenon may be caused by the Fe-layer-catalysed bending of the graphite sheet and the interaction between C and Fe atoms.

Ascitic fluid carcinoembryonic antigen and alkaline phosphatase levels for the differentiation of primary from secondary bacterial peritonitis with intestinal perforation

BACKGROUND/AIMS

In cirrhotic patients, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) may be difficult to distinguish from secondary peritonitis with occult intestinal perforation; Runyon's criteria (based on ascitic fluid glucose, protein and lactate dehydrogenase levels) are sensitive but not specific. Ascitic fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) are potential markers for secondary peritonitis.

METHODS

Ascitic fluid CEA and AP levels were prospectively compared among three subject groups--cirrhotic patients with sterile ascites, cirrhotic patients with SBP, and patients (cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic) with perforation-related secondary peritonitis.

RESULTS

The secondary peritonitis group (n = 38 including 11 cirrhotic patients) had significantly higher mean CEA and AP levels than the SBP (n = 34) and sterile ascites patients (n = 63). Of secondary peritonitis patients, 92% fulfilled predetermined criteria (either CEA >5 ng/ml or AP >240 units/l) versus only 12% of SBP patients; sensitivity was 92% and specificity 88% for differentiating secondary peritonitis from SBP. Runyon's criteria had a sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 56%. Stratification of secondary peritonitis patients by the presence or absence of cirrhosis did not alter our results.

CONCLUSIONS

Ascitic fluid CEA or AP elevations appear to be sensitive and specific markers for perforation-related secondary peritonitis in cirrhotic as well as non-cirrhotic patients.

Potency, affinity constants and receptor reserves for noradrenaline and adrenaline on aortae from aged normo- and hypertensive rats

Previously we have determined the potency, affinity constants (K(A) values), and alpha1-adrenoceptor reserves for noradrenaline and adrenaline on the thoracic aortae of 20-week-old Wistar Kyoto normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This study has investigated whether these parameters were altered on the thoracic aortae by ageing, and in hypertension/heart failure. The effects of phenoxybenzamine on the contractile responses of the aortae of 20-month-old WKYs and SHRs were determined. The pD2 values for noradrenaline and adrenaline were 7.1 and 7.0, respectively, on the aortae of 20-month-old WKYs, and similar values were obtained on age-matched SHRs. On the aortae of 20-month-old WKYs, the K(A) values for noradrenaline and adrenaline were 1.85 and 1.95 x 10(-6) M, and the receptor occupancies required for 50% maximum responses were 16 and 24%, respectively. There were lower affinities, by approximately twofold, but similar receptor reserves for noradrenaline and adrenaline on the aortae of age-matched SHRs. In comparison with the aortae of 20-week-old WKYs and SHRs, there was a 5-fold loss of sensitivity to noradrenaline and adrenaline between 20 weeks and 20 months. Between 20 weeks and 20 months there was a 50-fold loss of affinity with ageing and a further twofold loss with hypertension/heart failure, and an increase in alpha1-adrenoceptor reserves for noradrenaline and adrenaline between 20 weeks and 20 months. There were no differences in the sensitivity and affinity, and minor changes in the alpha1-adrenoceptor reserves for noradrenaline and adrenaline between the aortae of 20-month-old WKYs and SHRs. In contrast there were major changes in these parameters in the ageing of the WKY aorta from 20 weeks to 20 months. There were no additional changes in the sensitivity and alpha1-adrenoceptor reserves, but a small additional change in affinity for noradrenaline and adrenaline in hypertension/heart failure on the aortae of 20-month-old SHRs.

Effect of relative humidity on mixed aerosols in atmosphere

In this study, the effects of relative humidity on the deliquescent point and size of internally mixed aerosols diameter, NH4NO3 and (NH4)2SO4 were investigated using a Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (TDMA) with a relative humidity conditioner. The growth of mixed aerosols appears to have two deliquescent steps. The first one was at about 61.2-61.3%, but the second one was at around 77-78%. At the first deliquescence point, growth ratio at phase change was 7.5%, which agrees with the growth ratio of ammonium nitrate aerosol. Growth ratio of phase change at the second deliquescence point was about 20%, lower than the growth ratio of ammonium sulfate aerosol. In the relative humidity range of 80-85%, the growth ratio of the mixed aerosols reached 60%. In other words, it appears that growth ratio increases with the size of aerosol. Furthermore, a theoretical growth model of mixed aerosols was developed and applied to estimate the amount of composition of the mixed aerosols dissolved at each deliquescence point. The results also show that some of ammonium sulfate already dissolved at the first deliquescence point according to the theoretical growth model.

The effect of surfactants on the deliquescence of sodium chloride

This study investigated the deliquescence of sodium chloride aerosol with surfactants at a retention time of 4.24 sec. Two surfactants used in this study, glutaric acid and pyruvic acid, are found in atmospheric aerosol and have a high hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value. The experimental system consisted of a relative humidity conditioner, a tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA) and a scanning mobility particle sizing (SMPS) system. Results obtained from the observation of TDMA presented the deliquescence point of sodium chloride aerosol at 75% RH. In addition, the growth size of sodium chloride aerosol was observed to be 79.47 nm and the growth ratio was 77.94%, when the initial size of aerosol was 101.82 nm. Surfactants were internally mixed with sodium chloride at six different weight fractions, i.e. 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60% by weight of surfactants in dry aerosol. Both surfactants apparently decreased the deliquescence point of sodium chloride, in which the lowest deliquescence point appeared at about 71% RH when the weight fraction of surfactants is 60% by weight of surfactants in dry aerosol. Moreover, the smallest size of sodium chloride aerosol with surfactants was 142.7 nm at 60% by weight of pyruvic acid in dry aerosol. Our results further demonstrate that the deliquescence point and size of sodium chloride aerosol with surfactants are related to the weight fraction of surfactants.

Frequency doubling technology perimetry in retinal diseases--preliminary report

The role of frequency doubling technology perimetry (FDT) in glaucoma has been promising in speed and simplicity as well as in its high sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional automatic perimetry. In this study, we evaluate the role of frequency doubling technology perimetry (FDT) in a variety of retinal diseases. FDT using full-threshold C-20 mode was performed in thirty-three patients with a variety of retinal diseases [16 cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), nine cases of age-related maculopathy (AMD) and eight cases of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR)]. The fundus was scored by the extent of disease on each quadrant and macular area (central five degree visual angle). Then the retinal scores were compared with the points depressed to 2% on total deviation plots in FDT C-20 full-threshold mode using Spearman's rank correlation method. The correlation was statistically significant in the group of RRD (R = 0.57, P = 0.01), whereas the correlation was not significant in the group of macular diseases (AMD & CSCR, R = 0.47 & 0.32, P = 0.12 & 0.20). In conclusion, our results suggest that FDT might be a useful and simple technique for functional evaluation in RRD, but not in the macular disease group under this scoring system.

Analysis of sharp-edged medical-object injuries at a medical center in Taiwan

A total of 733 incidents by sharp-edged objects occurred among healthcare workers between 1995 and 1998. Injuries occurred most frequently among interns. The workplace location with the highest incidence of injury was the patient ward, and the object that most frequently inflicted injury was a needle. The most frequent work practice was recapping of syringes. One healthcare worker demonstrated seroconversion for hepatitis C.

[Triterpenoid compounds of Prunella genus and their features of 13C NMR spectroscopy]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the research advances and 13C NMR features of triterpenoid compounds in the plant of Prunella genus.

METHODS

Consulting related literatures and summing up the triterpenoid compounds and their features of 13C NMR spectra.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION

Up to now, 28 triterpenoid compounds were isolated from the plant of P. genus. of which 20 were in free state and 8 were triterpenoid saponins. The 13C NMR spectra of different triterpenoids showed different features in respects such as skeletons, substituent groups and positions.

Dietary habits and right-sided colonic diverticulosis

PURPOSE

In Asian populations, there is a high prevalence of right-sided colonic diverticulosis, the cause of which is uncertain. It is suspected that dietary habits may interact with a congenital predilection to cause this condition. To evaluate the relationship between long-term dietary habits and the prevalence of right-sided diverticulosis in the general population, we performed a retrospective case-control study.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of 3,105 screening colonoscopies performed on healthy, asymptomatic adults. All cases of right-sided diverticulosis were selected, and a similar number of gender-matched and age-matched controls with negative colonoscopies were randomly sampled from the same cohort. All case and control subjects were interviewed by a single-blinded nurse to establish their dietary habits during the past decade, in addition to other demographic characteristics. Based on consumption frequency, they were assigned to one of three diet classes for each of three food categories of interest: meat, vegetable, and fruit products. Staple foods such as rice were not included. Odds ratios were then calculated using multivariate conditional logistic regression and tests for trend were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 86 cases of right-sided diverticulosis were included, whereas 106 controls were randomly selected. There was a marked association between meat consumption frequency and right-sided diverticulosis, with a trend P value of <0.01 and an odds ratio of 24.81 between the most and least frequent consumers of meat products.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of right-sided diverticulosis is strongly positively associated with past meat consumption frequency. There is no association with vegetable or fruit consumption frequency, laxative use, supplemental fiber intake, smoking, or family history.

[Establishment and its application of a reporter-based screening model for discovering new ligands of estrogen receptor alpha subtypes]

AIM

To establish a sensitive and efficient reporter gene based screening model and use it to screen compounds for discovering new ligands of estrogen receptor alpha subtype.

METHODS

A recombinant Epstein-Barr virus episomal vector (pMT/ERE-CAT) was constructed by inserting a synthetic sequence composed of five estrogen response elements upstream of promoter and a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene downstream of promoter. pMT/ERE-CAT was transfected into HepG2 cells expressing estrogen receptor alpha subtype (ER +HepG2). Hygromycin (200 micrograms.mL-1) was added 48 h after transfection for selection. One stably transfected clone was isolated and used to screen compounds for activity of stimulating CAT gene expression using colorimetric CAT assay.

RESULTS

In the ER +HepG2 cells, the expression of CAT gene was induced by estradiol. A dose-dependent expression of CAT gene with half-maximal induction at 0.07 nmol.L-1 was observed. The ER +HepG2 cell was used to screen compounds for activity of stimulating CAT gene expression. Resveratrol was found to produce a maximal level of induction (1.75 times of estradiol). In vitro radiation survival experiment showed that the radioprotection activity of resveratrol (D0 = 3.18 Gy) is stronger than that of estradiol (D0 = 2.59 Gy).

CONCLUSION

Vector pMT/ERE-CAT was used to generate stably transfected ER +HepG2 cell lines. The cell lines can be used to screen compounds for estrogen activity by testing extracts of cells grown in microtiter wells directly using colorimetric CAT assay. This system should provide an efficient method for screening and analyzing the activity of large numbers of ligands of estrogen receptor.

Linker-mediated modulation of the chemiluminescent signal from N(10)-(3-Sulfopropyl)-N-sulfonylacridinium-9-carboxamide tracers

Four chemiluminescent N-sulfonylacridinium-9-carboxamide active esters (17-20) were prepared from the corresponding acids and coupled to both of the aminated phenobarbital (13) and N-(6-aminohexyl)phenytoin (16) haptens. The level of signal produced by chemiluminescent N-sulfonylacridinium-9-carboxamide phenobarbital and phenytoin tracers in a solid-phase immunoassay format was found to be modulated by at least 20-fold by the judicious choice of the reactive acridinium-hapten linking group.

Dual functions of Streptococcus salivarius urease

A urease-deficient derivative of Streptococcus salivarius 57.I was constructed by allelic exchange at the ureC locus. The wild-type strain was protected against acid killing through hydrolysis of physiologically relevant concentrations of urea, whereas the mutant was not. Also, S. salivarius could use urea as a source of nitrogen for growth exclusively through a urease-dependent pathway.

Geographic variation and environmental risk factors for the incidence of initial kidney stones in patients with spinal cord injury

PURPOSE

Although geographic variability in cases of kidney stones, primarily calcium stones, is reported in the general population, little is known about geographic variability in subjects with spinal cord injury, in whom struvite stones predominate. We examined regional variation in the incidence rate of initial kidney stones and clarified the contributing factors in a spinal cord injury cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used data from the national spinal cord injury database between 1986 and 1999 on 7,784 participants from 21 spinal cord injury centers with 24,492 person-years of followup accumulated and 286 incident stone cases. A multilevel Poisson model was constructed to evaluate the ecological effects of latitude, air temperature, water hardness and sunlight index on stone formation while controlling for individual factors, including participant age, race, gender, severity of injury and bladder management.

RESULTS

The incidence rate was significantly greater in the southeast and tended to increase with decreasing latitude, similar to the geographic association with kidney stones in the general population. This finding was not explained by differences in individual risk factors. Decreasing water hardness had the strongest effect on stones during year 1 after injury (relative risk 0.6, p <0. 001), whereas average annual temperature had the strongest association with stones after year 1 (relative risk 1.1 per 1C increase, p = 0.03). The sunlight index had no association.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study implies that the increased stone risk in spinal cord injured subjects is potentially preventable by modifying environmental exposure. Etiological factors may be similar to those for kidney stones in the general population.

[Detection of HPV-DNA and humoral immunity in juvenile laryngeal papilloma]

OBJECTIVE

To study HPV infection route and pathogenesis of juvenile laryngeal papilloma(JLP).

METHOD

HPV-DNA of JLP was detected with PCR and PCR product dot blot hybridization. Serum Ig and complement 3(C3) was detected with nephelometry.

RESULT

HPV total positive rate in JLP was 95%(19/20). HPV6 was 55%(11/20). HPV11 was 30%(6/20), and HPV6 + 11 was 10%(2/20). Serum IgG, IgA, IgM and C3 of JLP were normal, no significant difference between JLP and the control group(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HPV6 infection of JLP was in the majority. And the type was consistent with the type of female genital organ pointed condyloma. Humoral immunity was negligible in HPV infection. Pathologic picture of different HPV type infection was identical.

Evaluation of chemiluminescent estradiol conjugates by using a surface plasmon resonance detector

A series of chemiluminescent 17beta-estradiol probes were synthesized. Relative equilibrium dissociation constants (K(D)) for the interaction of an anti-E(2) Fab fragment for the probes in solution were evaluated using a single E(2)-analog biosensor surface on a BIAcore surface plasmon resonance instrument. The results show the antibody fragment binds all chemiluminescent conjugates tested with high affinity showing only minor preferences for site of substitution (C6 versus C7), stereochemistry (alpha versus beta), or linker moiety.

Size-induced transition from magnetic ordering to kondo behavior in (Ce,Al) compounds

Magnetic ordering and Kondo behavior coexist in three (Ce,Al)-based compounds: CeAl2, Ce3Al, and Ce3Al11. A common feature apparently independent of crystal structures also prevails in terms of the size-induced transition between these two magnetic phenomena. As the particle size is reduced to nanoscale, the specific heat anomaly associated with the magnetic ordering diminishes. Although the Kondo temperature also decreases, the entropy associated with Kondo anomaly exhibits a large increase. This results in an enhancement of the Kondo behavior and an increased coefficient gamma of the linear term in specific heat. For example, in 80 A CeAl2 the extrapolated r(0) reaches 9000 mJ mol Ce-1 K-2.

Defining the carbohydrate specificities of aplysia gonad lectin exhibiting a peculiar D-galacturonic acid affinity

Aplysia gonad lectin (AGL), which has been shown to stimulate mitogenesis in human peripheral lymphocytes, to suppress tumor cells, and to induce neurite outgrowth and improve cell viability in cultured Aplysia neurons, exhibits a peculiar galacturonic acid/galactose specificity. The carbohydrate binding site of this lectin was characterized by enzyme-linked lectino-sorbent assay and by inhibition of AGL-glycan interactions. Examination of the lectin binding with 34 glycans revealed that it reacted strongly with the following glycoforms: most human blood group precursor (equivalent) glycoproteins (gps), two Galalpha1-->4Gal-containing gps, and two d-galacturonic acid (GalUA)-containing polysaccharides (pectins from apple and citrus fruits), but poorly with most human blood group A and H active and sialylated gps. Among the GalUA and mammalian saccharides tested for inhibition of AGL-glycan binding, GalUA mono- to trisaccharides were the most potent ones. They were 8.5 x 10(4) times more active than Gal and about 1.5 x 10(3) more active than the human blood group P(k) active disaccharide (E, Galalpha1-->4Gal). This disaccharide was 6, 28, and 120 times more efficient than Galbeta1-->3GlcNAc(I), Galbeta1-->3GalNAc(T), and Galbeta1--> 4GlcNAc (II), respectively, and 35 and 80 times more active than melibiose (Galalpha1-->6Glc) and human blood group B active disaccharide (Galalpha1-->3Gal), respectively, showing that the decreasing order of the lectin affinity toward alpha-anomers of Gal is alpha1-->4 > alpha1-->6 > alpha1-->3. From the data provided, the carbohydrate specificity of AGL can be defined as GalUAalpha1-->4 trisaccharides to mono GalUA > branched or cluster forms of E, I, and II monomeric E, I, and II, whereas GalNAc is inactive.

Coexisting thymic and gastric lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in a patient with Sjögren syndrome

Lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALTomas) arising from the thymus are extremely rare. In this case report, we describe a 36-year-old woman with an 11-year history of Sjögren syndrome who was found to have a thymic MALToma coexisting with a gastric MALToma. Both tumors shared similar histologic features, showing clusters of centrocytic-like B cells, lymphoepithelial lesions, and prominent plasmacytic differentiation. They also showed the following identical immunohistochemical features: CD20(+), IgA/lambda(+), CD5(-), and CD43(-). Molecular studies using polymerase chain reaction methods revealed monoclonal gene rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain in the gastric MALToma, but not in the thymic MALToma. The possible pathogenesis of this unusual case is discussed.