Determination of acetone, 2-butanone, diethyl ketone and BTX using HSCC-UV-IMS

A combination of a custom-designed ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) with a UV ionization source and a high speed capillary column (HSCC) has been developed as an analytical device for the sensitive detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), e.g. 2-propanone (acetone), 2-butanone and 3-pentanone (diethyl ketone) in the gas phase. A fast separation of the three selected substances and benzene, toluene and m-xylene (BTX) - all of which occur in human breath - has been achieved within less than four minutes at a carrier gas flow rate of 4.5 mL x min(-1). Multi-dimensional correlations presented support the interpretation of the acquired spectra of mixtures. Method detection limits were 2.7 microg x L(-1) for acetone and 2-butanone and 3.0 microg x L(-1) for diethyl ketone in nitrogen, respectively. The assay linear dynamic range is 4-320 microg x L(-1).

Insomnia associated with thalamic involvement in E200K Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

BACKGROUND

Insomnia with predominant thalamic involvement and minor cortical and cerebellar pathologic changes is not characteristic of familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) but is a hallmark of fatal familial insomnia.

OBJECTIVE

To report a 53-year-old woman with intractable insomnia as her initial symptom of disease.

METHODS

The authors characterized clinical, pathologic, and molecular features of the disease using EEG, polysomnography, neurohistology, Western blotting, protein sequencing, and prion protein (PrP) gene (PRNP) analysis.

RESULTS

The patient developed dysgraphia, dysarthria, bulimia, myoclonus, memory loss, visual hallucinations, and opisthotonos, as well as pyramidal, extrapyramidal, and cerebellar signs. Polysomnographic studies showed an absence of stages 3 and 4, and REM. She died 8 months after onset. On neuropathologic examination, there was major thalamic involvement characterized by neuronal loss, spongiform changes, and prominent gliosis. The inferior olivary nuclei exhibited chromatolysis, neuronal loss, and gliosis. Spongiform changes were mild in the neocortex and not evident in the cerebellum. PrP immunopositivity was present in these areas as well as in the thalamus. PRNP analysis showed the haplotype E200K-129M. Western blot analysis showed the presence of proteinase K (PK)-resistant PrP (PrP(sc)) with the nonglycosylated isoform of approximately 21 kd, corresponding in size to that of type 1 PrP(sc). N-terminal protein sequencing demonstrated PK cleavage sites at glycine (G) 82 and G78, as previously reported in CJD with the E200K-129 M haplotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Insomnia may be a prominent early symptom in cases of CJD linked to the E200K-129M haplotype in which the thalamus is severely affected.

[The significance of nm23 gene expression in embryonic tissues and lung cancer tissues]

BACKGROUND

To clarify the relationship between nm23-H1 gene and differentiation of embryonic tissues and the significance of its expression in pulmonary carcinoma.

METHODS

nm23-H1 protein ( NM23-H1) was detected in the embryonic tissues of SD rats and human being, as well as in human lung cancer tissues, by immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTS

Only embryonic tissues with definite configuration ( organ structure) expressed NM23-H1 constantly. Positive rate of NM23-H1 was 34. 7% in 49 cases of human lung cancer tissues, and 27. 3% in squamous cell carcinoma, 50. 0% in adenocarcinoma. The positive rate of NM23-H1 was 22. 2% in 27 cases of hilar lymph node metastatic foci, and 34. 8% in primary tumour foci ( P > 0. 05) . There was no significant difference of lymphatic metastatic rates between NM23-H1 positive and negative primary tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

There is positive correlation between accumulation of NM23-H1 and differentiation of embryonic tissues and lung carcinoma. NM23-H1 may play an important role in maintaining a stable epithelial structure. It doesn't show that NM23-H1 can directly inhibit the metastasis of lung cancer cells.

[Relationship between serum CA125 level and prognosis in the patients with uterine endometrial carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship between serum CA125 level and prognosis of uterine endometrial carcinoma.

METHODS

The serum CA125 levels in 71 patients with uterine endometrial carcinoma were measured by using microparticle enzyme immunoassay. The relationship between preoperative CA125 levels and surgical pathologic staging, histologic classification, and other prognostic factors was investigated.

RESULTS

(1) The positive rate of serum CA125 in postmenopausal patients was significantly higher than in premenopausal patients. (2) The positive rate of serum CA125 was related to surgical pathologic staging. (3) Serum CA125 level was correlated not only with histological classification but also with other prognosis factors. (4) Increase of serum CA125 after operation predicted the possibility of relapse.

CONCLUSION

CA125 is a useful marker in predicting the prognosis of uterine endometrial carcinoma.

Highly frequent frameshift DNA synthesis by human DNA polymerase mu

DNA polymerase mu (Polmu) is a newly identified member of the polymerase X family. The biological function of Polmu is not known, although it has been speculated that human Polmu may be a somatic hypermutation polymerase. To help understand the in vivo function of human Polmu, we have performed in vitro biochemical analyses of the purified polymerase. Unlike any other DNA polymerases studied thus far, human Polmu catalyzed frameshift DNA synthesis with an unprecedentedly high frequency. In the sequence contexts examined, -1 deletion occurred as the predominant DNA synthesis mechanism opposite the single-nucleotide repeat sequences AA, GG, TT, and CC in the template. Thus, the fidelity of DNA synthesis by human Polmu was largely dictated by the sequence context. Human Polmu was able to efficiently extend mismatched bases mainly by a frameshift synthesis mechanism. With the primer ends, containing up to four mismatches, examined, human Polmu effectively realigned the primer to achieve annealing with a microhomology region in the template several nucleotides downstream. As a result, human Polmu promoted microhomology search and microhomology pairing between the primer and the template strands of DNA. These results show that human Polmu is much more prone to cause frameshift mutations than base substitutions. The biochemical properties of human Polmu suggest a function in nonhomologous end joining and V(D)J recombination through its microhomology searching and pairing activities but do not support a function in somatic hypermutation.

Effects of uremic serum on isolated cardiac myocyte calcium cycling and contractile function

BACKGROUND

Diastolic dysfunction occurs in patients with chronic renal failure. Moreover, serum from uremic patients contains one or more inhibitors of the plasmalemmal Na,K-ATPase (sodium pump). We hypothesized that a circulating substance present in uremic sera contributes to both sodium pump inhibition and diastolic dysfunction.

METHODS

Serum samples were obtained from six patients with chronic renal failure and diastolic dysfunction.

RESULTS

Their serum samples caused marked inhibition of Na,K-ATPase purified from dog kidney at all concentrations studied (all P < 0.01) and also impaired ouabain-sensitive rubidium uptake by myocytes isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats (P < 0.01). These cardiac myocytes were studied for their contractile function with video-edge detection and calcium metabolism with indo-1 fluorescence spectroscopy after exposure to these uremic sera. These uremic sera caused increases in myocyte fractional shortening (P < 0.01) as well as an increase in the time constant of relengthening (P < 0.01). Examining the calcium transient, the time constant for calcium recovery was also increased (P < 0.01). Exposure of these cells to sera from age- and sex-matched healthy subjects did not result in significant changes in contraction or calcium cycling. Extracts of uremic serum samples inhibited isolated Na,K-ATPase whereas extracts of normal serum samples did not. The effect of uremic serum extracts on contractile function and calcium cycling were quite similar to that of intact serum or the addition of ouabain. Co-incubation of uremic serum extract with an antibody fragment directed against digoxin markedly attenuated the inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity and completely prevented any effects on calcium cycling or contractile function.

CONCLUSION

These data show that one or more substances are present in uremic sera that acutely cause increased force of contraction and impaired recovery of cardiac myocyte calcium concentration as well as impaired relaxation. As these effects are similar to that seen with ouabain and can be prevented by co-incubation with an antibody fragment to digitalis, which also attenuates the sodium pump inhibitory effect, we suggest that this (these) substance(s) circulating in uremic sera and inhibiting the sodium pump also causes the acute diastolic dysfunction seen in our system.

A convenient and rapid method for genetic transformation of E. coli with plasmids

A convenient and rapid method for the genetic transformation of Escherichia coli with plasmids is proposed. By mixing the recipient cells and plasmid DNA and spreading them directly on selective medium plates containing Ca2+, the so-called 'plate transformation' could achieve almost the same transformation efficiency as the classical transformation method with calcium. The whole protocol takes only about 2 min, its simplicity compared favorably, not only to the usual protocol, but also to all other documented modifications.

Role of protein kinase C in the signal pathways that link Na+/K+-ATPase to ERK1/2

We have shown before that Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase acts as a signal transducer, through protein-protein interactions, in addition to being an ion pump. Interaction of ouabain with the enzyme of the intact cells causes activation of Src, transactivation of EGFR, and activation of the Ras/ERK1/2 cascade. To determine the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in this pathway, neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were exposed to ouabain and assayed for translocation/activation of PKC from cytosolic to particulate fractions. Ouabain caused rapid and sustained stimulation of this translocation, evidenced by the assay of Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent PKC activities and by the immunoblot analysis of the alpha, delta, and epsilon isoforms of PKC. Dose-dependent stimulation of PKC translocation by ouabain (1-100 microm) was accompanied by no more than 50% inhibition of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and doubling of [Ca(2+)](i), changes that do not affect myocyte viability and are known to be associated with positive inotropic, but not toxic, effects of ouabain in rat cardiac ventricles. Ouabain-induced activation of ERK1/2 was blocked by PKC inhibitors calphostin C and chelerythrine. An inhibitor of phosphoinositide turnover in myocytes also antagonized ouabain-induced PKC translocation and ERK1/2 activation. These and previous findings indicate that ouabain-induced activation of PKC and Ras, each linked to Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase through Src/EGFR, are both required for the activation of ERK1/2. Ouabain-induced PKC translocation and ERK1/2 activation were dependent on the presence of Ca(2+) in the medium, suggesting that the signal-transducing and ion-pumping functions of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase cooperate in activation of these protein kinases and the resulting regulation of contractility and growth of the cardiac myocyte.

Coronary reperfusion following ischemia: different expression of bcl-2 and bax proteins, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis

The aim of this work was to examine factors that could be involved in the occurrence of apoptosis in rat hearts subjected to coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion. To this end, we studied the expression of the pro- and anti-apoptotic factors, bax and bcl-2, respectively, in reperfused ischemic hearts and in hearts injected with bFGF or saline. In anesthetized rats the left coronary artery was occluded for 45 min, the anesthesia withdrawn and the occlusion removed to allow reperfusion; in sham-operated rats the occlusion was omitted. After 4 hours the rats were decapitated and the heart excised. Sections from the left ventricle were stained with anti-bcl-2-antibody and anti-bax-antibody using the TUNEL method which detects apoptosis. Fragmentation of DNA isolated from reperfused ventricles was examined by agarose electrophoresis. In reperfused hearts no bcl-2 staining was observed in the discrete area in which many cardiomyocyte nuclei were stained by the TUNEL method; outside this area staining for bcl-2 was more marked than in sham-operated rats. Sections from reperfused hearts were stained for bax protein over a wide area including the apoptotic region; sham-operated hearts showed little reaction. Staining for bcl-2 was demonstrable in some nuclei in hearts from saline-injected rats; the numbers were unaffected by i. v. bFGF. Ischemia/reperfusion increases the overall expression of both bcl-2 and bax proteins, but bcl-2 is lost from the reperfused area as indicated by TUNEL staining. Accordingly, the ratio of bcl-2 to bax was reduced in the reperfused area, indicating a pro-apoptotic trend. The marked increase in bcl-2 outside the reperfused area could be a mechanism with which to salvage surviving cardiomyocytes.

Inhibition of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D-induced keratinocyte differentiation by blocking the expression of phospholipase C-gamma1

Keratinocytes produce vitamin D3 and convert it to the most active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, which regulates keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. Phospholipase C-gamma1 is the most abundant member of the phospholipase C family in keratinocytes and is induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Therefore, phospholipase C-gamma1 might be important in the signaling pathway mediating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3-induced keratinocyte differentiation. To test this hypothesis, phospholipase C-gamma1 expression in human keratinocytes was reduced by transfecting the cells with an antisense phospholipase C-gamma1 construct and then evaluating the response of the keratinocyte differentiation markers involucrin and transglutaminase to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The results showed that involucrin and transglutaminase protein and mRNA levels were markedly reduced in keratinocytes transfected by the antisense phospholipase C-gamma1 construct. Cotransfection of keratinocytes with the involucrin or transglutaminase promoter construct and the antisense phospholipase C-gamma1 construct showed decreased involucrin or transglutaminase promoter activity in response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. To further investigate the mechanism by which phospholipase C-gamma1 regulates keratinocyte differentiation, the calcium and inositol triphosphate levels in keratinocytes transfected by the antisense phospholipase C-gamma1 construct were measured following 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 administration. The increase in keratinocyte intracellular free calcium and inositol triphosphate levels following 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 administration were markedly reduced by the transfection of the antisense phospholipase C-gamma1 construct. These studies indicate that phospholipase C-gamma1 plays a critical role in the signal transduction pathway mediating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D3-induced keratinocyte differentiation at least in part by mediating the increase in inositol triphosphate production and intracellular calcium mobilization following 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 administration.

Signal-transducing function of Na+-K+-ATPase is essential for ouabain's effect on [Ca2+]i in rat cardiac myocytes

We showed before that Na+-K+-ATPase is also a signal transducer in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Binding of ouabain to the enzyme activates multiple signal pathways that regulate cell growth. The aims of this work were to extend such studies to adult cardiac myocytes and to determine whether the signal-transducing function of Na+/K+-ATPase regulates the well-known effects of ouabain on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). In adult myocytes, ouabain activated protein tyrosine phosphorylation and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and raised both systolic and diastolic [Ca2+]i. Pretreatment of myocytes with several Src kinase inhibitors, or overexpression of a dominant negative Ras, antagonized ouabain-induced activation of MAPKs and increases in [Ca2+]i. Treatment with PD-98059 (a MAPK kinase inhibitor) or overexpression of a dominant negative MAPK kinase 1 also ablated the effect of ouabain on MAPKs and [Ca2+]i. N-acetyl-cysteine, which blocks the effect of ouabain on ROS, did not prevent the ouabain-induced rise in [Ca2+]i. Clearly, the activation of the Ras/MAPK cascade, but not ROS generation, is necessary for ouabain-induced increases in [Ca2+]i in rat cardiac myocytes.

[Transfer and expression of tyrosinase gene of Pseudomonas maltophilia in Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes]

Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes is a notably killing maggots bacterium, which was isolated from natural dead maggots in the manure pits in the countryside of Yancheng. It easily die from effect of ultra-violet ray when it is exposed in the sun. Antiradiation effect of melanin is quite strong. Mel gene of P. maltophilia AT18 has been introduced into P. pseudoalcaligenes, and enabled it the ability of producing melanin steadily. Southern hybridization studies confirmed that the small fragment cloned in the P. pseudoalcaligenes comes from P. maltophilia DNA. SDS-PAGE analysis also revealed that an additional protein of 18 kD, which was equal to the size of the putative tyrosinase according to mel fragment, was exressed in the P. pseudoalcaligenes recombinant carrying the mel gene, The results of assay show that antiradiation effect of recombinant is quites strong, the effect time of killing maggats is longer than the recipient, the recombinant can't infect animals and fowls.

Aggregation-induced emission of 1-methyl-1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylsilole

Aggregation greatly boosts emission efficiency of the silole, turning it from a weak luminophor into a strong emitter.

Aberrant metal binding by prion protein in human prion disease

Human prion diseases are characterized by the conversion of the normal prion protein (PrP(C)) into a pathogenic isomer (PrP(Sc)). Distinct PrP(Sc) conformers are associated with different subtypes of prion diseases. PrP(C) binds copper and has antioxidation activity. Changes in metal-ion occupancy can lead to significant decline of the antioxidation activity and changes in conformation of the protein. We studied the trace element status of brains from patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). We found a decrease of up to 50% of copper and an increase in manganese of approximately 10-fold in the brain tissues from sCJD subjects. We have also studied the metal occupancy of PrP in sCJD patients. We observed striking elevation of manganese and, to a lesser extent, of zinc accompanied by significant reduction of copper bound to purified PrP in all sCJD variants, determined by the PrP genotype and PrP(Sc) type, combined. Both zinc and manganese were undetectable in PrP(C) preparations from controls. Copper and manganese changes were pronounced in sCJD subjects homozygous for methionine at codon 129 and carrying PrP(Sc) type-1. Anti-oxidation activity of purified PrP was dramatically reduced by up to 85% in the sCJD variants, and correlated with increased in oxidative stress markers in sCJD brains. These results suggest that altered metal-ion occupancy of PrP plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Since the metal changes differed in each sCJD variants, they may contribute to the diversity of PrP(Sc) and disease phenotype in sCJD. Finally, this study also presented two potential approaches in the diagnosis of CJD; the significant increase in brain manganese makes it potentially detectable by MRI, and the binding of manganese by PrP in sCJD might represent a novel diagnostic marker.

Mice lacking inducible nitric oxide synthase have improved left ventricular contractile function and reduced apoptotic cell death late after myocardial infarction

Nitric oxide produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic myocardial remodeling and failure. We tested the role of NOS2 in left ventricular (LV) remodeling early (1 month) and late (4 months) after myocardial infarction (MI) in mice lacking NOS2. MI size measured 7 days, 1 month, and 4 months after MI was the same in NOS2 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. The LV end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship measured by the isovolumic Langendorff technique showed a progressive rightward shift from 1 to 4 months after MI in WT mice. LV developed pressure measured over a range of LV volumes was reduced at 1 and 4 months after MI in WT mice (P<0.05 and P<0.01 versus shams, respectively). In KO mice, the rightward shift was similar to that in WT mice at 1 and 4 months after MI, as was peak LV developed pressure at 1 month after MI. In contrast, at 4 months after MI, peak LV developed pressure in KO mice was higher than in WT mice (P<0.05 versus WT) and similar to that in sham-operated mice. At 1 month after MI, the frequency of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive myocytes in the remote myocardium was increased to a similar extent in WT and KO mice. At 4 months after MI, the frequency of apoptotic myocytes was increased in WT mice but not in KO mice (P<0.05 versus WT). Improved contractile function and reduced apoptosis were associated with reduced mortality rate in KO mice at 4 months after MI. Thus, NOS2 does not play an important role in determining infarct size or early LV remodeling during the first month after MI. In contrast, during late (ie, 4 months after MI) remodeling, NOS2 in remote myocardium contributes to decreased contractile function, increased myocyte apoptosis in remote myocardium, and reduced survival.

[Does response of rape to La and critical concentration of La in red earth]

The effects of different concentration of La added in red soil on the growth, yield, content of chlorophyll and peroxidase(POD) activity of rape were studied by pot experiments. The results showed that the growth and yield of rape could be improved by low concentration of La3+, however there was no significant difference between the treatment and the control, and inhibited when the dose were more than 300 mg kg-1 and killed after 600 mg.kg-1 La was added. The decrease of chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a/b was observed when the exogenous concentration of La was more than 15 mg.kg-1. POD activity increased gradually with increasing concentration and prolonging reaction. The feasible application level of La was suggested to be below 15 mg.kg-1.

DAMBE: software package for data analysis in molecular biology and evolution

DAMBE (data analysis in molecular biology and evolution) is an integrated software package for converting, manipulating, statistically and graphically describing, and analyzing molecular sequence data with a user-friendly Windows 95/98/2000/NT interface. DAMBE is free and can be downloaded from http://web.hku.hk/~xxia/software/software.htm. The current version is 4.0.36.

Regulation of angiotensin II-stimulated osteopontin expression in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells: role of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase and reactive oxygen species

Using spontaneously hypertensive and aortic banded rats, we have shown that expression of myocardial osteopontin, an extracellular matrix protein, coincides with the development of heart failure and is inhibited by captopril, suggesting a role for angiotensin II (ANG II). This study tested whether ANG II induces osteopontin expression in adult rat ventricular myocytes and cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMEC), and if so, whether induction is mediated via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (p42/44 MAPK) and involves reactive oxygen species (ROS). ANG II (1 microM, 16 h) increased osteopontin expression (fold increase 3.3+/-0.34, n = 12, P < 0.01) in CMEC as measured by northern analysis, but not in ARVM. ANG II stimulated osteopontin expression in CMEC in a time- (within 4 h) and concentration-dependent manner, which was prevented by the AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan. ANG II elicited robust phosphorylation of p42/44 MAPK as measured using phospho-specific antibodies, and increased superoxide production as measured by cytochrome c reduction and lucigenin chemiluminescence assays. These effects were blocked by diphenylene iodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of the flavoprotein component of NAD(P)H oxidase. PD98059, an inhibitor of p42/44 MAPK pathway, and DPI each inhibited ANG II-stimulated osteopontin expression. Northern blot analysis showed basal expression of p22phox, a critical component of NADH/NADPH oxidase system, which was increased 40-60% by exposure to ANG II. These results suggest that p42/44 MAPK is a critical component of the ROS-sensitive signaling pathways activated by ANG II in CMEC and plays a key role in the regulation of osteopontin gene expression. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

[Characteristics of N2O emissions from vegetal soils on Fildes peninsula, Antarctica]

The N2O fluxes from the vegetal soils were first measured on the Fildes peninsula, Antarctica, and the total N2O emission was also estimated in the summer 2 months. The daily variations of N2O fluxes appeared single-peak trend under the sunshine or rainy weather conditions but they were irregular under the snow weather conditions and inconsistent with the atmospheric temperatures. The seasonal variations of the N2O fluxes were affected by the temperature and rainfall. The conditions during the transitions between dry and wet seasons improved the N2O emission. The total N2O emissions from moss and lichen soils were 3.7152 kg and 2.5344 kg, respectively. It follows that the vegetal soils are the sources for the atmospheric N2O on the Fildes peninsula, Antarctica.

[Measurement of CO2 concentration in the areas with vegetation cover on the Fildes peninsula, Antarctica]

The average CO2 concentration was above 473.5 mg.m-3 in the areas covered by moss or lichen, greatly higher than the global average CO2 concentration, implying that these areas may be one of the atmospheric CO2 sources. Abnormally high CO2 concentration was relative with vegetal physiological and ecological characters. In the areas covered by moss, the daily variation of the CO2 concentrations was affected by sunshine and temperature and it was also different under the conditions of the different weathers. Sunshine was the main factors influencing the CO2 concentration. The seasonal variation of the CO2 concentration was negatively correlated with atmospheric temperature and positively with rainfall and air relative humidity. This article first presents the variations of CO2 concentration and its influential factors under the Antarctic environmental conditions, which also presents new information for the further study to the Antarctic greenhouse gases.

[Combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer]

BACKGROUND

To study the efficacy and toxicity of combined chemotherapy of paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Seventy-eight patients with advanced NSCLC received combined chemotherapy of paclitaxel 150 mg/m² and carboplatin 300 mg/m².

RESULTS

The response rate of native patients was 56.9% (33/58) and that of the repeated treatment group was 35% (7/20). The overall response rate was 51.3%(40/78). Four patients (5.1%) had complete response. The median duration of survival was 9 months, and 1-year survival rate was 33.3% (26/78). Toxicity was chiefly hematologic in the form of neutropenia. The major nonhematologic toxicity was arthromyalgia.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination chemotherapy of paclitaxel and carboplatin is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of advanced NSCLC.

Exaggerated left ventricular dilation and reduced collagen deposition after myocardial infarction in mice lacking osteopontin

Osteopontin (OPN), an extracellular matrix protein, is expressed in the myocardium with hypertrophy and failure. We tested the hypothesis that OPN plays a role in left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Accordingly, OPN expression and LV structural and functional remodeling were determined in wild-type (WT) and OPN knockout (KO) mice 4 weeks after MI. Northern analysis showed increased OPN expression in the infarcted region, peaking 3 days after MI and gradually decreasing over the next 28 days. In the remote LV, OPN expression was biphasic, with peaks at 3 and 28 days. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses showed increased OPN mRNA and protein primarily in the interstitium. Infarct size, heart weight, and survival were similar in KO and WT mice after MI (P=NS), whereas the lung wet weight/dry weight ratio was increased in the KO mice (P<0.005 versus sham-operated mice). Peak LV developed pressure was reduced to a similar degree after MI in the KO and WT mice. The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)-positive myocytes was similar in KO and WT mice after MI. In contrast, post-MI LV chamber dilation was approximately twice as great in KO versus WT mice (P<0.001). Myocyte length increased after MI in WT mice (P<0.001) but not in KO mice. Electron microscopy showed increased collagen content in WT mice after MI but not in KO mice after MI. Type I collagen content was increased approximately 3-fold and approximately 7-fold in remote and infarcted regions, respectively, of WT hearts after MI but not in KO hearts (P<0.01 versus WT hearts). Likewise, Northern analyses showed increased collagen I(alpha(1)) mRNA after MI in remote regions of WT hearts but not in KO hearts. Thus, increased OPN expression plays an important role in regulating post-MI LV remodeling, at least in part, by promoting collagen synthesis and accumulation.

AMADA: analysis of microarray data

SUMMARY

AMADA is a Windows program for identifying co-expressed genes from microarray data. It performs data transformation, principal component analysis, a variety of cluster analyses and extensive graphic functions for visualizing expression profiles.

Calcium- and vitamin D-regulated keratinocyte differentiation

Calcium and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D) regulate the differentiation of keratinocytes. We have examined the mechanisms by which such regulation takes place, focusing primarily on the events leading to cornified envelope (CE) formation, in particular the mechanisms by which calcium and 1,25(OH)(2)D regulate the induction of involucrin, a component of the CE, and transglutaminase, the enzyme cross-linking involucrin and other substrates to form the CE. Both extracellular calcium (Ca(o)) and 1,25(OH)(2)D raise intracellular free calcium (Ca(i)) as a necessary step toward stimulating differentiation. Cells lacking the calcium sensing receptor (CaR) or phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1) fail to respond to Ca(o) or 1,25(OH)(2)D with respect to differentiation. Residing in the promoter of involucrin is a region responsive to calcium and 1,25(OH)(2)D, the calcium response element (CaRE). The CaRE contains an AP-1 site, mutations of which result in loss of responsiveness to Ca(o) and 1,25(OH)(2)D, indicating a role for protein kinases C (PKC). PKC alpha is the major PKC isozyme involved at least for calcium-induced differentiation. Thus, the regulation of keratinocyte differentiation by calcium and 1,25(OH)(2)D involves a number of signaling pathways including PLC and PKC activation, leading to the induction of proteins required for the differentiation process.